I'm a Duke professor, startup founder, and operator based in Durham, NC.
I founded Closure Software in 2017, grew it to $8MM ARR, and sold it for $48MM in 2022. Since then I've been at Duke University teaching entrepreneurship and managing a portfolio of 100+ student startups.
Newsletter
Essays
See all →- May 2026 Why Every Founder Needs an Operator in Their Corner ›
The missing skill in most early-stage companies isn't product vision — it's operational discipline.
- April 2026 What I Learned Selling My Company for $48MM ›
Five years of building Closure Software, and what the acquisition process actually felt like from the inside.
- February 2026 Can You Actually Teach Entrepreneurship? ›
A lecture-hall skeptic turned entrepreneurship professor reflects on what the classroom can and can't do.
- January 2026 The Duke Advantage: What Top University Ecosystems Actually Offer Founders ›
Resources, networks, and credibility — what founders inside a university system should be taking advantage of, and almost never do.
- November 2025 Hiring Your First Ten: The Decisions That Define Your Culture ›
The first ten people you hire aren't just employees — they're the DNA of your company. Here's how to think about each one.
Presentations
See all →- 2026 · Duke Building Your First Sales Motion ›
A practical framework for founder-led sales, from first outreach to closing.
Past Work
See all →- 2017 – 2022 Closure Software — Founder & CEO ›
Built a funeral home SaaS from zero to $8MM ARR and sold for $48MM.