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Colin Gardiner

Colin Gardiner

Marketplace operator, advisor, and GP at Yonder

colingardiner
Austin, Texas
Joined August 2025
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Network

22K connections

Summary

Deep marketplace operator background — product, growth, and monetization: Colin spent a decade building and scaling marketplace products (Ancestry, Tripping.com, Outdoorsy) where he led product and later revenue functions. He focuses on acquisition, conversion, take-rate/monetization levers, and unit economics for two‑sided platforms. sharetribe+1
Operator-turned-investor (solo GP / founder of Yonder): He runs Yonder, a pre-seed marketplace fund (Marketplace+ thesis) that aims to be the first institutional check and provide hands-on operator help to early marketplace founders. yonder+1
Content creator and educator for marketplace founders: Colin publishes 'Take Rate' (Substack) and co-hosts 'Wannabe Angels' to share playbooks and fundraising/marketplace lessons with founders and aspiring angels. gardinercolin+1
Active community-builder and advisor: beyond investing, Colin advises and consults (Karta Labs), served as an Operator in Residence at Techstars, and frequently speaks/interviews on marketplace topics — positioning him as a go-to practical adviser for marketplace founders. mentorpass+1

Work

Education

Projects

Writing

I Found Product-Market Fit

January 1, 2025

Substack post that walks through practical signals and tactics for recognizing and scaling product-market fit in marketplaces.

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Take Rate (Substack) — marketplace essays and newsletters

A newsletter and collection of long-form essays about marketplace growth, monetization, take-rate dynamics, and practical operator playbooks.

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Hobbies

Outdoor recreation / RV travel and marketplace-focused experiments (consistent with long history at Outdoorsy and interest in outdoor marketplaces). sharetribe+1

Notes

WWWill Washburnsaid
CGColin Gardiner
is one of the most sought-after early-stage technology investors they've worked with.

Jul 10, 2026

KGKhaliq Gantsaid
CGColin Gardiner
is one of the most effective marketing leaders they've worked with for SEO and AEO initiatives.

Jun 23, 2026

RBRajiv Balasaid that if they were raising a fund or looking for a partner,
CGColin Gardiner
would be one of their first calls as a GP or LP.

Nov 11, 2025

SSSameer Singhsaid
CGColin Gardiner
is someone they consider exceptionally insightful in their work as a GP or LP.

Nov 11, 2025

MRMitra Ramansaid that if they were building a tech startup in Austin,
CGColin Gardiner
would be among their top choices for a VC partner.

Oct 6, 2025

CMChris McCormacksaid that if they were advising a company in B2B SaaS, they would recommend reaching out to
CGColin Gardiner
as an angel investor.

Sep 28, 2025

GMGreg McConnellsaid
CGColin Gardiner
has made a real difference in the success of pre-seed or seed-stage startups they’re aware of.

Sep 22, 2025

SSSameer Singhsaid they've seen
CGColin Gardiner
make a big, positive impact on a product as an advisor or investor.

Sep 2, 2025