Katie Doherty

Co-Founder

2021 - Current

Designed and led the Embark Accelerator Program in partnership with REI Co-op Path Ahead Ventures, supporting 65 founders across 3 cohorts. Built and nurtured an online community of 500+ outdoor business owners across the U.S., encouraging collaboration and peer-to-peer learning. Developed and facilitated 30+ original workshops, providing valuable insights and practical tools to over 500 founders in the outdoor industry. Established partnerships with 3 Outdoor State Business Alliances and Outdoor Industry Offices to support emerging outdoor brands and strengthen regional outdoor economies. 2022 Outdoor Retailer Emerging Leader Inspiration Award Finalist.

Co-Founder

2018 - 2022

Designed and led skill-based programming for over 400 early-stage entrepreneurs, equipping them with the tools to grow in competitive markets. Designed the core curriculum for Saudi Arabia-based Blossom Accelerator, supporting over 1,000 startups. Established a strategic accelerator partnership with Microsoft, supporting 25 women entrepreneurs in launching their businesses. Cultivated a vibrant founder community of 1,000+ entrepreneurs, fostering collaboration and peer learning. Developed a comprehensive handbook providing founders with step-by-step guidance from idea conception to product launch.

Co-Director

2016 - 2019

Led company through an acquisition by a Fortune 500 company in 2017 Managed 30,000 ft^2 incubator with 83 startups, 15 corporate partners, team of 8 Grew strategic innovation and marketing partnership program from <$100K to >$1MM ARR with partners including Lenovo, IBM, ADT, NRI, and AT&T. Directed quarterly meetings with senior executives from international Fortune 200 companies and consulted leadership on startup engagement. Sourced and presented investment and partnership opportunities for corporations and institutional investors including $500M, Tokyo based Mirai Fund. Advised startups on pitch decks and corporate partnership strategies.

Manager, Partnerships

2015 - 2016

Manager, Corporate Innovation

2014 - 2015

SU Labs is an open innovation campus where large organizations, startups and impact partners come to use exponential technologies (ex. robotics and artificial intelligence) to create new business solutions and tackle global challenges. Managed relationships with Fortune 200 clients, including providing strategic thinking on opportunities to leverage new technologies in focus areas and areas not currently on their radars. Facilitated partnerships between corporate innovation teams, startups, non-profits and technology experts through organizing networking events, startup showcases, speaker panels and curated discussions. Strategized product portfolio with the SU Executive Team and built new innovation tools for clients, including an online crowdsourcing contest platform. Led design and oversaw $50,000 budget for a new collaborative workspace for SU Labs staff, clients and partners.

International Manager

2012 - 2013

Managed $2.5 million in sales and client relationships in key markets (San Francisco and New York City). Created global best practices manual by working closely with country directors, safety managers and CEO. Managed five-to-ten persons teams and organized service initiatives in Thailand, Cambodia, Mongolia and Fiji. Authored guides to provide students and staff with cultural overviews and expectations of host countries.

Summer Research Intern - Responsible Investment

2011 - 2011

Interviewed institutional investors and political, business, academic and philanthropic leaders. Synthesized findings for publications on impact investing and community development.