Darren Austin

Darren Austin Email and Phone Number

Founder and CEO @ OnBuoy
Edmonds, WA, US
About Darren Austin

Immensely curious product exec passionate about creating virtuous-cycle solutions that delight millions of users. Currently focused on building OnBuoy, a community-powered marketplace for short-term guest moorage. OnBuoy, SPC is a Washington State Social Purpose Corporation committed preserving and restoring the marine environment by increasing the number of safe mooring options for recreational boaters and reducing the need to drop anchor. Prior to OnBuoy, I developed a new product for the home improvement market called SpeedBox. The SpeedBox project was something completely out of left field for me but something I enjoyed immensely. It required me to learn and develop a network in a brand-new industry from scratch and market and license my product to OEMs in a non-tech industry. I went through the full development and patent process earning a US patent for SpeedBox in Dec 2022. License negotiations with OEMs are ongoing. The theme of my career has been pioneering many of the innovations that form the backbone of user experiences today - including mobile apps, social messaging, location-based products, and cloud services.I have been fortunate to have worked for and with some of the most influential companies in tech on their first forays into mobile. I'm most proud of having helped start the mobile initiatives at Amazon.com and at Expedia and having had one of my products, AIM for iPhone, demoed on-stage during Steve Jobs’ unveiling of the iPhone App Store in 2008.I believe that the greatest business asset is an empowered team of talented, passionate people working together to create meaningful value for customers. I thrive when working with a small team in a diverse-minded, fun, inspired, no-drama environment.I am a podcast addict (as both a listener and a show producer), a disciple of Ben Thompson's Aggregation Theory, Sangeet Paul Choudary's Platform Thinking approach and the Lean Startup principles. I believe that sustainability is a concept that applies equally to business models and personal interactions as it does to environmental responsibility. I'm bullish on the possibilities for artificial intelligence and machine learning and the benefits they will bring to everyday life.Favorite podcasts:The Indicator by Planet MoneyHidden BrainEconTalkAdvisory OpinionsNPR MarketplaceGeekWireAcquiredThe DispatchStratecheryMaking Sense by Sam HarrisHow I Built ThisThe Better Show (#shamelessplug)Products I can't live without:The Oura ring (sleep tracker)The Productivity PlannerDaylioRokuLibbyTideTequila MatchmakerLyft

