Lessons from the Founder Behind DoubleClick (Google) and Graphiq (Amazon)
Kevin O’Connor’s career is a masterclass in resilience, vision, and the power of spotting mega-trends before they take hold. With over 30 years of experience as a founder, Kevin has built multiple companies from the ground up, including DoubleClick, the internet advertising giant acquired by Google for $3.1 billion, and Graphiq, acquired by Amazon. Along the way, he has navigated the highs of billion-dollar exits, the challenges of timing and market shifts, and the hard realities of building and scaling teams in uncertain environments.
In this keynote, Kevin will share his journey from leaving a PhD program to launch his first startup, to shaping the future of digital advertising with DoubleClick, to leading ventures like Graphiq that simplified access to the world’s knowledge. He will also reveal the frameworks that have guided him: how to identify problems worth solving, how to distinguish between short-lived fads and enduring mega-trends, and how persistence and adaptability fuel long-term success.
For founders, Kevin’s story is more than history. It is proof that success comes not from one breakthrough, but from the willingness to reinvent, to learn, and to keep moving forward. Join us for an inspiring conversation with a founder who has built, rebuilt, and reshaped industries across three decades of technology.
Opening Remarks @ 9:30am PT
Join us for opening remarks with Dina Wagner, Head of Member Success at Founders Network, to get the latest updates from the Network and opportunities for getting involved.
Keynote Speaker @ 9:40am PT
Kevin O’Connor has 30+ years of experience in the tech space – both as an entrepreneur and investor. Kevin is currently the General Partner at ScOp Venture Capital in Santa Barbara. Just prior, he was the CEO of Graphiq (acquired by Amazon), whose mission was to drastically simplify the process of obtaining the world’s knowledge. Kevin was the founder, CEO, and chairman of internet advertisement-technology giant, DoubleClick, which was acquired by Google in 2007 for $3.1 billion. Prior to DoubleClick, Kevin founded and served as the vice president of research for Cincinnati-based Intercomputer Communications Corporation (ICC), which was acquired by DCA in 1992. Kevin remained with DCA as the vice president of research until 1995 when he left to found DoubleClick.
From 1995 – 2009, on breaks from building his own companies, Kevin started O’Connor Ventures, investing in companies such as Procore, Internet Security Systems, 1-800-Flowers.com, HotJobs, and MeetUp. Kevin obtained a Bachelors of Science degree in electrical engineering with honors from University of Michigan. Kevin currently resides in Santa Barbara, California.
Stage-Based Roundtables @ 10:30am PT
Guests Are Welcome!
Please bring a guest! Every member can bring one (1) guest to each event. Each guest must be a full-time tech startup founder so they can bring new perspectives, skillsets, and experience to your chapter.
All guests must be full-time tech startup founders and you can register them directly on this function page. See How to Register a Guest here.
Confidentiality Policy:
All information shared within Founders Network is strictly confidential. We are built on a foundation of trust, and the community takes confidentiality seriously. Investors, members, and staff all share experiences and opinions off the record. In this roundtable forum, we continue to model our fnValues of Reciprocity, Humility, Authenticity and Inclusivity.