I build things at the intersection of technology and human behavior — part computer scientist, part social scientist. I've spent my career making teams and products that use technology to help people help one another.
I was an early Google product manager pre-IPO, working on Ads, News, and Suggest. I co-founded Aardvark (acq. Google, 2010) and Luvocracy (acq. Walmart, 2014), where I led product, engineering, and data science for Walmart's global personalization.
I've held executive product roles at growth-stage companies including Strava, Handshake, and others, and have served in interim and consulting leadership roles helping teams scale through pivotal moments.
I've been an angel investor for more than a decade, and serve as advisor and coach to early-stage startups and entrepreneurs. I've co-taught entrepreneurship at Betaworks and the University of Michigan Center for Entrepreneurship. I currently chair VLAB, an all-volunteer non-profit that for 30 years has connected innovators, investors, and experts in the Stanford area to explore disruptions near inflection points.
I grew up in Michigan, went to Stanford (CS + Political Science), and live near San Francisco with my family. I'm an avid runner, nature and science enthusiast, and outdoor adventurer.
I have gratitude for all those who have helped me along my path, especially for their seemingly small acts – that can shape lives, and have mine. I aspire to see the beauty and goodness in the world, and embrace differences both of others and of self.
Some of my favorite medium-difficulty and advanced-difficulty runs in the bay area. Fair warning: the advanced ones are for fairly extreme runners.
nathanstoll -a.t- gmail dot com
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