Colton Kaplan

Host of Change with Colton🎙 Podcast | Operations | Strategy | Lean Six Sigma | Supply Chain | Eliminating loneliness on the founder journey | Growing Founder Social Club Community

I am the founder of Founder Social Club, a community built to eliminate loneliness for founders by bringing them together with mentors, investors, and peers through intentional events, content, and conversation.

Over the past year, I have hosted 60 plus events and grown the community to over 26k founders, investors, and operators.

Founder Social Club is focused on signal over noise, real relationships, and creating environments where trust and long term thinking can compound.

I also host the Founder Social Club Podcast, where I sit down with founders and operators to talk candidly about product, growth, hiring, fundraising, failure, and what it actually takes to build.

My background spans operations, supply chain, and scaling teams at high velocity. I previously helped launch next generation automated fulfillment centers at Walmart eCommerce and have worked closely with cross functional teams to drive execution at scale.

Today, my focus is on building Founder Social Club into a multi city ecosystem across events, media, and membership while partnering with aligned sponsors and investors who care about founders and long term impact.

Always open to thoughtful conversations and partnerships.

In my free time, I enjoy reading, listening to podcasts, spending time with my wife, and playing with my Shih Tzu Mila.

Founder and Product Manager

• Developed UI/UX interface and integrated software automating and optimizing efficiency for the customer
• Created process flow and built product roadmap launching 5 products in six months increasing revenue by 50%
• Identified pain points of target market, conducted market research and launched MVP going from 0 to 1
• Implemented agile and scrum methodologies executing sprints resulting in 30% response rate for outreach
• Prioritizing tasks of managing CRM, sales cycle, product marketing, and product and business development
• Executed data-driven analysis of competitor landscape resulting in iterating pricing models and monetization strategies

Founder Social Club is landing in NYC this week!! 

Excited to co-host CTRL Room, a private evening bringing together founders, investors, and creators on Jan.30.

Really grateful to be building this with Leave Normal Behind (Rob Fajardo & Raquel Fajardo), Cliqk (ilias anwar, Rohan Gurram, & team), The AI Collective (AJ Green & Catherine McMillan), and the Lawrence Food Group. 

Could not ask for a better group of people to bring this to life.

NYC see you soon.  👀

#FSC #CTRLROOM

Podcast Host 🎙️| Founder Social Club | Eliminating loneliness for founders | VC Scout @ Headline

I’m excited to invite you to the AI NeoRenaissance Festival - a unique day-to-night experience during JP Morgan Week.

This is a festival, not a conference, built around something we care deeply about at Founder Social Club: putting the right people in the same room.

Founders, investors, and operators building AI for humanity will gather for an immersive experience centered on real conversation, thoughtful curation, and long-term collaboration.

✨ No panels. No pitches.
 🤝 Built for participation, not spectatorship
 🌍 World-class voices across AGI, future medicine, regenerative planet, HumanTech, and new venture models
 🤖 Iconic humanoid robots, including a 3-foot-tall child learning robot
 🌙 A night festival where music, movement, and technology blur the line between human and machine

If you’re curious about where AI, human values, and capital are actually converging - not on stage, but in the room - this is a space worth being part of.

Excited to support the AI NeoRenaissance Festival as a community ally of Light Dao (lRuby Yeh) and help bring founders, investors, and long-term thinkers together.

Get 10% off with the RSVP links in the comments.

#AI #LightDao #JPMorganWeek #Robots #TheFuture

Don't tell investors what they want to hear.⁣
⁣
Ben Horowitz was right - it's a bad idea.⁣
⁣
Be honest, transparent, have open dialogue.⁣
⁣
Your interests are aligned. They're on your team.⁣
⁣
If it works out, everyone wins.⁣

Artin Bogdanov, CEO @ SUN
⁣
#fundraising #startups #fsc #podcast

If you are a founder, you have to check out Metal. 

Use the link below. 👇 

#startup #founders #fundraising

👉 Accessing top-tier VCs without ever emailing VCs -- 

While raising $120m for my first startup, I realised that warm introductions from people I knew was the best way to get introduced to investors. As a first-time founder, I had a limited network, and had to jump through many hoops to figure out who could make intros to specific investors.

With Metal, we have solved this entirely -- users can connect their connections data and immediately see who they know that raised from a given investor. 🚀

Building and hiring in SF?

We are hosting a Tech Hiring Showcase on Feb 19.

Limited company spots. DM me or comment “HIRING”.

#SF #techcareershowcase #startups #hiring

If you're a new grad or job seeker looking for your next opportunity I'm inviting you to my next hiring event!

