Nov 2022 – Present · 3 yrs 6 mos

• Lead 23 Ventures, an AI product studio partnering with early-stage teams to turn AI opportunities into clear product strategy, prioritized roadmaps, and real execution plans.
• Help founders and product leaders move from “AI idea” to “shipped product” by defining use cases, user experience implications, data requirements, and scalable architecture decisions.
• Build and scale high-performing product and engineering teams (local or remote), including role definition, hiring plans, interview loops, and operating cadence.
• Advise on technology and IP strategy, including build-vs-buy decisions, defensibility, and the foundations required for long-term product scale.
• Bring cross-domain platform experience to AI implementation, including AI agents, privacy/consent-first data systems, programmatic ad-tech (buy-side and sell-side), and high-volume email/CRM workflows.
• Design and launch innovation initiatives (innovation labs, corporate incubators/venture studios, startup partnership programs) to operationalize experimentation and new product bets.

Jun 2020 – Jul 2021 · 1 yr 1 mo

Sep 2017 – Jun 2020 · 2 yrs 9 mos

• re:inventing journalism, user engagement, money & Internet.
• Developed product strategy and engineering roadmap for full-stack adtech solution - including a complete ad buying platform - campaign manager, ad targeting, pricing engine and ad server. We developed one of the industry first data exchange that paid users for user permission and contextual data.
• Built native Ad formats and creative tool to help brands buy more engaging ads both on Invisibly network and on other inventory sources.
• Built integration with Yahoo Gemini, Tradedesk and other media buying platforms to integrate demand into Invisibly publisher inventory (100+ large publishers including Meredith and Hearst sites). Invisibly was deployed at these publishers as a first choice adserver.
• First party data platform to build contextual advertising stack for publishers.
• Worked on pricing engine for valuing user attention and news engagement. (processing 100m+ daily event data).
• Hired and built the engineering and product organization. (50+)
• Media
• https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2017/12/06/invisibly-the-project-jim-mckelveys-been-working.html

Jun 2016 – Jan 2017 · 7 mos · Los Angeles, California, United States

• Re:think dating and making new connections. Our patent pending AI match engine helps users find potential matches based on interests, activities and thousands of other factors while still keeping it fun.

Jan 2016 – Aug 2017 · 1 yr 7 mos

• Re:think consumers, platform and adtech
• Launched consumer preference tool "Project Awesome" that provided preferential ad-blocking in iOS app or browser plugin. Building largest ad dataset with deep information about consumer preferences.
• Building integration via openRTB for largest buyers like Walmart to facilitate direct in-house DSP buying.
• Worked on strategic acquisition diligence for increasing inventory base.

Apr 2014 – Jun 2016 · 2 yrs 2 mos

• Built venture studio and investment arm of Rubicon Project.

Aug 2013 – Jan 2016 · 2 yrs 5 mos

• re:imagine Online Ads
• Launched industry's first managed bidder as a service for premium advertiser to help them manage in-house ad buying. (programmatic DSP)
• Leading strategy and technology for Open Platform and APIs - building out partner and developer community, and responsible for App Marketplace. Facilitated integration of newer DSPs into Rubicon supply.
• Built and managed corporate incubator to invest into new products/partners.

May 2012 – Jun 2015 · 3 yrs 1 mo · CA

• TIL Darling is emerging boutique for casual women's clothing, advising the team on content monetization & technology strategy!

Mar 2012 – Jan 2016 · 3 yrs 10 mos

• Social shopping + personalized retail solution based on behavioral learning and social data. Shopience aggregates products from over 2500 stores and using AI segregates it into 15k+ categories to provide personalized wardrobe recommendations. With more than 500k social connections, Shopience is premium channel for e-commerce in 18-25 women fashion vertical.

Jun 2010 – Nov 2011 · 1 yr 5 mos · Mountain View, CA

• Product manage Adplanner for Google Display, Mobile Ads products. The product was used by Tier-1 advertisers to do ad and media planning.
• Worked with retargeting sales team to onboard larger customers with data analytics and extended ad planning data.
• Provided one view to search, content and revenue data to internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide analytics/data support to sales strategy and finance teams for demand forecasting, account optimization and customer acquisition.

Oct 2009 – Present · 16 yrs 7 mos · San Francisco Bay Area

• Active angel investor - investing in B2C and SAAS enterprise startups.

Oct 2005 – Jun 2010 · 4 yrs 8 mos

• Designed and built the email platform.

Dec 1999 – Sep 2005 · 5 yrs 9 mos

• Responsible for managing and growing multiple accounts through technical and business guidance.

Oct 1998 – Aug 1999 · 10 mos

• Design and deliver online insurance solutions for new markets.