David J. Phillips

David J. Phillips is the Founder and CEO of Fondo, a company he established in January 2020.1 Fondo provides bookkeeping, tax, and tax credit services for startups, offering an all-in-one accounting platform specifically geared towards founders in early-stage companies.23

Professional Background

Prior to founding Fondo, Phillips had a diverse career spanning various roles and industries:

• Angel Investor: Since 2016, he has invested in numerous startups, including Rippling, Turntide Technologies, Flexport, and Liquid Death.2
• Co-founder of BloomJoy: From January 2018 to November 2019.2
• Angel Track at First Round Capital: From March to December 2019.2
• Co-founder and CEO of Hackbright Academy: From April 2012 to May 2016, he led this coding bootcamp focused on gender equality in tech.2
• Co-founder of safeXai: From 2010 to 2011, working on advanced signal processing and AI for safety applications.2

Earlier Career

Phillips also held positions as:

• Public Accountant & Auditor at Deloitte (2009-2010)
• Founder & CEO of UniverCity Tutors (2008-2010)
• Accountant at Imerys (2008-2009)2

Education

• Software Development at Dev Bootcamp (2012)
• B.A. in Economics & Accounting and Technology Management from UC Santa Barbara (2009)
• Attended Y Combinator (year not specified)2

Current Role at Fondo

As the CEO of Fondo, Phillips leads a company that aims to simplify accounting and tax processes for startups. Under his leadership, Fondo has grown to serve over 1,000 startups, providing automated accounting services.35 The company has experienced significant growth, tripling its Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) and team size with the help of alternative financing options.3

Personal

Phillips is bilingual, with native or bilingual proficiency in both English and Spanish.2 He is active on social media platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn, where he shares insights about entrepreneurship and startup finance.46