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Lessons I Learned at Shopify
Talks about Programming, Internships and Shopify
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Robert Saunders
Mentor at Early Stage Montana
Billings, Montana
Overview
Robert Saunders is the Owner of Saunders Enterprises in Billings, Montana, with a background in international business and entrepreneurship. He has served as President and CEO of Xander Fasteners, Inc., and has invested in early-stage companies like Partpic.
Saunders has a diverse skill set that includes editing, research, and Mandarin Chinese proficiency, and he has held leadership roles in various organizations such as the Billings Symphony Orchestra & Chorale and Early Stage Montana.
Work Experience
Mentor
2018 - Current
Montana’s first hyperaccelerator, helping startups in our state get a leg up.
Investor
2018
Active member of Montana’s largest group of angel investors.
Board Member
2015 - 2021
Spent 6 years on the Board of Directors and chaired the Events Committee. Facilitated the largest endowment gift in the organization's history.
Member of the Board of Directors
2015 - 2016
Visual search for replacement parts
Raised $1,520,000.00 from ARC Angel Fund, Joanne Wilson, Robert Saunders, The JumpFund, Comcast Ventures, SeedInvest, NYC SeedStart and NYC Seed.
Operations Manager
2012 - 2015
Managed 25 Employees; Oversaw imports of nearly 200 container loads annually; Oversaw 8 figures in annual sales.
President and CEO
2012 - 2015
Founded an online retail fastener company in 2012. Doubled sales every quarter for 18 months, starting in early 2014 until I sold the company.
Intern
2011 - 2011
2-month summer internship. I spent my time learning receiving in-depth instruction about the fastener industry, including hands-on training in production, quality control, and marketing. I also edited the English translations of the company's website and promotional materials.
Instructor
2005 - 2007
After training at Park's Martial Arts Academy for 7 years, I was made an instructor upon achieving my 2nd degree black belt. This designation certified me to teach and open a school anywhere within the American Kyuki-do Federation.