John was raised in the suburbs of Detroit, MI and grew up with six other siblings. He had a sustained curiosity for the technology around electronics, which was heavily influenced by his father. At just 13-years-old he began trying out different ways of making money including writing a book, landscaping, and deejaying. 

At just 21-years-old, John started a business that helps businesses build websites. He managed to acquire a $6M contract from Ford Motor Company and also acquire other notable customers such as General Motors. He was awarded the Michigan Young Entrepreneur of the Year by the Michigan Governor: John Engler. 

After several business ventures, John started Zipwhip in 2007: A Seattle-based cloud texting provider that helps businesses communicate with their customers via text messaging.  Since Zipwhip’s birth, John has raised over $90M, currently has over 300 employees, and the company is experiencing outstanding growth.