Jake Stein

Real talk, let me break down Jake Stein. This guy is the real deal in the startup world. He’s been crushing it for over 15 years, jumping into the game with a no-bullshit attitude and a total hacker mindset. Started back in 2008, then again in 2016, and kept hitting it hard in 2018. Basically, he’s a serial founder who just keeps coming back, better each time.

He’s a YC W23 alum, so you know he’s got that grind and cred. But what’s crazy is how he’s built his whole thing around data and SaaS-like, this guy lives and breathes enterprise software. His first big splash was RJMetrics, a data analytics startup that he co-founded. That thing was so good it got bought by Magento (which is now part of Adobe’s BI tools). That’s no small feat, right? It shows he’s got a nose for real value and building products that actually matter.

After that, he spun out Stitch Data from RJMetrics tech-another hit, bought by Talend, where he then took on the role of SVP of Growth. So he’s not just a founder, he’s a growth machine. Dude’s got the skills to scale startups fast, make them attractive to big players, and keep pushing forward.

Now, he’s the co-founder and CEO of Common Paper, which is kinda wild because it’s all about structured contracts and open-source agreements. Seems like he’s always looking to simplify complex stuff and make it more accessible-probably why he’s so good at building SaaS products that actually get used.

What’s his vibe? He’s all about rapid iteration, listening to feedback, and building tight relationships with co-founders. That’s probably why he keeps bouncing back with new ideas-he’s genuinely motivated by creating tools that make a difference, not just chasing VC dollars. He’s raised multiple rounds of funding, but more than that, he’s got a clear vision of making enterprise tech less bullshit and more straightforward.

The whole story? Jake’s process shows that he’s obsessed with building, learning, and pushing boundaries. He’s not scared of starting over, and he’s got that rare mix of technical savvy and hustle. Every step he takes is about making something better, smarter, and more useful. That’s why he’s a big deal-he’s one of those founders who’s been through the fire, learned a ton, and keeps coming out with even more fire. That’s Jake Stein in a nutshell.