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Rules of thumb that simplify decisions
Talks about Decisions, Startup and Entrepreneurship
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Shahab Samimi
Investor at Kraken Digital Asset Exchange
Seattle, Washington
Overview
Shahab Samimi is a Product Manager with a background in Venture Capital, having been involved in 5 startups with 2 successful exits. He currently serves as a Strategic Advisor at Global Solutions Capital and has experience in product management, financing, and strategic partnerships.
Highlights of Shahab's career include his role as a Co-Founder and Product Manager at SimplyBylaw, as well as his experience as an Investor and Product Advisor at Alt Ventures and 7 Gate Ventures, showcasing his expertise in product lifecycle management and exit strategies.
Work Experience
Lead Product Manager
2023 - 2024
Acquired in Q3 2024. In the building code compliance sector, I identified significant inefficiencies that led to delays and inaccuracies in permit processing for municipalities and architects. ● AI: Pioneered the development of an AI-driven building code compliance platform, leading a cross-functional team to successfully launch an MVP utilizing LLM Agents, LangChain, and RAG pipelines. ● Leadership: This initiative resulted in a 4x ROI within six months and positioned the company for acquisition. ● Product: Led the formulation and execution of an AI-powered compliance tool strategy, leveraging machine learning and predictive analytics to streamline permit workflows. This innovation improved code accuracy to 73% across seven clients and reduced errors by 80% for municipalities and architects. ● Business: Delivered a scalable SaaS product that improved compliance accuracy by 80% and increased workflow efficiency by 70%. The product's success played a key role in a strategic acquisition, validating our product vision and execution. ● Sales and Partnership: Drove market adoption and client engagement, successfully launching the AI-driven platform across multiple municipalities and architecture firms. The result was a validated product market fit, with increased interest from potential buyers and stakeholders..
Product Strategy Manager
2021 - 2022
The venture arm of Apply Digital, 90 offices globally. ● Leadership: Spearheaded product lifecycle initiatives and corporate restructuring efforts at the venture arm of Apply Digital. Led cross-functional teams to implement innovative strategies aligned with client needs. ● Product: Drove the expansion of Velocity Labs' B2B offerings, tailoring solutions for major brands like Kraft and MLSE. Managed the end-to-end product lifecycle, ensuring alignment with market demands and client goals. ● Business: Enhanced market share by exceeding project timelines by 50%, significantly boosting Velocity Labs' B2B presence. Delivered improvements in product efficiency, directly contributing to business growth and client satisfaction. ● Sales and Partnership: Fostered strong relationships with major brands, increasing Velocity Labs' reputation and market positioning. Successfully negotiated and executed strategic initiatives that enhanced product delivery efficiency.
Investor & Product Advisor
2019 - 2022
Venture Capital fund investing in early-stage technology companies. I was involved in establishing systems and playbooks assisting our roster of over 30 early-stage tech companies in excelling in fundamental business areas such as strategies for growth, product development, and financial planning, and serving as a Board Member to guide product roadmaps. ● Collaborated with early-stage founders to refine product strategies, resulting in successful funding rounds for 5 startups. ● Guided SaaS and FinTech startups from 0-to-1 and 1-to-10 growth stages, increasing user retention by 25% and revenue by 30%. ● Directed API integrations and data-driven pivots, enhancing reliability by 40% in fragmented environments. ● Developed scalable growth strategies, driving product adoption for B2B/B2C startups across diverse portfolios. Managed investments: --> RoomVu (Board Observer) / Real Estate Contenent Gernator Platform --> Stay22 (Board Observer) / Service and Accommodation Travel Platform -> Arrinex / Rhinitus Medical Device (Exit to Stryker (NYSE: SYK)) -> Grow / Financial Insights AI (Exit to ATB Financial) -> LeaveTown / Vacation Home Rental Platform (Exit to RedAwning)
Senior Associate
2018 - 2019
Responsible for implementing investment technology tools, including a CRM, website funnel for deal sourcing, processes, and leading technology & commercial analysis. Built business case and hired, then mentored leveraged market data to increase the occupancy of commercial space offering by 50%. ● Reviewed 15 historical legal contracts (term sheet, shareholder agreements, etc.) and developed new terms for new investments. ● Developed process workflow for investment templates, pre-screening, and due diligence, increasing efficiency by 70% to evaluate +600 businesses a year. ● Led 3 special situation business initiatives, structural opportunities/alternatives to improve the firm’s financial performance, and any other strategic initiatives for the firm.
Board Observer
2019 - 2022
Board Member: ● Leadership: Worked closely with the board to provide strategic counsel on pivoting Stay22’s business model during the COVID-19 pandemic. Guided the company in identifying and implementing innovative income streams that went beyond traditional revenue sources. ● Product: Led the development of a growth-oriented strategy by evaluating key performance indicators and making data-driven decisions. Introduced new initiatives that resulted in a 50% revenue increase, even during a challenging market environment. ● Business: Successfully mitigated the pandemic’s impact by reducing operational expenditures by 70%. Spearheaded efforts in preparing Stay22 for pre-Series A financing, managing the structuring, presentation, and investor terms, ultimately positioning the company for future growth. ● Sales and Partnership: Drove a 33% quarter-over-quarter expansion, ensuring sustainable growth by attracting and engaging potential investors. The strategic initiatives positioned Stay22 to thrive in a post-pandemic market.