Darren Austin's Current Company Details
OnBuoy

Onbuoy

View
Founder and CEO
Edmonds, WA, US
Website:
onbuoy.com
Employees:
5
Darren Austin Work Experience Details
  • Onbuoy
    Founder And Ceo
    Onbuoy
    Edmonds, Wa, Us
  • Onbuoy
    Founder / Ceo
    Onbuoy Oct 2022 - Present
    Edmonds, Wa, Us
    OnBuoy is the world's first eco-friendly moorage sharing community. Community members share their moorgaes with visiting boaters so that they dont have to drop anchor. In return, visiting boaters help offset the maintenance costs for the moorage. Working together we can make a difference. It's the easiest and most environmentally responsible way to find and reserve short-term guest moorage anywhere in the world. OnBuoy, SPC is a Washington State Social Purpose Corporation committed to preserving and restoring the marine environment by increasing the availability of safe mooring options for recreational boaters, so they do not need to drop anchor. OnBuoy is an online community that gives owners of private docks and mooring buoys an easy way to help minimize damage to the marine environment while offsetting the cost of maintaining their mooring equipment by sharing their moorages with fellow boaters.CONVENIENCERather than troll around a public dock or deal with the inconvenience and risk of dropping anchor in unfamiliar waters, OnBuoy members can use the OnBuoy website or app to find available community mooring spots nearby or at their destination. OnBuoy lets boaters reserve a specific tie-up completely online without having to make a phone call or leave the comfort of their captain's chair.BETTER USE OF RESOURCESRather than let their moorage go unused for days or weeks at a time, OnBuoy enables moorage owners to loan their moorage to fellow boaters – offering them a better, more environmentally friendly option for tying up for the night. In the process, owners earn funds to help them offset the maintenance for their moorage.
  • Speedbox
    Founder / Independent Product Developer
    Speedbox Mar 2021 - Present
    I’m a tinkerer and a maker. I invented SpeedBox in my spare time as a solution to a problem I experienced personally when renovating old homes. After validating the market for the solution, I further developed the product design, filed for a utility patent, and am currently in licensing negotiations with multiple large ceiling fan and lighting fixture OEMs to incorporate SpeedBox into their product designs. SpeedBox is a patent-pending mounting system for ceiling fans and light fixtures that cuts the installation time for new fixtures by as much as 80% and reduces the need for a licensed electrician in most installations.
  • Microsoft
    Dir Of Product Management, Student-Centered Learning
    Microsoft Jun 2017 - Aug 2021
    Redmond, Washington, Us
    Product lead for the team responsible for developing strategy and incubating a new product aimed at helping students develop SEL skills and helping teachers foster lasting relationships with students by empowering them to achieve their fullest potential in school and into their careers.
  • Microsoft
    Partner Director Of Product Management, Onenote
    Microsoft Apr 2015 - May 2017
    Redmond, Washington, Us
    OneNote is the premiere note-taking product from Microsoft. It is available across all major computing platforms and tightly integrated into MS Office, Windows 10, Microsoft Surface devices, and Microsoft Teams.- Led a team of 12 Product Managers tasked with modernizing the existing OneNote product and evolving it to become an indispensable part of users’ lives.
  • Glympse
    Vp Of Products
    Glympse Dec 2011 - Apr 2015
    Seattle, Washington, Us
    Glympse is the pioneer of real-time, temporary location sharing. Glympse develops a consumer app and mobile location platform in use by millions of users globally.• Glympse platform licensed by Mercedes, Verizon, Garmin, Samsung, Blackberry, Kik Messenger, BMW, MINI, Ford, GM, Jaguar, Land Rover, Volkswagen, Volvo• 2014 Webby Award Winner (People's Voice & Judge's Choice): Glympse • Featured app on TODAY Show with Matt Lauer (March, 2014)• Featured location technology for Warner Music artist Hunter Hayes during successful Guinness World Record attempt (May, 2014)• Google Editor's Choice distinction (2012)• Featured Android app at Google I/O (2012, 2014)
  • Expedia
    Director Of Mobile, Expedia Worldwide
    Expedia Jul 2010 - Dec 2011
    Seattle, Wa, Us
    Recruited to lead Expedia’s foray into the mobile market by developing the mobile product strategy and building an industry-leading mobile ecommerce organization. • Grew mobile UVs >300% in 18 months expanding mobile presence to 18 international markets.• Increased sales through mobile channel from ~$10MM to over $100MM annually.• Oversaw end-to-end redesign of mobile web presence, improving site conversion 37% over prior levels.• 2010 Webby Award Nominee (Best Mobile Marketplace & Services): Expedia Mobile Web
  • Aol
    Director Of Product Management – Mobile Aim
    Aol Apr 2005 - Jun 2010
    New York, Ny, Us
    Led a team of Senior and Director-level Product Managers and UX Designers responsible for Mobile AIM and ICQ. • Grew product revenue from $17MM to $55MM per year while growing audience from 2MM to 9MM UVs.• Worked directly with Apple representing AOL’s iPhone development efforts from 2008-2009 resulting in: - AIM, demoed on-stage during Steve Jobs’ unveiling of the iPhone App Store in 2008. - Apple Design Award (2008): AOL Radio - 5 Apple Staff Pick designations (2008): Moviefone, AOL Radio, AOL Finance, AOL Television, AOL Horoscopes - 3 apps selected for iTunes title treatment (2008-2009): AIM, AOL Radio, AOL Money & Finance - Featured placement in Apple Retail Stores (2009; in-store collateral & on-device demos): AIM, AOL Radio• Member of AOL’s Advance Research Product Team responsible for formulating the next-generation of AOL’s communication, location-based (LBS) and social networking products.
  • Motorola
    Product Management
    Motorola Jul 2004 - Apr 2005
    Chicago, Illinois, Us
    Set the strategic direction and developed the go-to-market plan for the 4thpass (SyncML) Device Management System server product. • Worked directly with key customer accounts (China Mobile, Telefónica, O2, T-Mobile, H3G, SingTel, etc.) translating their needs into new product features and new services.• 4thpass Device Management System nominated for “Most Promising New Technology” for 2005 by Washington Software Alliance (WSA).• Worked with cross-functional teams (local and remote) to assess customer needs and competitive analysis.• Created for product revenue forecasts, product pricing, positioning, roadmap and market intelligence.• Wrote and implemented product marketing specifications and feature definitions.
  • Seattlerentals.Com
    Founding Partner
    Seattlerentals.Com Jan 2002 - Apr 2005
    Seattle, Wa, Us
    As a founder and co-owner of the business, I developed the original product concept, business plan and marketing plan. SeattleRentals.com continues to be a going concern in the Pacific Northwest real estate marketplace. • Directed and managed marketing activities including direct mail, print, radio and television advertising, search engine optimization (SEO), and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising.• Responsible for setting revenue and performance targets, budget creation and vendor contract negotiation.• Identified new markets and led market research efforts to define the unique demographics of customer base, the needs and requirements of target customers, and the individual market trends.• Success marked by early profitability, a customer base of 600,000+ unique users per year and 170% annual revenue growth.
  • Realnetworks
    Director Of Business Development
    Realnetworks Oct 2000 - Aug 2001
    Seattle, Wa, Us
    Co-developed and executed RealNetworks’ partnering and business development strategy for wireless carriers and mobile device manufacturers. - Penetrated major wireless carrier accounts (AT&T Wireless, Cingular Wireless, Nextel, Verizon Wireless, etc.) and device manufacturer accounts (Compaq, Hewlett Packard, Casio, Sharp, Siemens, Mitsubishi, etc.) targeting approximately $3 million in software licensing revenue.- Organized and attended executive-level meetings with major U.S. wireless carriers resulting in cooperative testing of streaming media services for GPRS networks.- Worked with engineering team to access the product requirements and limitations for a variety of device platforms (Pocket PC, Linux, Java, Symbian, NOS, etc.). - Assisted in the development of 2001 divisional business product plan and presentation to the RealNetworks executive team; implemented plans as recommended by senior management.
  • Amazon.Com
    Mobile Business Development
    Amazon.Com Sep 1999 - Oct 2000
    Seattle, Wa, Us
    One of nine founding members of the Amazon.com Anywhere team. • Pioneered Amazon.com’s wireless e-commerce efforts on non-PC platforms (WAP, PDA, ITV and Voice browsing platforms.)• Member of core team responsible for product planning, design and development of new Amazon.com Anywhere wireless e-commerce applications for WAP• Identified and negotiated key wireless business partnerships with Airtouch (now Verizon), Nextel Communications, OracleMobile and AvantGo resulting in over $1.1 million in revenues for FY2000.• Conducted detailed contract review. Structured and negotiated domestic strategic alliances.
  • Convergence Corporation
    Director Of Business Development
    Convergence Corporation Apr 1999 - Sep 1999
    Us
    Company Sold to Amazon.com in September 1999.Reporting directly to the CEO, I represented the DeviceTalk line of wireless data and Bluetooth software to leading technology providers. • Assisted management team with execution of Amazon.com acquisition (due diligence, shareholder communications, documents preparation, etc.).• Worked with VP of Marketing and VP of Technology to develop product requirements, marketing strategy and sales strategy for DeviceTalk line of Bluetooth software.
  • American Megatrends, Inc.
    Product Manager
    American Megatrends, Inc. Nov 1997 - Apr 1999
    Managed the complete product life cycle of AMI’s MegaRAC line of remote access server peripherals.• Successfully managed launch of two server management products generating $11 million in annual revenues.• Coordinated efforts of a 13-member team including resources from engineering, marketing, sales, PR, customer service and manufacturing disciplines.

