Ben Maitland-Lewis

Mid-Career Transitioning Executive and Founder with 20+ years of experience.

Ben Maitland-Lewis is a seasoned entrepreneur and business strategist with over 20 years of experience in building, marketing, and raising capital for various ventures. He served as the Founder In Residence at Wefunder from November 2021 to April 2023, where he played a significant role in helping startups raise approximately $40 million through Regulation Crowdfunding (RegCF) initiatives. During his tenure, he managed teams, introduced new sales processes, and educated both founders and investors on advancements in the crowdfunding industry.1

Prior to his role at Wefunder, Maitland-Lewis was the CEO of Pretty Instant, a pioneering on-demand photography platform that was acquired by Snappr. His background also includes a notable career in the music industry, where he toured as a professional musician and worked as a marketing director for SonyBMG. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and a Y Combinator alum, which highlights his entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to innovation.1

Currently, he holds the position of Director of Startup Banking & Founder Success at Silicon Valley Bank, where he continues to support startups and founders in their growth journeys.2

Experience

Mentor at Techstars

Boston TechJam (June 2013 - Present), Founder In Residence at Wefunder (Nov 2021 - Apr 2023); CEO and Co-Founder at Pretty Instant (Jan 2015 - Aug 2021); Venture (W15) at Y Combinator (2015); Director at Sony Music Entertainment (Jun 2002 - May 2007)

Education

BA in Music Business & Entrepreneurship from Berklee College of Music (2002-2006); Doctor of Mixology certification from Harvard University (2010); Participant in W15 Batch at Y Combinator (2015)