RM

Ryan McDonough

Retired CFO, Founder at Accompany; Artist & Tinkerer

Los Altos, California

Work Experience

2019

  • Occasional Artist, Founder

    2019

    Acrylic & mixed media artist helping people find pieces to love, while doing good. All art sales and commissions directly benefits charities. The final step to the purchasing process requires submitting proof of the agreed amount being donation to one of my supported causes: The V Foundation for Cancer Research, The Equal Justice Initiative or Covenant House.

  • Board of Directors

    2008 - 2024

    The V Foundation Wine Celebration is a wine event and auction benefiting The V Foundation for Cancer Research. Since its founding in 1999, the auction has raised over $158 million to support the V Foundation’s mission of funding game-changing research and all-star scientists to accelerate victory over cancer and save lives. Currently holding 11 consecutive 4-star (highest) ratings from Charity Navigator, America’s largest evaluator of charities, the V Foundation is among the top 2% of all charities evaluated. https://winecelebration.v.org/

2013 - 2018

  • CFO

    2013 - 2018

    Accompany developed comprehensive, real-time profiles for hundreds of millions of professionals. Our AI-driven database provided rich, relevant insights for millions of people and companies, so our users could always find the right people and build stronger relationships. Founded in 2013 by Amy Chang, Matthias Ruhl, and Ryan McDonough. Accompany was headquartered in Los Altos, California. The company was backed by CRV, ICONIQ Capital, Ignition Partners and Cowboy Ventures. Over the course of 3 funding rounds, Accompany raised $40.5M. Accompany was acquired by Cisco Systems in May 2018.

  • Venture Partner

    2011 - 2013

    Allegro brings 20 years of experience investing in seed and early-stage technology to bear. The firm focuses on the 'engines behind the brands' - SaaS companies that power the products & the services we use every day.

2010 - 2011

  • Operationally-focused CFO

    2010 - 2011

    Oversaw financial planning & operations to help Ning achieve its business objectives and scale for the future. During his two years with the company, Ryan shepherded the business from a freemium model to focusing exclusively on its subscription business, increasing the paid user base by 5X. In addition to leading the pricing strategy, Ryan stripped millions in annual spend out of the cost base, instituted professional finance operations and laid the foundation for a metrics driven business. The turnaround resulted in Ning's acquisition by Glam Media completed in December 2011. At the time, the combined company was the second largest social media company in the world with more than 250 million monthly unique users, and more than 100,000 publishers and content creators.

  • Venture Partner

    2007 - 2010

    Constantin Partners is an investment partnership focused primarily on seed-stage software and internet infrastructure companies. We are typically the first money in and follow on through the life of the investment. Over the past 10 years of investing, our portfolio has included such companies as Bazaarvoice, Tripwire Security Systems, EzRez Software, Coremetrics, Experience Project, and Garage Technology Ventures.

2007 - 2007

  • Founder, CEO

    2007 - 2007

2004 - 2006

  • Engagement Manager

    2004 - 2006

    Advised clients across the US on a range of strategic, operational, and management issues. High-tech & telecom strategy and ops improvement * Created the worldwide sales model playbook for a global IT company * Led region-wide initiative for applying lean concepts to a major US telco's back-office. Developed, tested and deployed in a live environment before leading rollout teams across the region Financial svcs * Identified product portfolio gaps and developed specific product recommendations for a major brokerage firm's cash/deposit business * Assisted a leading brokerage firm in the development of its 5 year strategic plan Retail strategy and ops improvement * Determined the global retail strategy for a leading footwear manufacturer; met regularly with the CEO and top mgmt to discuss the strategy * Developed customer-level P&Ls for a major bathware manufacturer to enable differentiated pricing, to ID underwater accounts, and to support key customer account changes

  • VP, Operations

    2001 - 2004

    Silvercreek Development Company is a premiere general contractor in the San Francisco Bay Area. The company specializes in providing luxury swimming pools, spas and water features for clients across the Peninsula, including homeowners and general contractors in Woodside, Atherton, Palo Alto, Portola Valley, and Los Altos.

1998 - 2001

  • Sr. Business Analyst

    1998 - 2001

    Served clients across the globe as a part of the San Francisco, London and Tel Aviv offices. * Developed the mobile data strategy for one of the world’s largest software manufacturers * Designed the Asian market entry strategy for a European mobile portal * Developed the wireless and home-networking investment strategy for an Israeli VC with over $500M under management * Advised a leading Israeli ISP on its business product portfolio, including the pricing of its leased lines, IT integration services, and web hosting businesses * Defined the pan-European web and applications hosting strategy for a major Scandinavian operator, including outlining its value proposition and partnership strategy * Counseled a US mobile operator on strategic growth opportunities, including mobile data investments, cellular license acquisitions and key rate changes