MICKEY SWITZER —— A FOUNDER AND CREATIVE ENGINEER WORKING ACROSS BRAND, PRODUCT AND BUSINESS. NEARLY TWO DECADES OF SHAPING IDEAS, BUILDING COMPANIES AND TURNING STRATEGY RANGE ZERO TO SCALE INTO THINGS PEOPLE USE. CREATING USEFUL EXPERIENCES

I’ve spent nearly two decades helping turn early ideas into things people can understand, care about and actually use.

I started out in design, and over the years I’ve worked across nearly every part of building a company: product, positioning, business models, fundraising and managing people. I also build things myself, using AI and code to take ideas from a first sketch to a working product.

Being a generalist is one of my biggest strengths. I like understanding how things affect each other and getting hands-on. That can mean figuring out the business model, shaping a brand, directing a creative team or building a prototype myself. Making things is getting easier. Knowing what’s worth making is still the hard part.

I’ve started a handful of companies. Today, I’m CXO at Frankly, where we’re rethinking modern insurance. I co-founded SimplyLabs and Tame, and founded Outshine, a Mac utility app, and Merchbart, which makes merch for startups and scale-ups.

Along the way, I’ve raised more than $7 million, grown SaaS businesses beyond $1.5 million in ARR and managed international teams spanning more than 30 nationalities.

I’ve also worked with local and international clients at every stage, from startups like Connie and Uniqkey to scale-ups like Zenegy and Shikenso, and larger organisations like LEGO and Deloitte.

I also invest in founders and ideas I believe in, including Zenegy and Hybird, and work as a creative adviser to Zoe and Garni.

I’m most useful when the answer isn’t obvious yet. What is this company really about? What should it build? How should it make money? And how do we make people care?

Outside work, I live with my wife, Freckles, our son, Ozzy, and our dog, Whitney, in a former waterplant that we rebuilt as our home.