Colton Kaplan

Host of Change with Colton🎙 Podcast | Operations | Strategy | Lean Six Sigma | Supply Chain | Eliminating loneliness on the founder journey | Growing Founder Social Club Community

I am the founder of Founder Social Club, a community built to eliminate loneliness for founders by bringing them together with mentors, investors, and peers through intentional events, content, and conversation.

Over the past year, I have hosted 60 plus events and grown the community to over 26k founders, investors, and operators.

Founder Social Club is focused on signal over noise, real relationships, and creating environments where trust and long term thinking can compound.

I also host the Founder Social Club Podcast, where I sit down with founders and operators to talk candidly about product, growth, hiring, fundraising, failure, and what it actually takes to build.

My background spans operations, supply chain, and scaling teams at high velocity. I previously helped launch next generation automated fulfillment centers at Walmart eCommerce and have worked closely with cross functional teams to drive execution at scale.

Today, my focus is on building Founder Social Club into a multi city ecosystem across events, media, and membership while partnering with aligned sponsors and investors who care about founders and long term impact.

Always open to thoughtful conversations and partnerships.

In my free time, I enjoy reading, listening to podcasts, spending time with my wife, and playing with my Shih Tzu Mila.

Founder and Product Manager

• Developed UI/UX interface and integrated software automating and optimizing efficiency for the customer
• Created process flow and built product roadmap launching 5 products in six months increasing revenue by 50%
• Identified pain points of target market, conducted market research and launched MVP going from 0 to 1
• Implemented agile and scrum methodologies executing sprints resulting in 30% response rate for outreach
• Prioritizing tasks of managing CRM, sales cycle, product marketing, and product and business development
• Executed data-driven analysis of competitor landscape resulting in iterating pricing models and monetization strategies

Founder Social Club is landing in NYC this week!! 

Excited to co-host CTRL Room, a private evening bringing together founders, investors, and creators on Jan.30.

Really grateful to be building this with Leave Normal Behind (Rob Fajardo & Raquel Fajardo), Cliqk (ilias anwar, Rohan Gurram, & team), The AI Collective (AJ Green & Catherine McMillan), and the Lawrence Food Group. 

Could not ask for a better group of people to bring this to life.

NYC see you soon.  👀

#FSC #CTRLROOM

Podcast Host 🎙️| Founder Social Club | Eliminating loneliness for founders | VC Scout @ Headline

I’m excited to invite you to the AI NeoRenaissance Festival - a unique day-to-night experience during JP Morgan Week.

This is a festival, not a conference, built around something we care deeply about at Founder Social Club: putting the right people in the same room.

Founders, investors, and operators building AI for humanity will gather for an immersive experience centered on real conversation, thoughtful curation, and long-term collaboration.

✨ No panels. No pitches.
 🤝 Built for participation, not spectatorship
 🌍 World-class voices across AGI, future medicine, regenerative planet, HumanTech, and new venture models
 🤖 Iconic humanoid robots, including a 3-foot-tall child learning robot
 🌙 A night festival where music, movement, and technology blur the line between human and machine

If you’re curious about where AI, human values, and capital are actually converging - not on stage, but in the room - this is a space worth being part of.

Excited to support the AI NeoRenaissance Festival as a community ally of Light Dao (lRuby Yeh) and help bring founders, investors, and long-term thinkers together.

Get 10% off with the RSVP links in the comments.

#AI #LightDao #JPMorganWeek #Robots #TheFuture

Back from NYC and kicking off a big week at Founder Social Club with fundraising workshop and two in-person founder + investor events.

2/3 - The 5 Paths to Funding (Live Webinar)
With Kat Weaver, Founder of Power To Pitch
For founders preparing to raise, actively fundraising, and learning which funding path fits their business.

👉 https://luma.com/grio20kv

2/4 - Founder & Investor Happy Hour with ImagineArt
Co-hosting with Shawal Fida and Ahmed Abubakar to bring together a curated room of founders and investors in SF

👉 https://luma.com/7q5z9un9

2/5 - Startup Super Bowl: Pitch Night at Wefunder in SF
Co-hosted with Nir Naamani
Big thanks to Baargav Duggirala and the Chargebee team for sponsoring.

Founders pitching live for real visibility, distribution across 26k+ founders, and a professionally produced founder feature.

👉 https://luma.com/tfu7qrsq

If you are building, raising, or looking to connect with other serious founders and investors this week, come through.

See you soon.

#FSC #startups #vcs #founders

Don't tell investors what they want to hear.⁣
⁣
Ben Horowitz was right - it's a bad idea.⁣
⁣
Be honest, transparent, have open dialogue.⁣
⁣
Your interests are aligned. They're on your team.⁣
⁣
If it works out, everyone wins.⁣

Artin Bogdanov, CEO @ SUN
⁣
#fundraising #startups #fsc #podcast

If you are a founder, you have to check out Metal. 

Use the link below. 👇 

#startup #founders #fundraising

👉 Accessing top-tier VCs without ever emailing VCs -- 

While raising $120m for my first startup, I realised that warm introductions from people I knew was the best way to get introduced to investors. As a first-time founder, I had a limited network, and had to jump through many hoops to figure out who could make intros to specific investors.

With Metal, we have solved this entirely -- users can connect their connections data and immediately see who they know that raised from a given investor. 🚀

Building and hiring in SF?

We are hosting a Tech Hiring Showcase on Feb 19.

Limited company spots. DM me or comment “HIRING”.

#SF #techcareershowcase #startups #hiring

If you're a new grad or job seeker looking for your next opportunity I'm inviting you to my next hiring event!

A key element to landing your next job is being at the right place at the right time.

Sure there are other factors like your resume, interview skills and even the job market. 

But how can you stand a chance if you don't even know where to look and there seems to be a shortage of jobs?

That's why I'm creating more physical spaces that focus on helping talent discover the possibilities.

I'm teaming up with Founder Social Club, Colton Kaplan and Mentra Steph Minaya to create more new spaces in San Francisco for job seekers to discover what's next at our Tech Hiring Showcases (previously startup job fairs).

Companies pitch what they're working on and what they're hiring for, followed by open conversations. Simple.

📢 Startups: If you're hiring and want to meet the best talent in SF shoot me a DM.

Funny plug that back in 2016 I was a job seeker at hiring events just like this I always enjoyed the open conversations. It made the whole process more human. 

Now I get to host my own to help job seekers. Full circle.

When: February 19th
Time: 3pm - 7:30pm
Where: Secret Location
Who: New grads, job seekers (engineers, designers, GTM, product, 

🔗 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬?
✅ Like + share this post (spread the word!)
✅ Check the comments for the RSVP link (early bird spots are limited!)

Companies dropping soon!

Tag a job seeker who should come through! Let’s make hiring—and getting hired—human again.

Jamie Edwards

Jam Sessions With Jamie

Jam Sessions with Jamie provides a range of personalized career coaching services designed to cater to your specific job search requirements.

Our mission is to elevate your presence in the competitive professional landscape by assisting you in creating a standout resume, refining your interviewing skills, and optimizing your LinkedIn profile.

If you're aiming to leave a lasting impression with recruiters and hiring managers, we will empower you to confidently navigate every step of your career journey.

Services Offered:

✅ Resume and Cover Letter Writing
✅ Interview Preparation and Practice
✅ LinkedIn Profile Optimization
✅ Custom Spotlight Posts
✅ One-on-One Coaching

Jam Sessions with Jamie has helped over 400+ jobseekers ROCK their job search and set the stage for career success!

CEO & President

Fluorescent Media

Shining a bright light on everything in the tech and entertainment industry!

Editor in Chief

AT&T

Trained and influenced 200+ sales associates within 23 Authorized Retail, National Retail and Corporate locations to effectively sell AT&T’s products and services and exceed various postpaid, prepaid and revenue-based goals. Strategically Recruited and onboarded new employees for specific store locations to create high performing sales and operations teams. Worked with over 100+ different vendors to determine what products and accessories our Authorized Retailers wanted to sell in their locations. Handled planning and training delivery of new initiatives and helped coordinate AT&T's presence at various special events.

Accomplishments:

🏆 Received the Summit Award in 2014 and 2015 for my territory achieving the top 1% in the nation and both sales and service results

🏆 Finished as the top performing territory nationwide in back-to-back years years by spending additional time coaching and role-playing with sales associates on how to “own the home” and effectively sell TV and internet services to customers

📈 Exceeded postpaid activations by more than 150% to goal yearly and generated 1,000+ new sales monthly by training sales associates on having a "plus one" mentality and offering every customer the option to add a line to their existing plan

❤ Increased customer satisfaction by more than 25% in my Authorized Retail stores by providing on the spot coaching and recognizing outstanding customer interactions to cultivate a positive and collaborative culture within my teams

Area Retail Sales Manager/National Account Executive

Managed a team of 15 sales associates in one of the largest and busiest locations in the nation to exceed sales and customer experience goals. Interviewed and hired candidates, handled back-end operations and profit and loss margins.

Accomplishments:

🏆 Received the Summit Award in 2013 for having a high-perfoming store and being in the top 1% of managers in the nation in sales and service results

📈 Increased postpaid activations by more than 40% year over year by keeping my team engaged through weekly one-on-ones daily practice of customer interactions, sales contests and recognition in monthly meetings.

👨‍🏫 Developed and implemented a sales training around device financing which led to a 30% increase of postpaid activations being phones purchased outright as opposed to 2-year contracts

🥇 Created a leadership program for high performing sales associates to exceed stretch goals every month and take on additional responsibilities within the store, resulting in 30% of my team getting promoted to management during my tenure

Flagship Store Manager

Identified customer needs and developed sales strategies to achieve and exceed monthly device activation, accessory revenue and customer experience goals.

