Elliot Winard

About Elliot Winard

I build teams and products that help people think and decide better. After nearly three decades leading engineering across AI, data, and UX, I’ve learned that clarity and collaboration are what make technology meaningful.I’ve led machine learning, data, and platform teams at Spotify, SeatGeek, and Stability AI, delivering products from personalized music recommendations to generative AI systems. Today I’m the Founder & CTO of Think Bigger Innovation, where we’re building AI-powered tools that help people and organizations make complex decisions faster and with greater confidence.My roots are in AI and robotics—I studied artificial intelligence at Brown University and built autonomous systems at SRI International before joining Macromedia, Laszlo Systems, and frog design, where I learned how design, data, and engineering come together to create experiences that last.Focus areas and specialties: • AI architecture, LLMs, and real-time collaboration systems • Scalable software design with Next.js, FastAPI, and Postgres • Knowledge systems, embeddings, and data-driven decision support • Building and mentoring high-performing engineering teams • Speaking and teaching on AI and decision-making (Columbia Business School, Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting) • Turning research, strategy, and design into reliable, production-ready softwareI care most about helping people and organizations work smarter, stay curious, and make better choices together.

Experience

1. Technical Founder

   Think Bigger

   Mar 2024 — Present · New York, NY, US

   Technical co-founder of Think Bigger Innovation, an AI-powered platform helping people make better decisions faster. I lead hands-on software engineering and architecture — building our core product, managing external contractors, and driving technical strategy.I design and implement systems across our stack (Next.js, FastAPI, Postgres, Python, AI/ML), while also owning infrastructure, developer tooling, and product delivery. I demo our product to investors, customers, and partners, and help shape our narrative and roadmap.I lecture MBA students at Columbia Business School on machine learning development and its business applications. I’ve also spoken at Columbia University conferences and to attendees of the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting in Omaha on AI, technology, and decision-making.

Education

• Brown University

  Bachelor's degree, Computer Science, graduated Summa Cum Laude

Skills

• Git
• Software Design
• Javascript
• Html 5
• Devops
• Web Services
• Linux
• User Interface Design
• Mongodb
• Web Development
• Software Development
• Design Research
• Nodejs
• Software Engineering
• Objective-C
• Mobile Applications
• Html5
• C
• Apache Spark
• Agile Methodologies
• Flex
• Java