Serial Entrepreneur (2 exits) & Growth Advisor • Founded AllPaws (Sold to PetSmart) • Co-Founded Saturday App & Snap Interactive (100m users & $100m revenue)

𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝟭𝟬𝟬𝗠 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘀 & $𝟭𝟬𝟬𝗠 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 • 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿 𝘄/ 𝟮 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘁𝘀 • 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽, 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁, 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Serial tech entrepreneur, business operator, and strategic advisor with deep experience starting and growing consumer-digital businesses. 

As a growth and product-driven startup founder, I have a proven track record of building and growing innovative products used by millions. I have achieved successful exits while overseeing multiple C-Level executive roles for publicly traded, growth stage, and venture-backed startups. I have a bias for action and a passion for solving big problems. Proven ability to innovate and deliver rapid revenue and user growth. 

At the intersection of my passion for pets and online dating expertise, I co-founded AllPaws. This innovative, online dating-style pet adoption platform quickly gained millions of users and was acquired by the pet industry leader, PetSmart. 

Before that, as co-founder I helped build and lead publicly traded SNAP Interactive from inception to rank as the 36th fastest growing technology company in North America with 4,400% revenue growth over 5 years, $20 million+ in annual revenue, and over 100 million users of our online dating apps and social products. 

Today, I advise businesses and startups on optimizing their digital and product growth strategies. Additionally, I coach entrepreneurs and business leaders on building high-income personal brands, and advise top influencers, models, and creators on growing and monetizing their audiences.

I continue to work on new projects, explore new opportunities, and advise. 

Been featured in ABC News, Bloomberg, Good Morning America, TechCrunch, Fox 5 News,  Huffington Post, Mashable, Forbes, Fast Company, Business Insider, and many other top tier publications. 

SPECIALTIES: Growth, Optimization, Digital Strategy, Product Strategy, Personal Branding 

Start-ups | Digital Strategy | General Management | Product Strategy and Development |  Rapid Revenue Growth | Strategic Vision | User Growth & User Acquisition | Marketplaces | Business Strategy | Business Operator | Problem-Solving | Business Operations (CEO, COO, GM) | Product Management | