NextMe

NextMe is a modern virtual waiting room that makes it simple for the service industry to manage their waitlist and serve more guests. Eliminate long lines and create amazing first impressions, all while saving money on outdated technology.

CEO / Co-Founder

Vault Innovation Group

Vault Innovation Group is an agency focused on building and growing mobile and web businesses through innovation.  We pride ourselves in delivering the entire software development cycles from beginning to end.  This includes research/consulting, user experience design, visual design, branding, development, and post launch services.

Business Development Executive

Shatkin Arbor

Shatkin Arbor, Inc., a futures brokerage and clearing company, provides trading tools and professional services to novice traders and hedge funds in the United States. It provides CBOT on-site trading, execution, and support and training services. The company was incorporated in 1990 and is based in Chicago, Illinois. As of August 2008, Shatkin Arbor, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Macquarie Futures USA Inc.

Analyst

I’m the son of a South Korean immigrant and entrepreneur. My single-parent mother taught me the value of hard work and resilience by involving me in her small dry cleaning and salon business, where I learned the ropes behind the cash register.

My entrepreneurial journey began early. Teaming up with my brother James, we launched our first business offering dog walking services to our mom’s customers. What started as a way to help out quickly turned into a thriving venture, serving 50+ clients and helping our mom pay off school tuition.

In college, my passion for entrepreneurship deepened during my internship as an analyst at the Chicago Board of Trade. Working closely with business owners and entrepreneurs, I saw firsthand the challenges and rewards of running a business, which further fueled my drive.

Today, I’m the Co-Founder and CEO of NextMe, a modern virtual waiting room designed to help the service industry, manage their waitlists and retain more guests. Whether it’s a busy restaurant, a packed event, or a delayed doctor's appointment, NextMe makes the waiting experience seamless so businesses can focus on delighting their customers. Since launching, we’ve been featured in Forbes, The Eater, EventMB, Food & Wine Magazine, and the Chicago Tribune for our innovative approach.

I’m also passionate about giving back to the entrepreneurial community. I serve as a mentor at DePaul University’s Coleman Entrepreneurship Center and at The Garage, Northwestern University’s hub for student entrepreneurship and innovation. Empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs to dream big and make their mark is something I care deeply about.

John Y.

Making waiting more meaningful. Building a modern virtual waiting room that helps businesses serve and retain more customers.

Partner

Etsy

After Reverb was acquired, worked across Etsy’s House of Brands (Reverb, Etsy, Depop) with a focus on mobile/native strategy.

Senior Product Manager

Reverb

Led product development for Reverb’s native apps (iOS & Android) through an acquisition by Etsy in 2019 and beyond. Worked closely with web teams and leadership to launch cross-platform features and create a wholistic and intuitive e-commerce experience. Making the world more musical!

Managed product development for 5+ startups in an agency setting. Projects spanned multiples verticals, including music, architecture, esports, cannabis, and lead generation. Advised founders on creative strategy, branding and design and helped launch early stage products, some of which have gone on to be acquired or raise series stage capital.

Creative Director

UCAN (Chicago)

Spent a fellowship year heading up tech initiatives for a nonprofit specializing in violence prevention and youth advocacy.

Project Manager

New Sector Alliance

Member of a 17-person cohort of fellows dedicated to the social impact space. Attended workshops and seminars while serving at organizations that addressed critical problems, including: closing the achievement gap, improving technology in the social sector, and expanding access to healthcare.

RISE Fellow

Personal, Inc.

Helped develop, test, and market a browser extension that allows users to fill out complex online forms with a single click. The product is compatible with over 400,000 forms and becomes smarter over time as it captures and securely stores your reusable data. I collaborated with development teams in Bosnia and Kenya to solve bugs and improve functioning in preparation for its release. It has since been dubbed "form-completing wizardry" by Digital Trends.

Project Manager (Form Ops)

The Badger Herald

Managed a team of 20+ photographers to cover campus and national events for the nation's largest independent student newspaper. I photographed a variety of events and developed an extensive knowledge of the Adobe Creative Suite. Daily production required coordinating with other department heads and editing photos (for web and print) to ensure that content was aesthetically pleasing.

taplio

The Battle

John Y.

Andrew Fate

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