Allan Young

Bro, let me put you onto Allan Young, this dude is the real deal in the startup world. He’s like that guy who’s been there, done that, and crushed it everywhere he goes. Started out with a military background, served as a US Army Commander during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and honestly, that must’ve shaped his whole vibe on leadership and hustle. It’s no surprise he’s all about that “intentional disruption” thing now. Dude’s not here to play small.

He jumped into the startup scene early, especially around 2010, when he was part of Y Combinator’s Winter batch with LaunchHear. That was a company all about making PR expandable for startups, you know, trying to get the word out without bullshit costs. From there, he just kept stacking wins. He founded TopLine Incubator, which was a big deal in SF, and later, he built Runway, one of the largest incubators in the city. That thing got so big, it was acquired by Vanke Group, which is like a massive Chinese real estate and tech giant. That move showed how much he crushed it on a whole different level.

But wait, there’s more. He’s been involved in tons of companies: mediaFORGE, which was an early retargeting ad platform, sold to Rakuten, big win there. He also co-founded Pavo IoT and 11BIOMICS, which shows he’s got his eyes on the future, especially in tech and health. And he didn’t stop at startups, he’s been working with venture funds like University Venture Fund and Sorenson Capital, helping back companies that went on to IPOs. Basically, he’s been in the trenches, investing, building, and scaling.

What’s crazy is that his track record adds up to over $500 million in sales, no cap. That’s some serious hustle. And beyond just the business side, he’s into learning and self-improvement, took the Seth Godin Alternative MBA, which is about thinking differently, challenging the status quo. That shows he’s always looking to grow, to push boundaries.

You gotta see his story as more than just a string of startups. It’s about a guy who’s been through the military, learned discipline, then jumped into a chaotic startup world, and kept pushing to make a real impact. Every move he’s made screams “disruption,” but with purpose. He’s not just building for the sake of it, he’s doing it with intent, with a clear vision to shake things up and create lasting change.

So yeah, Allan Young, he’s that guy who’s been in the trenches, learned how to lead from the front, and now is out here building the future with a no bullshit attitude. He’s the kind of person you want in your corner if you’re serious about startups and making shit happen.