James W. Burnes

Operating Partner

# Agile / Scrum
# Product Market Fit
# Customer Journey
# Lean Startup
# Corporate Ventures
# SAAS
# Strategy

Background:

James is a catalyst and motivational leader for B2B innovation and strategy. He has spent his career advising the C-suite to develop visionary goals, architect effective go-to-market strategies, design incredible customer experiences, and use lean startup/agile/design-thinking methodologies to deliver results faster with fewer mistakes.

*Vitamin J: Head of Strategy & Innovation - Built an innovation consulting firm that guided numerous B2B firms with product strategies to successful exits or raising capital for new technology ventures.

Startup Queenstown Lakes: CEO - Founded and led a coalition of entrepreneurs, investors, changemakers, and community leaders to build an effective startup ecosystem in a global resort community.

Werewolf: CMO - Rebuilt tech marketing stack and designed a relevant brand for a SaaS startup to expand to a global market.

Education: Western Governors University, B.S. Business Administration - Information Technology Management. Western Governors University - M.B.A.

Industries

#Professional Services

#SaaS

#Manufacturing

#Finance

#Logistics

#Parking

#SalesOps

#MarketingTech

- Board Member, Ministry of Awesome (Christchurch NZ)

- Startup Mentor, Te Ohaka Incubator (Christchurch NZ)

- Startup Mentor, Faciliator, Techstars Startup Weekend

Articles & Case Studies

“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”

– Albert Einstein

What I'm Reading / Listening To:

Comment:

Zero to One by Peter Thiel

Why it's worth your time:

Zero to One presents an optimistic view of the future of progress in America and a new way of thinking about innovation: it starts by learning to ask the questions that lead you to find value in unexpected places.

Still On My Bucket List:

Hike the Appalachian Trail

Best Business Advice:

Fall in love with a problem and then center all of your attention around the customers facing the problem, your relationship with them, and how you can work together to build a solution. If you focus on the problem, your attention will always be in the right direction.

James W. Burnes

What I'm Reading / Listening To:

Get in on “The Dirt!”