Jonathan Sposato Explained

Jonathan Ng Sposato (pronounced SPŌ-sah-toe, born March 17, 1967)^[1] is an American serial entrepreneur and startup investor in technology, media, and publishing.

Sposato is the chairman and co-founder of Geekwire, an American technology news website, and owns and publishes Seattle Magazine and Seattle Business Magazine.^[2] He is also the founder of JoySauce Network, a multimedia platform that promotes American Asian talent through podcasts, TV programs, and news.^[3]

Notably, Sposato was the first person to sell two profitable companies, Picnik and Phatbits, to Google.,^{[4] [5] [6]} and in 2021, he successfully completed the sale of PicMonkey to Shutterstock. An investor in companies including Pokitdok, EveryMove, and Vizify.,^[7] he made a pledge to exclusively fund startups that include at least one female founder.

Early life and career

Sposato graduated from Whitman College in 1989 and serves on the Whitman College Board of Trustees.^{[8] [9]}

In the early 1990s, Sposato held a senior management position within Microsoft's consumer division. He played a pivotal role in the strategic development of key Microsoft properties, directly presenting his insights to Chairman Bill Gates and the company's leadership. Additionally, Sposato was instrumental in the creation of the Xbox, the Xbox games business, and various MSN applications.^[10]

Sposato is also the author of Better Together: 8 Ways Working with Women Leads to Extraordinary Products and Profit.^{[11] [12]}

In 2016, Sposato announced his decision to exclusively invest in technology companies founded by women, a move that garnered national attention. As a result, he was recognized by several women-led organizations. He received accolades from American Women in Science, Vital Voices, and was honored with the University of Washington's "Man of Integrity" award.^[13]

Personal life

The University of Washington his Sposato's efforts around gender equality in 2017 with its "Man of Integrity Award."^[14] Seattle Business Magazine profiled him as one of Seattle's most influential people of 2015.^[15]

Sposato is the co-chair of United Way of King County's fundraising campaign to address homelessness in Seattle.^{[16] [17]}

Notes and References

1. n2017-076376 . Sposato, Jonathan, 1967- .
2. Web site: 2020-03-06 . Tech investor acquires Seattle magazine from Tiger Oak Media . 2024-05-02 . en-US.
3. Web site: 2023-07-07 . Serial Entrepreneur Jonathan Sposato's Newest Venture Is a Media Network . 2024-05-02 . Observer . en-US.
4. Web site: 27 August 2018 . GeekWire VIP Party . November 12, 2019 . Northwest Asian Weekly . Assunta Ng.
5. Web site: Cook . John . Jonathan Sposato leaves Google as Picnik winds down . November 12, 2019 . GeekWire.
6. Web site: 21 May 2013 . Seattle online hitmaker Jonathan Sposato shares his next big thing . November 12, 2019 . MyNorthwest . Bonneville International.
7. Web site: About Jonathan Sposato . November 12, 2019 . Entrepreneur.com . Entrepreneur Media, Inc.
8. Web site: Foster . Michelle . Tech icon Jonathan Sposato '89 urges inclusive workplace . Whitman College . 22 January 2018 . Whtiman College . November 12, 2019.
9. Web site: Soper . Taylor . Whitman College raises $8M from Microsoft, other donors to launch computer science program . GeekWire . November 12, 2019.
10. Web site: Sposato . Jonathan . May 20, 2013 . 5 things I learned while working on the original Xbox . May 1, 2024 . Geek Wire.
11. Book: Sposato . Jonathan . Better Together: 8 Ways Working with Women Leads to Extraordinary Products and Profit . December 11, 2017 . John Wiley & Sons Inc. . 9781119452188 . 1st . Hoboken, New Jersey . 208.
12. Web site: Pak . Samantha . Book Review: Better Together - 8 Ways Working with Women Lead to Extraordinary Products and Profits . 26 January 2018 . November 12, 2019 . Assunta Ng.
13. Web site: 2018-01-22 . Tech icon Jonathan Sposato '89 urges inclusive workplace . 2024-05-01 . Whitman College . en.
14. Web site: Foster . Michelle . Tech icon Jonathan Sposato '89 urges inclusive workplace . Whitman College . 22 January 2018 .
15. Web site: Wogan . Lisa . Seattle's Most Influential People of 2015 . Seattle Magazine . 7 October 2015 . Tiger Oak . November 12, 2019.
16. Web site: Sposato . Jonathan . The tents will not go away until the state helps fund services . The Seattle Times . 4 April 2019 . Frank A. Blethan . November 12, 2019.
17. Web site: Matthews . Todd . How Some Visionary Seattleites are Helping the Homeless . Seattle Magazine . 31 January 2017 . Tiger Oaks Media . November 12, 2019.