Jonathan Sposato

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Jonathan Ng Sposato (pronounced SPŌ-sah-toe, born March 17, 1967)[1] is an American serial entrepreneur and startup investor in technology, media, and publishing.

Sposato is the chairman and co-founder of

Geekwire, an American technology news website, and owns and publishes Seattle Magazine and Seattle Business Magazine[2]. He is also the founder of JoySauce Network, a multimedia platform that promotes American Asian talent through podcasts, TV programs, and news.[3]

Notably, Sposato was the first person to sell two profitable companies, Picnik and Phatbits, to Google..[4][5][6], and in 2021, he successfully completed the sale of PicMonkey to Shutterstock. An investor in companies including Pokitdok, EveryMove, and Vizify.[7], he made headlines with his pledge to exclusively fund startups that include at least one female founder.

Early life and career

Sposato graduated from Whitman College in 1989 and serves on the Whitman College Board of Trustees.[8][9]

In the early 1990s, Sposato held a senior management position within Microsoft's consumer division. He played a pivotal role in the strategic development of key Microsoft properties, directly presenting his insights to Chairman Bill Gates and the company's leadership. Additionally, Sposato was instrumental in the creation of the Xbox, the Xbox games business, and various MSN applications.[10]

Sposato is also the author of Better Together: 8 Ways Working with Women Leads to Extraordinary Products and Profit.[11][12]

In 2016, Sposato announced his decision to exclusively invest in technology companies founded by women, a move that garnered national attention.[13] As a result, he was recognized by several women-led organizations. He received accolades from American Women in Science, Vital Voices, and was honored with the University of Washington's "Man of Integrity" award.[14]

Personal life

The University of Washington his Sposato's efforts around gender equality in 2017 with its "Man of Integrity Award."[15] Seattle Business Magazine profiled him as one of Seattle's most influential people of 2015.[16]

Sposato is the co-chair of United Way of King County's fundraising campaign to address homelessness in Seattle.[17][18]

References

  1. ^ Sposato, Jonathan, 1967- information sourced from Library of Congress Authorities data, via corresponding WorldCat Identities linked authority file (LAF).
  2. ^ Archive, View Author; Author, Email the; Twitter, Follow on; feed, Get author RSS (2020-03-06). "Tech investor acquires Seattle magazine from Tiger Oak Media". Retrieved 2024-05-02. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  3. ^ "Serial Entrepreneur Jonathan Sposato's Newest Venture Is a Media Network". Observer. 2023-07-07. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  4. ^ "GeekWire VIP Party". Northwest Asian Weekly. Assunta Ng. 27 August 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  5. ^ Cook, John. "Jonathan Sposato leaves Google as Picnik winds down". GeekWire. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  6. ^ "Seattle online hitmaker Jonathan Sposato shares his next big thing". MyNorthwest. Bonneville International. 21 May 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  7. ^ "About Jonathan Sposato". Entrepreneur.com. Entrepreneur Media, Inc. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  8. ^ Foster, Michelle (22 January 2018). "Tech icon Jonathan Sposato '89 urges inclusive workplace". Whitman College. Whtiman College. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  9. ^ Soper, Taylor. "Whitman College raises $8M from Microsoft, other donors to launch computer science program". GeekWire. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  10. ^ Sposato, Jonathan (May 20, 2013). "5 things I learned while working on the original Xbox". Geek Wire. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  11. ISBN 9781119452188
    .
  12. ^ Pak, Samantha (26 January 2018). "Book Review: Better Together - 8 Ways Working with Women Lead to Extraordinary Products and Profits". Assunta Ng. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  13. ^ Angel Investor Sposato Is Betting on Women-Led Companies, 2017-11-13, retrieved 2024-05-01
  14. ^ "Tech icon Jonathan Sposato '89 urges inclusive workplace". Whitman College. 2018-01-22. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
  15. ^ Foster, Michelle (22 January 2018). "Tech icon Jonathan Sposato '89 urges inclusive workplace". Whitman College.
  16. ^ Wogan, Lisa (7 October 2015). "Seattle's Most Influential People of 2015". Seattle Magazine. Tiger Oak. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  17. ^ Sposato, Jonathan (4 April 2019). "The tents will not go away until the state helps fund services". The Seattle Times. Frank A. Blethan. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  18. ^ Matthews, Todd (31 January 2017). "How Some Visionary Seattleites are Helping the Homeless". Seattle Magazine. Tiger Oaks Media. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
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