Dave Parker

About Dave Parker

I\'ve spent my career at the intersection of entrepreneurship, community building, and global impact—always asking: How can we help more founders succeed? My success was always about the team you build around you. As CEO of the Entrepreneurs\' Organization, we led a global network across 87 countries, driving our highest-ever membership growth and achieving exceptional retention. As COO at UP Global (the Startup Weekend/Startup America merger), we scaled events from 550 to 1,250 annually, reaching entrepreneurs before our acquisition by Techstars.My real education came from being in the arena myself. I\'m a 5X founder who\'s sold three companies and been part of over 20 transactions as CEO, operator, and advisor. Those experiences shaped everything I now bring to the founders and organizations I work with.I wrote \"Trajectory: Startup—Ideation to Product/Market Fit\"(Hubspot\'s 2023 Business Book of the Year) because I wished someone had handed me that roadmap when I was starting out. Today, I share those insights as a speaker at accelerators, universities, and startup communities worldwide.In Seattle, I chaired the startup programs for the Washington Technology Industry Association\'s Board. We\'ve served over 300 startups that have collectively raised more than $300M, earning a three-year,$750K Department of Commerce grant to expand programs statewide for underrepresented founders.My investment experience spans from Mitsui & Company\'s $250M fund in Silicon Valley to Seven Peaks Ventures and Fearless Fund. Both earlier funds delivered solid returns, but what I value most is backing founders building something meaningful.Having worked in nearly 50 countries—from Bahrain to Brazil, Tokyo to Tunis—I\'ve seen that great entrepreneurs are everywhere. The question is: How do we give them the right support at the right time?These days, I consult with founders on go-to-market strategy, revenue models, and exit planning. I\'ve worked with thousands of founders through Techstars, Founder Institute, 500 Global, and other ecosystem builders worldwide.When I\'m not working, you\'ll find me in the Seattle area with my wife of 30+ years, our four kids, and our doodle—probably headed out for a bike ride or a round of golf.Let\'s connect if you\'re building a startup, looking for board expertise, interested in ecosystem building, or planning an exit.

Experience

1. Managing Partner

   Dkparker, Llc

   Oct 2002 — Present · Seattle, WA, US

   DKParker, LLC helps Startup Founders from Founding to Exit. Finish Line - Dave has been part of >20 exits as a founder, CEO, and Advisor. He aims to help startup founders maximize their return for all their work in their startups. Starting Line - the firm helps companies launch their go-to-market strategies, design business and revenue models, and analyze pricing. Dave’s experience as a 5X founder, angel investor, and venture capitalist informed his approach to helping companies speed up their market trajectory. As an investor, Dave has a preference for early-stage B2B technology companies. Though most of his investments are in the NW region of the US, he does consider investments outside the US. Dave has a small fund of Limited Partners that co-invest in deal flow sourced through his global programs.

Education

• IMD

  High Performance Boards Program, Board

• University of Washington

  BA, Speech Communications

Skills

• Structures
• Management Consulting
• Business Strategy
• Executive Management
• Business Planning
• Product Development
• Enterprise Software
• Sales Operations
• Strategic Partnerships
• B2b
• Entrepreneur
• Small Business
• Saas
• Deal Sourcing
• Fundraising
• Marketing Strategy
• Mobile Applications
• Product Management
• Strategy
• E-Commerce
• Crm
• Board of Directors
• Board of Director Experience
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Entrepreneurship
• Networking
• Social Media
• Social Entrepreneurship
• Lead Generation
• Team Leadership
• Mergers
• Selling
• Start-Ups
• Web Applications
• Negotiation
• Email Marketing
• Corporate Governance
• Strategic Planning
• Management
• Deal Structures