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Beth Ellyn McClendon, PhD

Seed Stage Tech Investor @ Free State Forge

Dr. Beth Ellyn McClendon, an accomplished American product designer, holds 11 patents in navigation, advertising, audience, and content targeting. She has an extensive career with prominent tech companies like Google, Cisco, and Netscape, showcasing her expertise in product development and management.

McClendon started her career designing for Netscape Communicator and later worked as a tech lead at Cisco Systems, focusing on early access points and wireless network management tools. Her tenure at Google saw her leading the development of the WiMAX network and establishing a user experience team dedicated to geographic and location-based tools, including notable products like Google Earth, Google Maps, Street View, and Sketchup.

Her role at Google extended to working on monetization and personalization tools for YouTube following an acquisition. In 2009, she transitioned to Android as a product manager for the Nexus One release, overseeing activities such as forward logistics, e-commerce, carrier services integration, and device provisioning. Additionally, McClendon has been actively engaged in investing and advising startups since 2004, managing her investment portfolio at Free State Forge.

Education-wise, Dr. McClendon pursued a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Cognitive Sociology at Rutgers University. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Linguistic Anthropology, French, and German from Brandeis University.

Currently, Dr. Beth Ellyn McClendon enriches the startup ecosystem through her role as a Seed Stage Tech Investor at Free State Forge, drawing on her vast experience in product design and management at notable tech giants like Google and Cisco.

Beth Ellyn McClendon, PhD
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United States