Jonathan Raymond

About Jonathan Raymond

I seek problems that do not have clear answers.My career in medical devices has focused on identifying gaps in technology, operations, and product portfolios and building the path forward. I was given the autonomy to define the problem, develop the solution, and drive execution across engineering, operations, and leadership teams.That work has included driving technology changes, launching new products, and leading large operational initiatives inside regulated manufacturing organizations. The common thread has been stepping into complex situations, bringing structure where it does not yet exist, and moving organizations toward execution.Over time my focus expanded beyond the engineering problem itself to the larger questions of product strategy, operational leadership, and how organizations bring meaningful technologies to market.At Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business, I focused on MedTech strategy, product development, and operational leadership.Alongside my work in MedTech, I operate Social Lite Events, where I am building a scalable platform and applying the same principles: identifying opportunity, designing systems, and executing through teams.I am drawn to environments where technology, strategy, and leadership intersect, particularly in organizations building products that require both technical depth and disciplined execution

Experience

1. Chief Executive Officer

   Social Lite Events Corp

   Oct 2022 — Present · Austin, TX, US

   I founded Social Lite Events to address a fragmented $3.2B U.S. event planning market where hosts, venues, and vendors operate without coordination. SL Marketing Strategy.pdf NoneSocial Lite is building a platform that connects these groups into a structured ecosystem, replacing the traditional mix of expensive planners and fragmented vendor searches with a coordinated marketplace for event execution.As CEO, I have led the development of the platform’s operating model, vendor network, and marketplace architecture, including:• Defining a multi-sided marketplace connecting hosts, venues, and service vendors• Building a revenue model combining vendor subscriptions, booking commissions, and platform subscriptions• Structuring a vendor ecosystem designed to scale to 1,300+ participating vendors and multiple U.S. launch markets• Designing an escrow-backed payment system that protects both hosts and vendors while ensuring reliable payouts• Leading product development for a platform that delivers curated vendor matching based on event type, budget, location, and guest countSocial Lite’s mission is to simplify how communities gather by giving hosts access to trusted vendors and giving local businesses a structured way to grow through events.

Education

• Orange Coast College

  Associate's degree, Seamanship

• Rice Business

  Master of Business Administration - MBA, Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations

• Michigan Technological University

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering

  2005 — 2009

• Orange Coast College

  Business Marketing