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Clint Smith

Entrepreneur and Advisor

Clint Smith is an entrepreneur and advisor based in Nashville, Tennessee, who co-founded and led Emma, an email marketing software and services platform.1 He launched Emma in 2003 and served as its CEO until 2017, helping to grow it into one of Nashville's most recognized brands.13

Under Smith's leadership, Emma:

  • Served nearly 50,000 organizations worldwide2
  • Grew to a staff of around 100 employees across offices in Nashville, Portland, and New York2
  • Made the Inc. 5,000 list for three consecutive years2
  • Was named an Inc. Magazine "Winning Workplace" and a Nashville Business Journal "Best Place to Work"2

Prior to founding Emma, Smith worked as an editor at CitySearch.com and in product development at Smallbusiness.com.12 He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, where he majored in history.2

After Emma's acquisition by Insight Venture Partners in 2017, Smith has focused on supporting the next generation of creators and entrepreneurs.13 He remains active in the Nashville business community and serves as an advisor and investor for various startups.13

Highlights

May 15 · The Atlantic
The 2025 Summer Reading Guide
The 2025 Summer Reading Guide
Oct 25 · The Atlantic
A Book That Changed How I Think - The Atlantic
A Book That Changed How I Think - The Atlantic
Emma's New CEO on Continuing What Clint Smith Built

Related Questions

What inspired Clint Smith to co-found Emma?
How did Clint Smith's background in editing influence his entrepreneurial journey?
What challenges did Clint Smith face while building Emma?
How did Emma's acquisition by Insight Venture Partners impact Clint Smith's career?
What are some of Clint Smith's personal passions and interests outside of business?
Clint Smith
Clint Smith, photo 1
Clint Smith, photo 2
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Location

Nashville, Tennessee, United States