David Petrie

David Petrie

Y Combinator Logo Batch: W14

Achievements

  • Co-founded PlayCoMo, hit millions of downloads on iOS and Android
  • Accepted into Y Combinator's Winter 2014 batch with SocialBox/Shopagram
  • Led team at iCracked to develop hardware product Ocean, secured US patent
  • Founded DreamEngine, a marketplace for automation tools starting with graphic design
  • Built VR app Large for creating 3D worlds directly in VR
  • Over a decade of experience in software engineering and entrepreneurship from NZ to Silicon Valley

Can't sleep on David Petrie

Respect the hustle of David Petrie, this guy’s the real deal in the startup and tech game. Born and raised in New Zealand, he’s been crushing it in software engineering and entrepreneurship for over a decade now. No fancy fluff, just straight-up hustle.

So, back in the day, David jumps into the scene with a bunch of projects, but one of his big early moves was co-founding PlayCoMo. Think mobile games across five countries, dude’s got that global mindset, and they hit millions of downloads on iOS and Android. That’s no small feat. It shows he’s got the passion for building products people actually use and love.

Then, around 2013, he co-founds SocialBox, which later becomes Shopagram. This was part of Y Combinator’s Winter 2014 batch, meaning, he’s already playing in the big leagues early on. YC’s a major stamp of approval, and it’s where many of the best founders cut their teeth. That experience? It’s a clear sign he’s all about jumping into the deep end, testing ideas, and knowing how to hustle in the startup world.

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After YC, he keeps pushing. He’s involved in a bunch of ventures, from Learning Source (now Arlo), to PayGlobal, Moviehouse, and more. But what really stands out is his move into VR with Large VR, creating tools for crafting 3D worlds right inside VR. That’s some advanced stuff, shows he’s not afraid to chase modern tech and turn it into something useful.

Then, he heads over to Silicon Valley, working at iCracked from 2013 to 2016, leading a team that built a hardware product called Ocean. He even got a US patent out of it, that’s legit innovation right there. This stint proves he’s not just about software; he’s all about creating tangible, effective tech.

Now, he’s the founder of DreamEngine, which is all about building a marketplace for automation tools, starting with graphic design. Basically, he’s jumping into the future of work, making tools that help creatives and businesses automate and scale faster. It’s clear he’s got that entrepreneurial itch to solve real problems with tech, and he’s not afraid to pivot and chase new ideas.

What’s the vibe with David? He’s someone who’s been through the startup grind from multiple angles, founding, leading teams, building products, and pushing tech boundaries. His process shows he’s driven by curiosity, a love for innovation, and a genuine desire to create stuff that moves the world forward. He’s not just in it for the fame, he’s about having an effect, learning along the way, and always jumping into the future trend.

Bottom line? David Petrie is a true tech trailblazer who’s been around the block, crushed every challenge he’s faced, and keeps pushing the limits. The dude’s the kind of guy who turns ideas into real shit, and that’s why he’s someone you wanna keep an eye on.

Founder ID: 107669

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