Accomplishments:

🏆 Received the Summit Award in 2008 and 2009 for being in the top 1% of Retail Sales Consultants in the nation in sales and service results

☝ Achieved over $3,000 in accessory revenue every month by offering customers ways to protect and power their new device and showing the benefits of buying accessories in the store instead of purchasing through a third-party dealer

📈 Exceeded postpaid activation goal by more than 125% monthly by using specific sales tools and implementing them with every customer to show the yearly savings and value they receive by switching from another carrier to AT&T

Retail Sales Consultant

Huntington National Bank

Managed the overall branch activities for a team of bankers and tellers to achieve and exceed revenue goals for growth and profitability while keeping a focus on operations. Assisted with sourcing, interviewing and onboarding new employees.

Accomplishments:

📈 Elevated branch performance to the top 10% in peer group by creating an optimal relationship between bankers and partners and conducting on the spot coaching, weekly one-on-ones and daily huddles

💲 Generated over $2.5M in mortgage revenue for a growth of 172% year over year through a strong partnership with my Mortgage Loan Officer by creating joint lending events in the branch and meetings with real estate agencies

😊 Attained an 87% customer experience rating throughout the year by observing and coaching to specific key behaviors during daily interactions and designing a whiteboard for employees to increase visibility around client satisfaction

🥇 Enabled my team to take on several operational roles throughout the year and put a focus on reducing client and branch risk which resulted in a 100% audit score

👨‍💼 Achieved 300% to goal in business lending by partnering with my Business Development Officer and proactively reaching out to new and existing businesses through custom mailers and joint call blocks making 15-20 dials per day

Vice President Branch Manager

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Managed the day-to-day operations for a team of bankers and tellers and responsible for mentoring and coaching to exceed specific performance metrics. Assisted with sourcing, interviewing and onboarding new employees.

Accomplishments:

📈 Increased deposit & investment balances by 18% and first-time investor growth by 4% year over year, finishing with a book of business over $102M and achieving the largest growth in the district over a 3-year span.

📉 Reduced teller transactions by 27% year over year by empowering my team to have a digital-first mentality and proactively educating clients on the many different ways to do their banking online and through the mobile app

🚀 Boosted credit card attach rates by more than 120% each year by training bankers and tellers to look at debit card activity and showing clients the benefit of earning rewards and cash back by making those same transactions with a credit card

🥇 Earned a 98% average audit score by mentoring the team weekly on policies and procedures and forming daily observations to provide on the spot coaching and positive reinforcement

Jamie Edwards is a distinguished career coach and leadership expert with a robust background in cultivating high-performing sales and operations teams for Fortune 50 companies. Recognized as one of LinkedIn's top career coaches, Jamie has dedicated his career to mentoring and developing professionals. He now brings his expertise to his own company, Jam Sessions with Jamie.

With a track record of guiding over 400 jobseekers and earning more than 150 recommendations, Jamie specializes in crafting compelling resumes that highlight achievements, coaching for interview success, and optimizing LinkedIn profiles for enhanced visibility and career advancement.

If you're looking to strike a chord with potential employers and become a #1 hit in the eyes of recruiters and hiring managers, Jamie is ready to ROCK your job search and help you steal the spotlight!

𝗥𝗢𝗖𝗞𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦:

🌟 "Jamie has elevated my resume and given me a fighting chance to get a new job that is much more fulfilling."

🌟 "Jamie is friendly, helpful, supportive, positive, enthusiastic, and an authentic human being. He goes above and beyond for every jobseeker. I would HIGHLY recommend him for any of your career coaching needs."

🌟 "Jamie reviewed specific interview questions with me and role-played various scenarios, offering valuable suggestions on how to refine my responses. He not only explained every change made on my LinkedIn profile but the rationale behind each change. He took the time needed to ensure I understood everything and could move forward on my own."

🌟 "He not only reworked and recreated my entire resume to make it much more marketable and give a better "story" of me and what I am looking for in my next role, but also gave me some good tips and tricks on my job search. He keeps a "pulse" of what is going on the market today and has a very down to earth way of communicating. He made feel comfortable and at ease."

🌟 "What distinguishes Jamie the most is his compassion and unwavering work ethic. He is dedicated to his clients' success, always taking the time to ensure they feel prepared. In a field often focused more on fees than outcomes, Jamie’s genuine commitment to delivering and exceeding expectations makes him a rare find."

𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗧𝗢 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗛 𝗠𝗘:

Phone: 847-624-4448
Email: jamie@jamsessionswithjamie.com

I help jobseekers ROCK their job search by offering affordable coaching services that are hands-on, professional and fun at the same time! Your path to becoming a job searching Rockstar starts here!

Services Offered:

✅ Resume Reviews
✅ Interview Preparation and Practice
✅ How to Handle Salary Negotiation
✅ LinkedIn Profile Optimization
✅ Custom Spotlight Posts

I've helped over 150+ jobseekers take their job search to the "Top of the Charts" and increase their chances of getting interviews and job offers!

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Colton Kaplan

Jamie Edwards

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The Battle

Colton Kaplan

Jamie Edwards

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Colton Kaplan's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreColton Kaplan's LinkedIn Performance