Darren Austin Skills

Mobile Devices Product Management Mobile Applications Start Ups Product Marketing E Commerce Strategy Strategic Partnerships Competitive Analysis Go To Market Strategy Business Development Executive Management Cross Functional Team Leadership Mobile Internet Marketing Strategy Strategic Planning Saas Leadership Management Product Development Mobile Technology Analytics Entrepreneurship Agile Methodologies Wireless Mobile Communications Market Research Software As A Service Marketing User Experience Search Engine Optimization Business Planning Seo Mobile Location Based Services International Business Mobile Commerce Entrepreneurship Development Start Up Consulting

Darren Austin Education Details

  • Georgia State University
    Georgia State University
    Economics
  • Georgia Southern University
    Georgia Southern University
    Mechanical Engineering/Mechanical Technology/Technician

Frequently Asked Questions about Darren Austin

What company does Darren Austin work for?

Darren Austin works for Onbuoy

What is Darren Austin's role at the current company?

Darren Austin's current role is Founder and CEO.

What is Darren Austin's email address?

Darren Austin's email address is da****@****ail.com

What is Darren Austin's direct phone number?

Darren Austin's direct phone number is +120661*****

What schools did Darren Austin attend?

Darren Austin attended Georgia State University, Georgia Southern University.

What are some of Darren Austin's interests?

Darren Austin has interest in Physics, Mobile, Technology, Social Media, Economics, Golf, History, Pandora Radio, Health, Glass Blowing.

What skills is Darren Austin known for?

Darren Austin has skills like Mobile Devices, Product Management, Mobile Applications, Start Ups, Product Marketing, E Commerce, Strategy, Strategic Partnerships, Competitive Analysis, Go To Market Strategy, Business Development, Executive Management.

Free Chrome Extension

Find emails, phones & company data instantly

Find verified emails from LinkedIn profiles
Get direct phone numbers & mobile contacts
Access company data & employee information
Works directly on LinkedIn - no copy/paste needed
Get Chrome Extension - Free

Aero Online

Your AI prospecting assistant

Download 750 million emails and 100 million phone numbers

Access emails and phone numbers of over 750 million business users. Instantly download verified profiles using 20+ filters, including location, job title, company, function, and industry.