A key element to landing your next job is being at the right place at the right time.

Sure there are other factors like your resume, interview skills and even the job market. 

But how can you stand a chance if you don't even know where to look and there seems to be a shortage of jobs?

That's why I'm creating more physical spaces that focus on helping talent discover the possibilities.

I'm teaming up with Founder Social Club, Colton Kaplan and Mentra Steph Minaya to create more new spaces in San Francisco for job seekers to discover what's next at our Tech Hiring Showcases (previously startup job fairs).

Companies pitch what they're working on and what they're hiring for, followed by open conversations. Simple.

📢 Startups: If you're hiring and want to meet the best talent in SF shoot me a DM.

Funny plug that back in 2016 I was a job seeker at hiring events just like this I always enjoyed the open conversations. It made the whole process more human. 

Now I get to host my own to help job seekers. Full circle.

When: February 19th
Time: 3pm - 7:30pm
Where: Secret Location
Who: New grads, job seekers (engineers, designers, GTM, product, 

🔗 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬?
✅ Like + share this post (spread the word!)
✅ Check the comments for the RSVP link (early bird spots are limited!)

Companies dropping soon!

Tag a job seeker who should come through! Let’s make hiring—and getting hired—human again.

Cummins Inc.

TA Coordinator 

Pontoon Solutions

*Coordinator Caseload: Upon acceptance of an offer within Taleo (ATS) by a candidate, ensuring that all pre-hire tasks are achieved in a timely manner to ensure agreed upon start date or change start/end date(s).  Partner with Sterling to ensure pre-hire tasks (i.e. background check and drug screening) assigned to new hire are effectively assigned in a timely manner and make escalations if needed. Monitor the progress of the tasks from offer letter submitted to employee start date.  

*Travel Coordination caseload: Review candidate eligibility and authorized American Express Travel (flights and/or rental vehicle) along with private vehicle/alternative expenses in accordance with travel policies and update profile with pre-determined payout amount with travel details.  

*Training and Development: Created processing steps for Coordinators as this was a new huge account for Pontoon Solutions.  Identify areas for improvement and proposed solutions to enhance the candidate experience and overall offer/onboarding process.  

*Resume Screener for exempt Executive (Chief and Director) roles: Screen candidate resumes from open announcement within Taleo based on their experience, education, skills, and other factors against job description details. 

*Covering Recruiter Caseload: Collaborate with the HR team, hiring managers, and Talent Acquisition team to gather necessary information for creating accurate and comprehensive offer letters with Taleo (ATS).   Utilize templates and tools to generate offer letters, ensuring that all necessary details are included, such as compensation, position details, and other terms and conditions.  Communicate with candidates regarding offer details with benefits, answer questions, and address concerns they may have about the offer letter and close out candidates with decline decisions. 
 
*Recognition: 04/04/2024: Pontoon Solutions Worldwide Company Meeting: Was selected as Collaboration Nominee

Sr. Specialty Recruitment Coordinator - RPO - supporting 🌐 Cummins, Inc (Early Careers)

Randstad Sourceright

*Data Center Technician, Early/Leads/Mid-Senior for North America and Canada. Sourced and full life-cycle RPO recruitment of active and passive PERMANENT candidates.
*Developed, maintained and supported strong relationships with hiring managers, key leaders, and HR partners to stay abreast of business objectives, new initiatives, and staffing trends.
*Participated in ongoing special projects/technical recruiting initiatives in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) approaches in sourcing to attract diverse talent.
*Utilized a variety of recruiting sources such as gHire, LinkedIn, internet mining, Boolean searches, and referrals to consistently find and attract qualified candidates.
*Precisely screened candidates against defined criteria and record the outcome of assessment and interviews through Google's application tracking system (gHire).
*Delivered the best candidate experience by serving as a candidate advocate throughout the hiring process and provide candidates with updates in a timely manner.

Recruiting Specialist - RPO - supporting 🌎 Google (2nd round of Mass layoffs)

*Software Engineer, Early Career for North America.  Sourced and full life-cycle RPO recruitment of PERMANENT active and passive candidates.
*Developed, maintained and supported strong relationships with hiring managers, key leaders, and HR partners to stay abreast of business objectives, new initiatives, and staffing trends.  
*Participated in ongoing special projects/technical recruiting initiatives in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) approaches in sourcing to attract diverse talent.
*Utilized a variety of recruiting sources such as gHire, LinkedIn, internet mining, Boolean searches, and referrals to consistently find and attract qualified candidates.  
*Precisely screened candidates against defined criteria and record the outcome of assessment and interviews through Google’s application tracking system (gHire). 
*Delivered the best candidate experience by serving as a candidate advocate throughout the hiring process and provided candidates with updates in a timely manner.

