the Wond'ry

Areas of Expertise: Fundraising, Marketing

Andrew is Founding Partner of GrowthX. Founded in 2014, GrowthX operates GrowthX Capital (a Silicon Valley-based seed-stage venture capital fund), a Market Acceleration Program (helping select portfolio companies find product-market fit), GrowthX Academy (helping people transition into tech without learning to code), and GrowthX Corporate (a boutique corporate advisory helping public companies foster and accelerate innovation). GrowthX’s mission is to spread hope and prosperity through entrepreneurism, innovation and education.

 Andrew has been working in the technology sector for nearly 20 years. He started his career as a lawyer for early Internet pioneers such as Alta Vista, Yahoo, and Salesforce while practicing law at Skadden Arps. He left private practice to join DoubleClick prior to the acquisition by Google. Andrew then joined Thomson Financial where he co-founded their financial news business leading to the acquisition of Reuters. At Thomson Reuters, Andrew served as Publisher of Reuters News and then Co-Founder and Managing Director of their legal media business in Asia Pacific and the Middle East. After nearly 6 years in Hong Kong and Singapore, Andrew returned to the U.S. and to helping early-stage companies. Andrew is a Kauffman Fellow and Board Member of Venture for America.

To meet with Andrew, or any of our excellent mentors, please fill out this interest form.

Q. What excites you most about the Wond’ry?

A.The diverse community of current and future makers/entrepreneurs and the opportunity to play a small role in shaping their success.

Q. What do you feel are the most important skills you have to offer in your role as a mentor?

A. Deep and varied experience as a founder and funder that helps me remain grounded and empathetic, being a good listener, and a passion for helping others achieve their goals.

Q. What has been your proudest moment in your career?

A. Coming together with my co-founders to launch GrowthX and watching it flourish in a way that is consistent with our core values.

Q. What has surprised you most about your job?

A. Regardless of how much previous experience I have with early-stage companies, it’s always surprising how difficult it is on a day-to-day basis. Being mindful and taking the time to appreciate every win, no matter how small, and learning from all of my mistakes, is important (i.e., fail fast and fail forward). Giving that advice is relatively easy as compared to living it every day.

Q. If you could do everything over again, would you make the same career choices?

A. Well..knowing what I know now I would not have turned down the opportunity to join Salesforce when it was founded in 1999!

Q. In your opinion, what is the most important quality for success?

A. Gratefulness.

Q. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A. President of the United States.