John Brownell

Alright, let me tell you about John Brownell, this guy’s the real deal in the startup game. So, he’s from Montana, a total tech nerd who’s been crushing it since the early 2000s. He went to the University of Montana, which is cool, but what really sets him apart is his hustle and passion for building shit that actually works.

He jumped into the tech scene as Lead Dev at Pyron Technologies around 2004, where he sharpened his skills big time. That was his bootcamp, learning the ropes, leading teams, making things happen. Then, around 2009 or 2010, he co-founded Submittable, which is basically a cloud-based platform for managing submissions, think grants, manuscripts, art, you name it. It’s the kind of software that’s simple but strong, and it’s become the go-to for a ton of organizations.

Brownell wasn’t just a founder, he was CTO, the guy coding and building the tech backbone. He stayed in that role till 2018, steering the ship through all the growth, innovation, and hustle. What’s crazy is, he’s not just some tech guy, he’s also a musician and songwriter. After leaving Submittable, he challenged himself to write a song a week in 2019. No cap. That’s the kind of creative fire he’s got, always pushing boundaries, never settling.

What does this tell you about him? Well, he’s not just about the tech grind. He’s deeply curious, super passionate about projects, and he’s got that entrepreneurial DNA, the kind that’s willing to jump into the unknown, build something meaningful, and stay connected to his roots. You can see it in how he stayed active in the Missoula tech and creative communities, even after all the success. He’s about giving back, staying real, and keeping the passion alive.

So, in a nutshell: John Brownell is a tech founder who built one of the coolest submission management platforms out there, but he’s also a creative soul with a rebellious streak. His process is all about hustle, innovation, and staying true to what drives him, whether that’s building software or writing a song a week just for the hell of it. That’s why he’s someone you gotta watch, he’s the guy who proves that tech isn’t just about code, it’s about passion and the weird, beautiful mix of creativity and hustle.