Board Observer
2019 - 2022
Board Member: ● Leadership: Guided the product strategy and development to optimize the real estate platform’s user experience. Led efforts to reduce churn and improve top-of-funnel conversion in a highly competitive market. ● Product: Directed the design and implementation of key platform features aimed at enhancing the digital user experience. Developed customer acquisition strategies that targeted and reduced churn while increasing conversions. Oversaw product roadmap and development to ensure alignment with business goals. ● Business: Advised the company on strategies that led to acceptance into the prestigious REACH accelerator program, resulting in a $150K investment. This positioned Roomvu for continued growth and innovation in the real estate sector. ● Sales and Partnership: Drove a 60% month-over-month increase in revenue and a 35% boost in user engagement. Additionally, increased leads generated by the platform by 50%, improving overall sales and market traction.
Investment Banking Analyst
2018 - 2018
IIROC Member firm ● Leadership: Provided strategic advice to institutional clients on capital market initiatives, leading $300K in equity financing for Permex (CSE: OIL) IPO and $200K in WELL Health (TSXV: WELL) investments. Managed client relationships and engagements, ensuring alignment with financial goals and successful execution. ● Product: Led IPO/RTO transactions, private investments in public equity (PIPE), and private placements (equity and debt capital), facilitating strategic initiatives to drive market success. Managed transaction structuring, due diligence, and negotiations. ● Business: Drove key capital market activities with an average deal size of $7MM, supporting clients through complex financial transactions and corporate advisory. Played a pivotal role in positioning clients for successful public market entries and strategic capital raises. ● Sales and Partnership: Executed client-facing roles, from advisory to transaction closure, establishing strong relationships and ensuring continued engagement for follow-on opportunities. Led private placements and capital raising initiatives that strengthened client portfolios.
Capital Markets Associate
2016 - 2018
Boutique Investment Bank ● Leadership: Consulted C-level executives across multiple industries, including oil & gas, cannabis, technology, consumer, and agriculture, providing strategic advice on corporate restructuring, exit strategies, and operational improvements. Led initiatives to address company gaps and identified opportunities for growth. ● Product: Guided clients in the execution of debt/equity financings, IPOs, and RTOs. Structured complex financial instruments, including term sheets, sub-agreements, financial analysis, and valuations to support clients’ capital raising and strategic initiatives. ● Business: Originated $60MM in deal flow and sourced/executed a $1.5MM private placement. Led the structuring of an $11.5MM venture debt/convertible note for a natural gas producer and developed a $2MM joint venture opportunity. Restructured Empower Technologies (TSX.V: EPT), enhancing financial position and strategic direction. ● Sales and Partnership: Negotiated and closed strategic financing deals, including venture debt and joint ventures, which improved business synergies and helped position clients for sustainable growth. Developed go-to-market strategies and facilitated business partnerships to drive value.
Senior Product Manager
2014 - 2016
Northstar was a D2C Organic Sports Nutrition company. Awarded “Companies to Watch Out For” by Food in Canada Magazine, Shaw TV and BeverageDaily.com ● Leadership: Recruited and managed a cross-functional team of 6 including food scientists, marketing and sales. Formulated a product strategy, optimizing go-to-market tactics. Led digital marketing initiatives and e-commerce platform development. ● Product: Involved in every aspect of the product life-cycle from ideation to launch/growth. Defined the product strategy, researched the competitive landscape continuously and drove the product roadmap., focusing on optimizing digital channels. ● Business: Riased Angel funding and increased revenue by 40%, generating $150K in the first year, while improving margins by 30% through partnerships and digital channel optimization. ● Sales and Partnership: Secured strategic partnerships that boosted margins and digital sales. Actively led marketing campaigns and digital sales channels, growing the company’s visibility and reach.
Senior Product Manager
2009 - 2014
Pura Sweeteners was an organic coffee/tea sweetener made from Agave. ● Leadership: Developed and executed a comprehensive product strategy for Pura Sweeteners, focusing on expanding the company’s product mix and increasing niche offerings by 3x. Managed the Asia-Pacific business and spearheaded expansion into international markets, including Japan, Greece, and South Korea. ● Product: Led the launch of the Agave Awareness campaign, collaborating with key stakeholders to enhance brand visibility and drive economic trade. Prioritized product diversification to meet the growing demand for natural sweeteners in competitive international markets. ● Business: Drove over $500K in revenue growth across multiple regions, exceeding sweetener category sales by 162%. Established key performance metrics, including sales forecasts and ROI analysis, to track and optimize business performance. ● Sales and Partnership: Originated strategic partnerships that enhanced market penetration, increased brand presence, and solidified relationships with key stakeholders. Successfully drove brand awareness and established Pura Sweeteners as a key player in the natural sweetener market. Publications: Featured in Vancouver Observer: https://www.vancouverobserver.com/ politics/opinion/agave-syrup-debate-health-benefits-and-downsides