Recruiting Specialist - RPO - supporting 🌎 Google

Severn Management Company, LLC

*Supervised on-site staff, data entry, collection of fees and rents, renting vacant units, monitoring of property revenues and budget, as well as maintaining compliance with all applied regulations in low income housing, USDA.
*Lead receptionist, including answering phones and interacting with patrons.
*Maintained optimum level of occupancy through wait list management and proactive marketing. Processed timely and accurate move-ins, move-outs, and recertifications guidelines with federal program regulations along with credit and criminal background checks in First Advantage. Submitted office and maintenance technician’s supply orders, match incoming invoices/bills, enter invoices/bills into Boston Post daily and generate AP Invoice Activity reports weekly for accounting department. Collected rent/fees/vendor payments and enter on ledgers in Boston Post, reconcile daily payment batch and completed on-site revenue bank deposits. Created and enforced violations against lease and property rules and regulations. 
*Created contractual construction/electrical/plumbing/Ground scopes, recruit licensed companies to bid, submit goals to upper management for approval, and schedule to begin approved work. Handled and coordinated pest control and heating & cooling services. Collected and verified timekeeping information tracked in T-Sheets for all employees at my site including maintenance call-outs for each pay cycle and provide payroll reports to district manager. 
*Coordinated with Operations regarding construction projects and/or upgrade assets where I would have to collect necessary information such as photos, estimates/bids, and details about the damage or replacement. Coordinated with contractors and/or maintenance technician to get the project completed and generate/close work orders.
*Ordered maintenance technician and office supplies.

Property Manager - Chestnut Manor Apartments 

*Responsible for the overall management of the affordable housing community, including leasing, rent collections, financial performance, maintenance supervision, and court proceedings.  
*Interviewed prospective and current USDA residents during recertification process. 
*Assembled and verify credit, criminal history, and income information for prospective and recertification residents to ensure compliance with all regulations and commitments.

Property Manager - Little Creek Apartments

*Responsible for assisting in the overall management of the affordable housing community, including leasing, rent collections and handling waiting list. 
*Interviewed prospective and current USDA residents during recertification process.  Assembled and verify credit, criminal history, and income information for prospective and USDA recertification residents to ensure compliance with all regulations and commitments.

Assistant Property Manager - Dunbarton Apartments & Hollybrook Farms Apartments

Quality Staffing Services

****Branch closed. 
*Developed, maintained and supported strong relationships with hiring managers, key leaders, and HR partners to stay abreast of business objectives, new initiatives, and staffing needs.  
*Responsible for sourcing and full life-cycle recruitment of active and passive candidates for a variety of contract, contract-to-hire and direct hire opportunities across multiple accounts for:

Health Care / Business Services / Engineering, IT - Early Career to Senior / Corporate / Financial Services / Internal advancement / Manufacturing - Skilled to Superintendent / Office and Administrative / Sales and Services / Accounting / Facilities / Software Engineer - Early Career to Mid-Senior / Software Developer Engineer - Early Career to Senior 

*Participate in ongoing special projects/technical recruiting initiatives in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) approaches in sourcing to attract diverse talent.
*Utilized a variety of recruiting sources such as ATS, company LinkedIn/Monster.com/Indeed.com accounts for mining, Boolean searches, community pop-ups, campus, referrals to consistently find and attract qualified candidates.
*Created detailed job descriptions, job postings and other communications to build a brand name throughout the local market including community job fairs and campus recruiting.  
*Completed pre-employment assessments, background checks, onsite drug screenings, professional reference checks, and onboarded candidates.  
*Ensured accounts were setup during client onboarding.  
*Processed placements tax forms for Delaware and/or Maryland, direct deposit setup, benefits setup, and terminations in Avionte. *Ensured placements payroll information was accurately entered or generated payout invoices for direct hires in Avionte.  
*Branch Representative for Delaware Unemployment Appeal Hearings.  
*Award: (Delaware) The Governor’s Welfare (TANF) Employment Committee Awards of Excellence Breakfast—2017 for Quality Staffing Services-Seaford branch.

