Driven by the desire to change reality, held together by shared values.

Meet the team driving the studio

We built a team that not only understands creativity, but can expertly wield it to drive the best results. All experts in our respective fields, but as a team, we’re master of one thing: innovation.

Jacob Johnson
Partner, Product & Venture Strategy

Leads venture and product strategy at Gitwit. Has built products and brands for Fortune 10 companies and category-defining ventures. Ensures each venture is sharply positioned in its market and creates growth strategies that scale from initial validation through launch.

Dan Fisher
Partner, Research & Discovery

Dan focuses on discovering the problems that become companies. At Gitwit, he helps shape the studio’s discovery process—combining deep user research, creative exploration, and early validation to turn insight into new ventures. He holds a PhD in Marketing, built innovation and entrepreneurship programs in academia, and previously held roles at Boeing, Procter & Gamble, and Nestlé.

Simon Turner
Partner, Venture Team Building

Multi-time founder with 22 years launching startups. Co-founded Myagi, a workforce learning platform acquired by Rallyware. Leads Gitwit's founding team construction and brings operational expertise to every stage.

Mike Noshay
Partner, Investment & Partnerships

Mike leads partnerships, capital strategy, and corporate governance at Gitwit. He built the studio’s design partner program, bringing strategic customers into the venture creation process early to validate new concepts, shape commercial terms, and invest alongside the studio. His work helps turn promising ideas into funded companies.

Anna Asher
Operating Partner, Discovery

Jonna Baker
Principal, Operations

Claire Ballew
Principal, Brand and Strategy

Patrick Barksdale
Operating Partner, Finance and Operations

Trevor Barrios
Operating Partner, Venture Leadership

Michael Basch
Venture Partner

Austin Boardman
Principal, Product Strategy

Stephanie Cheney
Founder in Residence

Leander Howard II
Principal, GTM

Meghan Johnson
Operating Partner, Design

Jennifay Joy
Principal, Talent

Jeremiah Maloney
Principal, Venture Leadership

Yugvir Parhar
Venture Leader and UX Researcher

Ashley Roberts
Principal, Venture Leadership

Brandon Shearrer
Principal, Engineering

Amanda Treadwell
Designer and UX Strategist

Laura Webster
Senior Accountant

Jannie Zhou
Product Strategist and UX Researcher

Anna Asher, Operating Partner, Discovery

“What I love about discovery is getting to be a beginner over and over. In a single week, I might move from immigration law to cancer care to banking to the psychology of aging. Every day, I learn something new about what it feels like to work inside it.”

Yugvir Parhar, Venture Leader and UX Researcher

"What surprised me most is how normal it is to be wrong out loud here. You put an idea out, everyone pushes on it hard, and the version that survives is almost always better than the one you started with. Our culture is that of open debate, and no ego, and that is what leads to great ideas."

Ashley Roberts, Principal, Venture Leadership

"At Gitwit I'm always growing, learning new things and solving complex problems. I can make a real difference inside the company and across industries, and my contribution to the team really matters."

Austin Boardman, Principal, Product Strategy

“I love that I get a little mini master's degree in a new industry every few months. The learning velocity at Gitwit is insane.”

Laura Webster, Senior Accountant

"I get to take ownership over my work. I've gotten responsibility over things that would often be spread across accounting, finance, HR/people ops, fund administration, and general operations. It's empowered me even in my personal life with my small baking business."

Our principles

The values that guide our decisions, processes, and communication. These aren't on the wall. They're in the work and just make us better people.

Use empathy to drive innovation

Keep finding better ways to see the world through another's eyes. Stay close to the people we build for.

Obviously, get past the obvious

Question the expected solution. Serve innovation, not appeasement.

Focus on why and find better problems

Dig for root causes. Build what people need, not what they say they want.

Be an expert beginner

Never stop learning, inside and outside your lane. Fresh eyes see what experience misses.

Understand deeply, explain simply

Great innovators are great storytellers. Fight for your ideas and win with the most uncomplicated solution.

Demand and deliver frequent feedback

Share work early. Critique fuels greatness, so welcome it and give it candidly.