Patrick Deem

Buckle up, cause I’m bout to tell you about Patrick Deem, this dude is straight-up the real deal in the startup world. He’s been around the block for over 20 years, and his story is all about jumping into the chaos, building shit, and never backing down.

So, Patrick’s process kicks off with some serious academic creds, MBA from Wharton, Master’s from Lauder at Penn, and a BA in International Studies and Russian from Johns Hopkins. The dude’s got brains, no doubt. But what’s crazy is how he took that smarts and jumped right into the trenches.

He started in finance, working at places like Banc of America Securities and Probitas Partners. Basically, he’s been crunching numbers and understanding markets forever. But then, he shifted gears, big time. He got into the startup scene, working at MakerBot from 2013 to 2015 as the Project Manager for the President, and later running M&A and planned partnerships. That’s where he really cut his teeth on how to scale and build something new.

And then, boom, he co-founds Voodoo Manufacturing, which is a next-gen manufacturing company. Think 3D printing, automation, all that future-forward stuff. They crushed it enough to be part of Y Combinator’s W17 batch. That’s a huge stamp, this guy is legit, no cap. He’s not just talking; he’s out there building real products that shake up industries.

Patrick’s got his hands in more than just startups. He’s deep into venture capital, now rocking as a Venture Partner at Orange DAO. He launched Orange Select, an accelerator that turbocharges portfolio companies. He’s not just building, he’s lifting others up, sharing the knowledge, and making sure those startups don’t fall flat.

What’s wild is how his whole career shows a pattern: he’s driven by the thrill of creating something new, solving big problems, and pushing boundaries, whether that’s in manufacturing, tech, or public policy. He’s got a foot in the trenches with startups and a brain for investment and strategy. That mix makes him a powerhouse in the space.

Bottom line, Patrick Deem is the guy who’s been through the highs and lows, learned how to build from the ground up, and now helps others do the same. If you’re into startups, tech, or just want to see someone who’s genuinely making shit happen, he’s the real deal. No bullshit.