David Cancel

David Cancel is a prominent entrepreneur and the Executive Chairman of Drift, a leading conversational marketing and sales platform. He co-founded Drift in 2014 and served as its CEO until June 2022, when he transitioned to the role of Executive Chairman while Scott Ernst took over as CEO. Under Cancel's leadership, Drift achieved significant milestones, including a valuation exceeding $1 billion and rapid growth, becoming one of the fastest-growing SaaS companies in history.123

Career Highlights

• Early Career: Cancel began his career in technology and has founded several successful companies, including Performable, which was acquired by HubSpot, and Ghostery, a privacy software company. He also served as the Chief Product Officer at HubSpot, where he was instrumental in scaling the product team and driving the company's growth from a $100 million valuation to a public offering valued at $12 billion.345

• Educational Background: Although Cancel attended Queens College for Computer Science and Accounting, he did not complete his degree, choosing instead to pursue a career in tech.37

• Current Roles: In addition to his position at Drift, Cancel serves on the boards of Olo, a digital ordering platform, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. He is also involved in various startup advisory roles and has been recognized for his contributions to the tech industry through guest lectures at prestigious institutions like Harvard Business School and MIT.137

Impact and Recognition

Cancel is well-regarded for his expertise in product development and his ability to create hypergrowth teams. He has been featured in major publications such as The New York Times, Forbes, and Wired. His insights into entrepreneurship and product strategy have made him a sought-after speaker and advisor in the tech community.146

Overall, David Cancel's career reflects a strong commitment to innovation in technology and marketing, making significant contributions to the fields of SaaS and conversational marketing.