Melanie Perkins, Canva
Melanie Perkins embodies the long-term, mission-driven mindset that Feld champions. While others chase quick exits, Perkins has spent over a decade on a single, audacious goal: empowering the world to design. She endured over 100 investor rejections,
holding firm to a vision that was bigger than a simple software tool. This relentless focus on a core mission, prioritizing user empowerment over everything else, is straight out of the Feld playbook. Rather than just building a company, she built a global creative ecosystem used by millions. Her commitment to a two-step plan—first build one of the world's most valuable companies, then do the most good possible with it—showcases a long-term perspective on impact that transcends typical startup narratives.
Girish Mathrubootham, Freshworks
Brad Feld’s “Boulder Thesis” argues that thriving startup scenes can and should exist everywhere, not just Silicon Valley. Girish Mathrubootham is the living proof. He built Freshworks, a global SaaS powerhouse, from his home city of Chennai, India. He defied advice to relocate, convinced he could cultivate world-class talent locally. By building a multi-billion dollar company far from the traditional centers of venture capital, Mathrubootham demonstrated that the most critical element of a startup community is the leadership and commitment of entrepreneurs themselves. His focus on mentoring other founders and intentionally building the Indian SaaS ecosystem is a perfect example of Feld's "give first" principle in action, creating talent and opportunity for the next wave of founders.
Ben Chestnut, formerly of Mailchimp
In a world obsessed with venture capital, Ben Chestnut chose a different path for Mailchimp: bootstrapping. He and his co-founder grew the company without taking a single dime of outside investment, culminating in a $12 billion acquisition. This journey resonates with Feld’s focus on founder well-being and building sustainable, profitable businesses rather than chasing growth at all costs. Chestnut proved that it's possible to scale massively by listening intently to customers and staying profitable, rather than bending to investor pressures. By building a major tech anchor in Atlanta, Mailchimp also became a cornerstone of its local startup community, creating a talent magnet and proving that world-changing companies can be built on their own terms.
Mathilde Collin, Front
A core tenet of a healthy startup community is trust, which is built on transparency. Mathilde Collin, CEO of Front, has made radical transparency a cornerstone of her company's culture. From making executive calendars public to sharing key company metrics weekly, she has operationalized openness in a way few leaders do. Collin believes this approach makes the company more efficient and squashes the internal politics that can cripple a growing business. This philosophy echoes Feld’s emphasis on open, inclusive networks where information flows freely. Collin argues that transparency must start from the top, even if it means being vulnerable—a leadership stance that fosters the kind of authentic, trust-based environment that Feld advocates for.
Rand Fishkin, SparkToro
After a difficult journey with his venture-backed company Moz, Rand Fishkin became a vocal critic of the “growth-at-all-costs” mindset. With his next startup, SparkToro, he deliberately chose a different path, one that mirrors Feld's emphasis on building a business that serves its founders, employees, and customers—not just its investors. Fishkin is famously transparent about his company's finances and even made his fundraising documents public to help other entrepreneurs. This is a pure distillation of the “give first” ethos: sharing knowledge freely to help the entire community. By challenging the traditional VC model and advocating for sustainable, founder-friendly businesses, Fishkin is actively building the kind of supportive, honest ecosystem that Feld has long championed.
