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Evan Maynard
Founder | Gearhouse
Evan Maynard is a dedicated professional who is passionate about increasing access to the outdoors, promoting sustainability, and combating climate change. With a background in aerospace engineering and experience at reputable organizations like Blue Origin, Evan is well-versed in propulsion technology and engineering. After leaving Blue Origin, Evan founded Kotoo, a company focused on reducing carbon footprint through personalized advice and incentivizing eco-friendly products. Evan holds a Master's Degree in Aerospace Engineering from Purdue University and a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Case Western Reserve University. His expertise includes turbomachinery design, injector development, failure analysis, and aerospace component design. He has a proven track record of leading teams and optimizing technical processes. Throughout his career, Evan has showcased his skills in data analysis, machine learning, and advanced technical development. With a diverse background in both academia and industry, Evan Maynard is committed to making a positive impact on the environment and society.
Highlights
Four years ago, I was running a sputtering one-person software startup. I was grinding to give people agency on climate change and losing my outdoor community in the process. In the rare moments I would leave my computer, I would find respite in the outdoors. Climbing, biking, skiing and paddling - anything to get my brain off work and appreciate the things that make us feel alive. I’d moved to Seattle 10 years ago and I’d gotten a taste of the outdoors but had maxed out my ability to stumble into new adventure.
At the same time, I no longer had the big tech company network of people to jump into an adventure with or do something that was a little bit beyond my comfort range and I was tired of adventuring with work people anyway. The people I did meet had vastly different adventure styles than I. Some had busy schedules, some didn’t have the gear to come along on the adventures I was planning, and some wanted to do the same thing over and over again, and in that, it occurred to me that I had been solving the wrong problem. Fast forward 12 months and I decided to reinvent gear rental with a brick-and-mortar business aimed at building an all-welcoming community in the outdoors for both those new to the city and those that just want something new and always at hand. I had some gear in my closet, a van, and zero experience…
If that sounds like the beginning of another tragic startup story, I’m proud to say, not yet! It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been the best adventure I’ve ever taken, and it’s led to the ever-evolving creation that is Gearhouse. Growing Gearhouse has required some skill, luck, and at times, blissful ignorance. I don’t pretend to have all of the answers, but I’m excited to start sharing more about the Gearhouse journey and the trials, challenges, learnings, wins, and accomplishments we’ve had over the last three years. I’ll be sharing on LinkedIn more regularly, but I’d also love to chat over a cup of coffee at that “brick-and-mortar business,” Basecamp Cafe or connect over our Monthly Outdoor Trivia nights!
Thanks SeattleMet and forever thanks to the Gearhouse Members and staff for sticking with us at every turn!
Big news! We're opening up a second location on Cap Hill! Would love to see you May 4th for the soft launch of Gearhouse's Cap Hill location (RSVP required). Me and the rest of our amazing team will be there to discuss the amazing outdoors-oriented social club + cafe + event space + gear rental we've been building.
Can't wait to show off the team's hard work!
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Mesh works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
Mesh offers several powerful features including:
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Mesh is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Mesh beneficial.
Mesh offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Mesh offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Mesh's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
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