Jesse Pujji

Founder

St Louis, Missouri, United States22 yrs 3 mos experience
Most Likely To SwitchHighly Stable

Key Highlights

  • Co-founded Ampush, leading to a mid 8-figure exit.
  • Founder of Gateway X, supporting AI-focused entrepreneurs.
  • Expert in growth marketing and investment analysis.
Stackforce AI infers this person is a seasoned entrepreneur and investor in the AI and marketing sectors.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

EntrepreneurshipBusiness StrategyGrowth MarketingCustomer DiscoveryInvestment AnalysisMarket ResearchDebt Investment Analysis

Other Skills

Data AnalysisCustomer CentricityCampaign ManagementClient ManagementDTC Brand DevelopmentDue DiligenceCompetitive AnalysisFinancial ModelingValuationCost ReductionFacebookFacebook APICorporate FinanceOnline AdvertisingPerformance Based Marketing

About

Hi! I'm Jesse, a founder and investor who loves helping people grow through entrepreneurship. I lead Gateway X, a venture platform based in St. Louis focused on building and backing ambitious companies in the AI era. I started my career building Ampush, which I co-founded and led to a mid 8-figure exit. During my time there, we managed over $1BN in digital media spend, grew to 100+ employees, and partnered with brands like Uber, Birchbox, and Hulu. At Gateway X, we work with founders at the earliest stages, often when they’re still shaping their ideas. We’re especially excited about builders who see the opportunity at the intersection of AI and marketing. I’m passionate about building in the Midwest and helping founders realize they don’t need to move to the coasts to build something meaningful and ambitious. When I'm not working, I love to travel, play tennis, watch Pixar movies, and indulge in dark chocolate. I'm based in St. Louis, MO with my wife Deepika, son Ricky, and daughters Serena and Mika.

Experience

22 yrs 3 mos
Total Experience
4 yrs 3 mos
Average Tenure
4 yrs 6 mos
Current Experience

Aux insights

Executive Chairman & Founder

Jun 2023Present · 2 yrs 10 mos · Greater St. Louis · On-site

Schnuck markets, inc.

Board Member

Sep 2022Present · 3 yrs 7 mos · Greater St. Louis · Hybrid

Kahani

Founder & Executive Chairman

Oct 2021Present · 4 yrs 6 mos · Greater St. Louis

Growthassistant

Executive Chairman & Founder

Feb 2021Present · 5 yrs 2 mos · Anywhere

  • We provide trained, full time offshore employees to handle manual tasks for Growth Marketing like campaign mgmt/reporting, design, and influencer/affiliate mgmt.
  • Scale your business faster, smarter and more affordably.
  • Clients include: Hubspot, ClickUp, Calm, CommonThread, Doordash...
Growth MarketingCampaign ManagementClient Management

Gateway x

Founder & CEO

Jan 2021Present · 5 yrs 3 mos · Greater St. Louis

  • We build and launch companies from scratch.
  • Each company has a unique insight and we are building both B2C and B2B companies.
  • Our purpose is to help people learn, grow and be the best versions of themselves through the journey of entrepreneurship. We value being fast, data-driven, customer centric and adaptable in our approach.
  • We will be a profitable, long-term organization with an extraordinary culture and several unique winning companies.
  • Founded in 2021, Gateway X is proudly based in St. Louis, MO., and will embrace a hybrid office/remote work approach.
Business StrategyEntrepreneurshipData AnalysisCustomer Centricity

Ampush

2 roles

Co-Founder & Board Director

Feb 2020Jan 2023 · 2 yrs 11 mos

  • Ampush was acquired in January 2023 by Tinuiti/New Mountain Capital.

CEO & Co-Founder

Oct 2009Feb 2020 · 10 yrs 4 mos

Redesign health

Advisor

Aug 2018Feb 2023 · 4 yrs 6 mos · New York, New York

My subscription addiction

Executive Chairman

Aug 2018Oct 2022 · 4 yrs 2 mos

  • Building THE destination for customers to discover and sign up for DTC brands and subscription services that make life easier and more delightful.
  • We acquired this amazing internet gem in 2018 and are building it independently from Ampush.
Customer DiscoveryDTC Brand Development

Blue {seed} capital

Advisor

Jan 2015Feb 2023 · 8 yrs 1 mo

Milo.com

Advisor

Sep 2010Sep 2011 · 1 yr

Goldman sachs

Investment Professional

Jul 2008Oct 2009 · 1 yr 3 mos

  • Hedge fund analyst at Goldman Sachs Investment Partners (GSIP), formerly the Principal Strategies team (GSPS).
  • Spent time as an investment professional looking across public and private investments. Investments ranged from public long/short equity to capital structure arbitrage to private growth investments. Worked in auto, industrials, machinery, real estate and TMT. Looked at public equity, bonds, distressed debt and host of other investment situations. Evaluated and partnered with management teams when investing in companies. Performed significant due diligence on a number of investments. Conducted 5-10 investments ranging in size from $10-50m in size.

Mckinsey & company

Business Analyst

Aug 2006Jun 2008 · 1 yr 10 mos

  • Served variety of client types, including private equity, hedge funds and corporates.
  • Spent time serving a variety of clients: Private equity and hedge fund clients on a variety of media and telecom diligence work. Focused on market sizing, competitive analysis and growth projections. Served a large wealth manager on a 300m cost cutting program. Performed detailed ops work to understand call center, TeleSales and lead generation techniques and best practices on behalf of a large mortgage company. Served the largest middle eastern wireless player doing a deep marketing turnaround include market segmentation, variety of market research (e.g., focus groups, surveying), and developing sales strategy, marketing/advertising strategy and products for each segment.
Investment AnalysisDue Diligence

Bain capital (sankaty advisors)

Summer Analyst

Jun 2005Aug 2005 · 2 mos

  • Analyzed high yield debt investments in Telecom and Technology companies (e.g., MetroPCS, ClearWire).

Credit suisse first boston

Summer Analyst

Jun 2004Aug 2004 · 2 mos

  • Made copies, got coffee and lunch for traders :) Worked on interest rates products desk.
Debt Investment Analysis

The shirt guyz, inc.

Director

Sep 2003May 2006 · 2 yrs 8 mos

  • Sold t-shirts.
Market ResearchCompetitive Analysis

Education

The Wharton School

BS — Finance and Entrepreneurship

Jan 2002Jan 2006

University of Pennsylvania

BA — Political Science

Jan 2002Jan 2006

Parkway North High School

Jan 1998Jan 2002

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