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Clarity

Marcus Whitney

BNA / SFO / BOS

Co-Founder and CTO and Moontoast, Co-Founder and CMO of Jumpstart Foundry, Co-Founder and Board Member at Clariture Health and SouthernAlpha. Former partner and Chief Architect of Emma.

Half marathoner, father of two very cool boys, foodie, city boy with a country heart.

$2.50/min

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38 Reviews

18 minutes
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Entrepreneurship Digital Marketing Start-ups Social Media Mentoring Social Commerce Product Development Entrepreneur Technology Leadership Product Vision

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Startup Guidance for Raising Money Outside of the Valley

I've raised over $20M in funding directly as well as guided the companies through Jumpstart Foundry to raise millions of dollars all in Nashville, TN. I can help you with your pitch, your approach and answer questions about how to position with investors who may not be totally focused on your story.

Guidance for Founders

Starting a company can be one of the most rewarding things a person can do. It can also be one of the most challenging. Choosing the right partner, balancing work and everything else in your life, obtaining capital, company structure, market analysis. It's simply not for the faint of heart. I've started four ventures in the last seven years, three of which are still operating and have obtained venture capital. I have a lot of perspective and experience I can offer you to help you navigate your journey.

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Reviews 38

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Reviews

Marcus is one of the most brilliant programmers that I have ever met. He and I shared an office and I was always impressed by his intelligence and professionalism. Marcus is the rare individual capable of learning a new programming language over the week-end while maintaining a balance between his work and family life. His problem solving abilities and upbeat personality made Marcus a tremendous asset to Healthstream.

J Whittemore Source: LinkedIn

Marcus is quite simply one of the most knowledgeable technologists I've ever met. In addition, he's rare in that he's not only willing to share his vast experience, but does so without being condescending. I feel very fortunate to have been able to develop a professional relationship with Marcus over the last few years and often turn to him for advice.

Bobby Addison Source: LinkedIn

Marcus is the type of mentor that every founder desperately needs but few actively seek out, and it's for one particular reason: "no-anesthesia" advice. Your company is your baby. No founder wants to put their baby in harms way; you want to protect your baby, make your baby feel all warm and only whisper nice things to it. That's great if you never want to see your baby grow up. I know, that was me for at least the first 4 weeks of JSF '11.

Marcus doesn't sugar coat, stroke feelings, or waste your time (or his). Like many of the JSF mentors, he'll force you to think, re-think, validate, re-think again and then prove it. He'll share his real life experiences to justify his advice, so ignore it at your own peril. One of the biggest lessons learned from JSF was to detach myself from my idea enough to be at least moderately unbiased in order to listen to people who've done it before. Marcus taught me that in the first 30 minutes of JSF. It still took several (painful) months to sink in.

Christopher Jaeger Source: LinkedIn

Marcus Whitney and Nashville are topics that go hand in hand. So when it came time to choose speakers for the NAMA (Nashville American Marketing Association) panel discussion on success in our town, I was thrilled that Marcus could participate. Marcus is intelligent, relevant, a bold thinker and a confident yet approachable public speaker. I highly recommend Marcus as a speaker and as a thought leader in the technology realm.

Courtenay Rogers Source: LinkedIn

Marcus has a rare gift of being able to provide clear, concise solutions to problems that seem monumental. Spending just a few minutes with MW can help improve your focus and clarify the direction of your business.

He truly is a leader, a tech dynamo and, dare I say, a visionary.

Andrew Hulsey Source: LinkedIn

Marcus is da man! He is the oracle of startups, making it happen – all here in Nashville. He is one of few people, since the inception of JSF, who has been more than active in supporting and mentoring startups; making introductions and doing whatever he can to make sure founders succeed.

If you want to build a startup, I highly recommend just listening to him in any formal or informal setting; he is focused and passionate. Marcus plays a significant role in shaping the tech landscape in Nashville and hustling every day to make this a vibrant economy.

Salil Shibad Source: LinkedIn

Marcus Whitney is a very focused, analytical and energized individual. I'm still feeling the halo of his contribution to my experience in the Jumpstart Foundry program in my daily work life. His thoughtful critique, spirited challenges and boundless enthusiasm are not just personal traits, but hallmarks of the organization and the Jumpstart process. Marcus' influence is not for the faint of heart, nor is Jumpstart Foundry. But if you want to learn fast, develop cat-like business reflexes and feel the acceleration of your business idea in real time, Marcus is a great tour guide and wonderful resource.

David Gales Source: LinkedIn

Marcus Whitney is a force of nature. He combines raw passion and intellect with the know-how of a veteran technologist and entrepreneur. He knows what it takes to win, and he cares enough to tell the hard truth even when it's hard to hear. In a high-stakes start-up environment, nothing could be more valuable in a mentor, adviser or teammate. Having been mentored by Marcus, I highly recommend him to any entrepreneur ready work hard, learn fast and get it done.

Steven Buhrman Source: LinkedIn

Marcus is a tremendous talent as well as the quintessential leader by example. I've had the distinct pleasure of completing my first year in the JumpStart Foundry Program and witnessed his dedication, intellect and passion for Entrepeneurial achievement. He is a mentor who shows his love via direct feedback and challenging convention. Unlike most, Marcus lives the life of an Entrepeneur and has immersed himself in all aspects of the start up community. The Nashville community is lucky to have Marcus and I will personally enjoy celebrating his numerous successes professional and personally. He's simply a great guy.

Brian Shore Source: LinkedIn

When Marcus says he will be an advocate for your company, he means it. We worked with Marcus through the Jumpstart Foundry program, and once he was onboard with Jamplify, he made incredible introduction after introduction to affect every aspect of our business. He makes himself available and, despite being one of the busiest people I've ever met, always seems to find the time for a beer.

Andy Pickens Source: LinkedIn

Working with Marcus is inspiring. His impressive energy never ceases to amaze me. It is impossible to have missed witnessing his passion and knowledge, as he has helped shape the lucky JSF startups.

Marcus is not only a respected leader, but also a personal friend who I have enjoyed watching mature through his career.

Dave Delaney Source: LinkedIn

Member since February 2014