Karissa Paddie

About Karissa Paddie

Over the past decade, I’ve helped build and scale companies from the ground up. I specialize in go-to-market strategy, AI-powered systems, and solving early-stage growth challenges. Whether as a founder or operator, I thrive in zero-to-one environments by launching products, driving revenue, and building high-performing teams.At Bolt, I joined as employee 12 before launch and helped scale the company to hundreds of employees and an $11 billion valuation. I built the first GTM functions across marketing, sales, customer success, and talent. The CEO called me the company’s \"secret weapon.\"At SafeGraph, I led corporate strategy and revenue operations. I also stepped in as interim VP of Customer Success, doubled the team, and increased upsells by more than 40 percent in six months. I launched the Placekey platform and grew its async community to more than members.As Chief Strategy Officer at Love.com, I built the executive team, launched AI-enabled e-commerce workflows, and shaped the company’s product and growth infrastructure from day one.Now, I run GrowthMarketers, a GTM agency that grew from zero to $1 million in annual recurring revenue in under a year. We achieved 50 percent month-over-month growth and a 40 percent close rate on demos with zero paid acquisition.I’m always open to connecting with operators, founders, and investors who are building ambitious companies. I have a special interest in AI, marketplaces, and scalable GTM systems.Skills and focus areas:GTM strategy, product leadership, revenue operations, customer acquisition, SEO, marketplace growth, AI automation, PLG, SaaS, fintech, cross-functional team building, fundraising, executive hiring

Experience

1. Head of Startups

   Deel

   Jan 2025 — Present · San Francisco, CA, US

   Led and scaled The Pitch by Deel, a global founder competition and brand platform connecting startups with capital, partners, and Deel’s products.• Built the program from concept to launch across 7 regions and a global finale• Owned strategy, GTM, and end to end campaign execution• Secured top VCs, ecosystem partners, and sponsors• Turned The Pitch into a repeatable growth engine for startup acquisition and brand awareness

Skills

• Research Design
• Mobile Devices
• Microsoft Excel
• Social Media
• Leadership
• Public Speaking
• Data Analysis
• User Experience
• Entrepreneurship
• Marketing
• Design Thinking
• Nonprofits
• Microsoft Office
• Community Outreach
• Statistics
• Research
• Market Research