
Ben Elowitz
Serial entrepreneur and strategic advisor to CEOs
elowitz
Seattle, Washington
Joined July 2025
Network
9.7K connectionsSALTHK
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Summary
Serial founder and operator: Ben co‑founded Blue Nile (late 1990s) and Wetpaint (2005) and led product, fundraising and growth efforts — experiences that shaped his transition from operator to advisor and investor. geekwire+1
Trusted advisor to founders and boards: After years as a CEO and operator, Ben shifted into advising top executives and venture-backed CEOs (often called a 'startup rabbi'), specializing in fundraising strategy, board dynamics, organizational design, and critical CEO moments. doxatalent+1
Builder of new ventures and studios: He joined Madrona Venture Labs leadership to help form and spin out startups and later co-founded Zeitworks (an ML/AI workplace intelligence startup), demonstrating strength in both operator and studio/incubator environments. geekwire+1
Active board member and investor: Ben serves on nonprofit and for‑profit boards (Reboot, DOXA Talent, Dolly previously) and advises early-stage companies across consumer, enterprise, healthcare, and fintech categories — combining governance experience with hands‑on startup counsel. rebooting+2
Technical foundation and product orientation: Trained at UC Berkeley with dual undergraduate degrees (applied mathematics and EECS), Ben blends technical literacy with product and business instincts — a profile that underpins his work with AI/ML startups and data-driven product teams. gaingels+1
Work
Education
Projects
Writing
Guest Post: How To Raise Venture Dollars
January 1, 2008Practical advice on fundraising strategy, process design, investor selection, and storytelling from his experience raising venture capital.
Digital Quarters / Business & Commentaries (author contributions)
Business and industry commentary published under his author byline (archives and articles visible on Business Insider author page).
Hobbies
Public speaking and podcast appearances (frequent interviews about entrepreneurship and advising). doxatalent+1
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