Staffing Specialist - Recruiter 

Paul G. Enterline, Attorney at Law

Office Skills:
*Answered phone lines and acted as liaison between clients, attorney and paralegal. Maintained manual and Microsoft Outlook scheduling calendar and calendaring deadlines. Maintained clients physical and computer files. Gathered and tracked billable time and reimbursabled expenses. Transcribed auto recordings and verbal dictations. Responsible for drafting routine legal documents, correspondences, conduct on-line research, and generating outgoing emails. Utilize Microsoft Office (Word and Outlook), firm’s confidential client database, copier, and fax machine in addition to mail and court runs.

Landlord/Tenant Laws:
* Intake: Gathered and assessed legal needs with potential client via telephone while completing an intake form. Returned calls, if instructed, with appropriate referral if our firm is unable to assist. Composed and revised legal documents for attorney, including letters, depositions, court e-filings and subpoenas. Ensured legal documents are processed and handled in a timely and efficient manner in order to comply with appropriate regulations and deadlines. Knowledge of Landlord/Tenant laws.

Social Security Policy:
*Knowledge of the Social Security Disability Benefits and Social Security Supplemental Income Benefits policy and website. Intake: Gathered and assessed disability legal needs with potential client via telephone while completing an intake medical assessment form. Returned calls, if instructed, with appropriate referral if our firm is unable to assist. For new benefit Claims, Reconsiderations and Appeals: Scheduled, gathered, identified potential health barriers and completed online claims in the presence of the client. Composed and faxed or mailed letter of transmittals requesting health record for clients. Researched medical conditions for appropriate assessment.

Legal Secretary

Delaware Technical Community College

➢ Developed, maintained, and supported strong relationships with hiring managers, key leaders, and HR partners to stay abreast of business objectives, new initiatives, and staffing needs. Responsible for sourcing of active and passive candidates for a variety of contract, contract-to-hire and direct hire opportunities across multiple employers for Volunteered, Skilled, Professional, Management, and Technical level positions. Created and fostered relationships with program participants to attract and recruit candidates for incoming positions. Precisely source, screen and interview candidates against defined criteria and record the outcome of employer interviews through the State of Delaware/Department of Labor and Division of Social Service’s tracking systems. Delivered the best candidate experience by serving as a candidate advocate throughout the hiring process and provide candidates with updates in a timely manner. Provided group and individual caseload management and classroom trainings in effective job searching, interviewing simulations, job retention strategies, and upskilling training while ultimately working with individuals to assess their skills, talents, barriers and needs to develop an employable plan that works just for them.

Employment Service Specialist (w/Employment Connection Program)

K. Cranstin Financial & Accounting Solutions 

*Assisted with entering payroll information, calculating wages, and ensuring accurate compensation for our clients.

*Maintained precise payroll records in ADP, collected and entered timekeeping information; assisted in checking payroll input for data entry accuracy and reran assigned payroll tax deductions in Excel against government tax tables for validations.

Payroll Intern - Part-time 

*Assisted with entering payroll information in ADP, calculating wages, and ensuring accurate compensation for our clients.

*Maintained precise payroll records, collected and entered timekeeping information; assisted in checking payroll input for data entry accuracy and reran assigned payroll tax deductions in Excel against government tax tables for validations.

Michael G. Rathbone Construction (family business)

➢Prepared weekly update reports on Budget, Schedule, and Change Orders.  Maintained daily update of each project along with ordering materials.  Monitored for discrepancies in invoices and estimates. Maintained AP/AR manual books including sending verifications of payments from customers.

Office Manager

As a seasoned professional with almost 10 years in talent coordination along with over additional 4 years of full-cycle staffing and recruiting industry, I have developed, maintained and supported strong relationships with hiring managers, key leaders, and HR partners to stay abreast of business objectives, new initiatives, and staffing needs. 

The investment I made to my customers over the years have coupled with results driven in: 

Business Services  |  Engineering, IT - Early Career to Senior  |  Corporate  |  Financial Services  |  Internal advancement  |  Health Care - Front Office  |  Manufacturing - Skilled to Superintendent  |  Office and Administrative  |  Sales and Services  |  Accounting  |  Facilities  |  Software Engineer - Early Career to Mid-Senior  |  Software Developer Engineer - Early Career to Senior  |  Data Center Technician - Early Career to Mid-Senior workforce.

Remaining enthusiastic in attending ongoing professional development training to increase my expertise in the fields, as a result, has built confidence in the work I do which enabled my customers to succeed in meeting their hiring needs.

taplio

The Battle

Colton Kaplan

Geneva Rathbone

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreColton Kaplan's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Colton Kaplan

Geneva Rathbone

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Colton Kaplan's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreColton Kaplan's LinkedIn Performance