Max Nussenbaum

Max Nussenbaum

Y Combinator Logo Batch: W16

Achievements

  • Founded Castle, a Y Combinator W16 property management startup that raised $2M and scaled rapidly before shutting down in 2018
  • Participated in Venture for America's inaugural class, contributing to Detroit's startup scene and real estate projects
  • Served as Program Director for the On Deck Writers Fellowship, building tools for founders and supporting internet writers
  • Currently Head of Product at Upside, developing private referral networks for professional services firms
  • Graduated from Wesleyan University with a degree in creative writing, bringing a unique storytelling perspective to tech
  • Writes the newsletter 'Candy for Breakfast' and has ghostwritten dating profiles, showcasing creative and entrepreneurial versatility

Obsessing over Max Nussenbaum

Time to spill some facts about Max Nussenbaum, this guy’s the real deal in the startup world. Went through YC W16 with Castle, a property management app that crushed it for a sec, raised 2 mil and grew like crazy before shutting down in 2018. But trust me, that’s just the surface.

Max’s story? It’s all about jumping into shit, messing around, and then building something that actually matters. He’s not your typical tech guy. Dude started out as a creative writer, graduated from Wesleyan in 2012 with a degree in creative writing, like, not your usual startup founder background. But that’s what makes him interesting. He’s always been about stories, connecting dots, making stuff that sticks.

Before Castle, he was part of Venture for America’s first class, moving down to Detroit, soaking in the grind, helping buy and renovate an abandoned mansion with some future co-founders, talk about hustle. He’s also done a bit of everything: graphic design, web dev, ghostwriting dating profiles, no bullshit, just trying stuff out.

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He’s also been part of cool projects like On Deck, where he was Program Director for the Writers Fellowship. Basically, he built tools for founders and helped internet writers get their stuff out there. Now he’s Head of Product at Upside, building private referral networks for pros, still doing the same thing: connecting people, making infrastructure that’s the backbone for businesses.

What’s wild is his drive to do ambitious shit but keep it fun. He’s all about having a good time while making moves. Dude’s not just about the grind, he wants to create, inspire, and push boundaries. Writes a newsletter called ‘Candy for Breakfast’, straight up, he’s got a creative streak that runs deep.

So why should you care? Because Max’s process shows that starting something isn’t just about the product, it’s about the hustle, the stories, the weird detours, and the passion to do stuff that actually sticks. He’s been there, done that, and keeps moving. That’s the guy who’s gonna keep shaking things up, no cap.

Founder ID: 107106

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