BRETT FINK×
MARKETING MANAGER CANDIDATE / SOUND VENTURES

I help founders

I’m Brett. I run GRTR, a marketing agency, and I’m looking for my next full-time move with a team in LA. Before that: 500 Startups and Moderne Ventures. I’d love to bring my marketing, events and partnership experience to Sound and the companies you back and build.

A bit about my workGRTR / 500 STARTUPS / MODERNE VENTURES
AN INTRODUCTION FOR
Sound Ventures
FROM BRETT FINK · LOS ANGELES
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIASTRATEGY / MARKETING / EXECUTIONTHE INTRO
GRTR / MARKETING AGENCY

From the first idea
to getting it out the door.

Campaigns, brands and the work that gets them launched.

At GRTR, I’ve helped run marketing campaigns for B2B and B2C companies, alongside helping talent build their own businesses. That means working through the audience, the story and how to bring it to market. Old Pal and Houseplant are part of that work.

I’m involved from the early conversations through delivery: working with the creative team, managing the client, coordinating partners and keeping budgets, contracts and timing moving. I know the venture space well, and I’m comfortable with how hands-on a small team needs to be.

STRATEGY

Figure out the launch.

Who is this for? Why should they care? I help founders and brands work through those questions before we start making things.

MARKETING

Find the right people.

I’ve helped run B2B and B2C campaigns and worked with creators and talent since 2018. I think about who needs to hear the story, what will make it land and which partners can help us reach them.

DELIVERY

See it through.

I run an agency, so the job includes the less glamorous parts too. Budgets, schedules, approvals and making sure everyone knows what happens next.

WHAT I’D BRING TO SOUND

Give me a project.
I’ll get it moving.

FOR SOUND

Make the
firm show up.

Presentations, content and events. Clear briefs, coordinated partners and the details handled.

FOR FOUNDERS

Find the
stronger story.

Messaging, campaigns and useful connections. Venture experience meets hands-on B2B and B2C marketing.

FOR NEW COMPANIES

Get ready
to launch.

Audience, positioning and a practical launch plan. Then help get the work out the door.

See how I’d put it to work
BUILDING WITH AI

side.chat + Codex

I helped build side.chat, an AI hosting tool. I use Codex and other AI tools to build and iterate on pages like this.

This page is one example.
COMPANIES I’VE WORKED AT OR HELPED BUILD
Moderne Ventures
PLATFORM & PARTNERSHIPS
500 Startups
EVENTS & FOUNDER SUPPORT
Snapchat
CREATIVE & SPECIAL PROJECTS
Old Pal
FOUNDING TEAM & BRAND
Spaceport
GROWTH & IP PARTNERSHIPS
Houseplant
US PRE-LAUNCH & GTM
THE VENTURE & BRAND EXPERIENCE

I’ve spent a lot of time
with founders.

Hundreds of founders, at very different stages.

At 500 Startups and Moderne Ventures, a lot of my work was events and platform: connecting founders with funders, enterprise customers and partners, managing those relationships and helping founders figure out their go-to-market. It was hands-on work, from putting the right people in a room to following through afterward.

My work at GRTR has included helping build Old Pal and supporting Houseplant’s US go-to-market. I’ve also worked on digital IP partnerships at Spaceport and helped build side.chat, an AI hosting tool.

SELECTED EXPERIENCEMORE ABOUT EACH ROLE

500 Startups & Moderne Ventures

500 STARTUPS / MODERNE VENTURES+
Moderne Ventures
500 Startups

At 500 Startups and Moderne Ventures, I worked on events, platform and partnerships. I helped connect founders with funders, enterprise customers and potential partners, and managed partnerships myself.

I also worked directly with founders on their businesses and go-to-market. I liked how hands-on that work could be on a small fund team: planning an event, making an introduction, working through a launch and staying involved to help move it forward.

GRTR: Talent × Brands

OLD PAL / HOUSEPLANT+
Old Pal
Houseplant

A big part of my work at GRTR is helping talent build their own businesses. What should the brand be? Who is it for? How do we bring it to market? Old Pal and Houseplant are two brands I’ve helped build.

At Old Pal, I was the first employee and part of the founding team, helping launch the brand and expand into new markets. With Houseplant, I helped with pre-launch brand development and go-to-market in the US.

Houseplant’s US launch in Forbes

Snap, Spaceport & side.chat

SNAP / SPACEPORT / SIDE.CHAT+
Snapchat
Spaceport

Creative strategy and special projects at Snap. Growth and partnerships connecting entertainment IP with digital experiences at Spaceport. I also helped build side.chat, an AI hosting tool.

AI is also part of how I work. I use Codex and other AI tools to build and iterate on pages like this one, working through the copy, layout and interactions until they feel right. This page is one example you can actually try.

THE WAY I THINK

I like being the person
a founder can call.

ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE’S SOMETHING TO FIGURE OUT.
SOUND’S BRAND / PORTFOLIO / INCUBATION

Here’s where
I’d start.

I’d start with the team’s priorities across Sound’s own marketing, portfolio companies and incubations. These are three examples of how I could help, from bringing people together to shaping a story and getting a new company ready to launch.

Ideas to talk through with you, not programs Sound currently runs.

FOUNDER DINNERS

Who’s missing
from the room?

A small table.
A few people you wouldn’t otherwise meet.

BRETT FINK / CONCEPT STUDY

Bring founders outside their usual circle.

I’d ask Sound’s founders who they need to meet, then build a small dinner around those asks. Mix portfolio founders with operators, founders outside the portfolio and potential customers. I can bring people from my venture, brand and agency work into that conversation.

WHERE I’D START

For example: a portfolio founder building an AI tool for marketers, two brand marketing leads who could use it and a founder who has already sold into those teams. Eight to ten people in Los Angeles, with a reason for every invitation.

WHAT I’D HANDLE

The introductions, guest list, venue, budget and hosting. I’d ask both sides before making an intro and follow up with a clear next step while the conversation is still fresh.

HOW I’D KNOW IT HELPED

Did they book a follow-up? Try the product? Find a useful partner? I’d check back with the founder, not just count who showed up.

THE APPROACH

Alongside these projects, I’d help keep Sound’s day-to-day marketing moving: presentations, content, digital updates and event preparation. I’d coordinate designers, agencies and PR partners around clear briefs, approvals and deadlines. A useful introduction still matters, but so does getting the deck finished and the work out the door.

Informed by YC’s founder groups and launch support, Speedrun’s community programming and its product demo events. I’d start small and work out what makes sense for Sound.

THE FIRST MONTH / A STARTING POINT

First, I’d want to know
what needs doing.

Get to know the team.

I’d spend time with the team and founders to understand what’s already working and where an extra pair of hands would help most.

Pick something to start.

Pick a useful first deliverable with the team: a Sound presentation, a portfolio messaging audit or an incubation launch brief. Agree on what’s needed, who’s involved and when it has to be ready.

Do it, then check back.

Deliver the work, get feedback and improve the handoff. I’d keep a clear view of owners, approvals and upcoming deadlines so the next project is easier to run.

AND YES, THAT’S ME.

I’d love to
meet the team.

I care a lot about who I work with. I want to be around people I can learn from and build something with.

I probably won’t wear the hat to the interview.

THE CONVERSATION

I’m based in Los Angeles and looking for my next full-time role. I want to be part of the team and community, in person, and I’m happy to travel. If this feels like a fit for Sound, I’d love to talk.

Let’s talkLinkedIn