Loading people...
Dan Shapiro primarily invests as an angel investor in early-stage technology companies. His investment focus areas include hardware, consumer electronics, software as a service (SaaS), and ventures related to the maker movement. He looks for innovative products and strong founding teams.
Dan Shapiro works as the CEO of Glowforge, a company based in Seattle, Washington, that manufactures and sells 3D laser printers.
Dan Shapiro is the co-founder and CEO of Glowforge, a consumer 3D laser printer manufacturer based in Seattle, Washington. Under his leadership, the hardware company raised over $135 million in venture funding and generated $27.9 million during its initial 30-day crowdfunding campaign. Prior to Glowforge, he served as the CEO of Google Comparison following Google's acquisition of his previous startup, Sparkbuy, and he also held chief executive roles at Photobucket and Ontela. An engineer who began his early career at Microsoft after earning a Bachelor of Science from Harvey Mudd College, he holds 12 US patents, authored "Hot Seat: The Startup CEO Guidebook," and created the bestselling Kickstarter board game, Robot Turtles. Shapiro maintains a primary focus on scaling consumer hardware companies, navigating recent corporate restructuring phases, and developing innovative manufacturing technologies for designers and engineers.
Dan Shapiro stands at the forefront of innovation as the CEO of Glowforge, a company revolutionizing the world of personal fabrication with its line of 3D laser printers. Under his leadership, Glowforge has made advanced manufacturing accessible to creators, small businesses, and educators worldwide, empowering users to bring their designs to life with unprecedented ease and precision. Shapiro's vision for Glowforge extends beyond just hardware; it's about fostering a community of makers and pushing the boundaries of what's possible with desktop manufacturing.
Beyond his pivotal role at Glowforge, Dan Shapiro is also a highly respected and active angel investor, known for his keen eye for disruptive technology and promising startups. His investment focus areas largely reflect his own entrepreneurial journey and expertise. He frequently backs early-stage companies in sectors such as hardware, consumer electronics, and software as a service (SaaS). Shapiro is particularly drawn to innovative solutions that address real-world problems, often seeking out ventures that align with the "maker movement" or leverage cutting-edge technology to create new market opportunities. His portfolio often includes companies poised to make a significant impact through product innovation and strong execution.
Shapiro's extensive career background provides a robust foundation for his investment decisions. Before founding Glowforge, he was a serial entrepreneur with a track record of success. He founded Ontela, a mobile imaging software company that was later acquired by Onset Technology. Following that, he launched Sparkbuy, a comparison shopping engine that quickly caught the attention of Google and was subsequently acquired by the tech giant. His earlier career also includes a tenure at Microsoft, where he honed his skills in product development and strategy. This diverse experience across startups and large corporations gives him a unique perspective on product-market fit, scalability, and team dynamics, which he applies to his investment evaluations.
Perhaps one of his most widely recognized personal projects, outside of his core business ventures, is the creation of "Robot Turtles." This board game, designed to teach programming fundamentals to young children, became the most-backed board game in Kickstarter history at the time, demonstrating Shapiro's ability to connect with a broad audience and deliver engaging, educational products. This success further underscores his interest in innovative approaches to learning and consumer engagement, areas that sometimes influence his investment choices.
As an investor, Dan Shapiro is not just a source of capital but also a valuable mentor and advisor. His firsthand experience building and scaling companies from the ground up makes him an invaluable resource for founders navigating the challenges of early-stage growth. He seeks out strong founding teams with clear visions and a passion for innovation, aiming to support ventures that can truly make a difference in their respective industries. His contributions to the tech and startup ecosystem, both as a CEO and an angel investor, continue to shape the future of technology and entrepreneurship.
