Brian Rothenberg

Founder, startup growth leader, and early-stage VC

Brian Rothenberg is a Partner at Defy.vc, an early-stage venture capital firm based in Woodside, California. He has a robust background in both founding and scaling startups, as well as in venture capital. Rothenberg has been with Defy.vc since April 2019, where he focuses on investing in early-stage companies and helping them grow from inception to exit.3

Professional Background

Eventbrite: Prior to joining Defy.vc, Rothenberg served as the VP of Growth and General Manager at Eventbrite from December 2012 to February 2019. During his tenure, he played a crucial role in scaling the company into a leading platform for live experiences, contributing to its growth to over $300 million in revenue and its IPO.3 4
SkillSlate and TaskRabbit: Rothenberg co-founded SkillSlate, a local services marketplace, which was later acquired by TaskRabbit. He also worked as Co-Head of Marketing at TaskRabbit, where he significantly increased the company's business volume.5 6
Venture Capital Experience: He has been involved in venture capital through various roles, including as a scout for Sequoia Capital and as an advisor for startups via First Round Capital. His investment focus includes marketplaces, SaaS, and consumer technology.2 3 4

Education

Rothenberg holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Entrepreneurship and Marketing from the University of Southern California and an MBA in Finance and General Management from New York University's Leonard N. Stern School of Business.1 2

Personal Life

A fourth-generation San Franciscan, Rothenberg is actively involved in his community and enjoys coaching youth sports, snowboarding, and playing guitar in his free time.3 4

Highlights

Dec 19 · TechCrunch

Hotel booking platform Safara raises $14M, acquires rival Skipper

Oct 29 · TechCrunch

TechCrunch Disrupt 2024: Day 2

Mar 22 · vcwire.tech

Defy.vc, Interview With Partner Brian Rothenberg - VCWire

Experience

General Partner at defy.vc (April 2019 - Present)

VP of Growth & GM at Eventbrite (December 2012 - February 2019), Scout at Sequoia Capital (2018-2019); Growth Advisory Council at Y Combinator (2018-2019); Expert Network Advisor & Angel Track at First Round Capital (2015-2019); Angel Investor & Advisor (Freelance, 2012-2019); Co-Head of Marketing at TaskRabbit (December 2011 - January 2013); Co-Founder at SkillSlate (December 2009-December 2011); Venture Capital MBA Intern at Canaan (September 2009 - April 2010); Product Manager at Yahoo! Inc. (June 2004 - December 2008); Founder & CEO at EventTicketsNow.com (2001-2005)