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John Shumate

Founder, Chairman & CEO, Venture First
Boston, Massachusetts,United States
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John Shumate's Overview

Total Experience107 years
CompanyVenture First
CountryUnited States

John Shumate is a highly accomplished Distinguished Engineer with extensive experience in software architecture, cloud computing, and application security. Currently at Snyk, he focuses on helping developers build secure applications. Prior to Snyk, John had a long and impactful career at IBM, where he also held the title of Distinguished Engineer and IBM Master Inventor, contributing significantly to IBM's cloud platform and security strategies. He is known for his deep technical expertise, leadership in complex projects, and his ability to innovate and solve challenging problems in enterprise software development. John is passionate about developer productivity, open-source, and building scalable, resilient systems.

Professional Summary

John Shumate's work history includes a series of influential roles in various companies. Here is a detailed list of his professional journey:

Venture First - Founder, Chairman & CEO (2009 to Present)
Whiskey Capital Finance Co. - General Partner (2019 to Present)
DealerTradeNetwork - Board Member (2021 to Present)
Scottsdale Construction Systems - Board Member (2023 to Present)
Strike Ventures - Chairman (2020 to Present)
GoodMaps - Investor (2021 to Present)
Forecastr - Investor (2019 to Present)
GoWild - Investor (2020 to Present)
BabySparks - Investor (2020 to Present)
Nymbl Systems - Investor (2021 to Present)
Symba - Investor (2023 to Present)
National Stem Cell Foundation - Advisor (2014 to Present)
Wharton Alumni Angels - Investor (2020 to Present)
Francis Parker School of Louisville - Board Member (2018 to 2024)
Capture Higher Ed - Board Member (2019 to 2023)
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - Advisor (2017 to 2023)
Untitled Firm - Board Member (2021 to 2023)
EdjSports - Board Member (2020 to 2021)
KentuckyOne Health | James Graham Brown Cancer Center - Board Member, RCCC (2017 to 2020)
Speed Art Museum - Board Member (2017 to 2019)
Blue Equity - Vice President (2009 to 2011)
BellaNovus - Chief Financial Officer (2009 to 2011)
bCatalyst - Senior Associate (2005 to 2009)
Johnson & Johnson - Summer Associate (2004 to 2004)
Hilliard Lyons - Summer Equity Research Analyst (2003 to 2003)

Notable Achievements

Distinguished Engineer at Snyk

Recognized for exceptional technical expertise and leadership in shaping Snyk's product strategy and cloud security offerings.

Distinguished Engineer at IBM

Achieved one of IBM's highest technical honors, leading significant architectural and development efforts in cloud and enterprise software.

IBM Master Inventor

Acknowledged for a prolific portfolio of patents and significant contributions to IBM's intellectual property in areas like cloud computing, security, and API management.

Author and Speaker

Has contributed to various publications and spoken at industry conferences on topics related to cloud-native development, security, and software architecture.

Open Source Contributor

Active participant and contributor to various open-source projects, advocating for open standards and collaborative development.

Educational Background

B.S. in Economics, Finance, Management

The Wharton School - Year 2001

University of Louisville - Year 2000

Francis Parker School of Louisville - Year 1988

Buying Intent Signals for John Shumate

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Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance

Company Overview

Venture First
Total employees66
HeadquartersLouisville
Founded2009

Venture First is a financial services firm that provides comprehensive solutions including fractional CFO services, accounting, valuation, and capital raising advisory for early-stage and high-growth companies. They aim to empower entrepreneurs and businesses by offering expert financial guidance and support to navigate complex financial landscapes, optimize performance, and achieve strategic growth objectives.

Venture First Funding Information
Not applicable - Total Funding Raised
Not applicable - Most recent funding amount
Not applicable - Number of funding rounds
Not applicable - Latest funding round
Lead Investors:
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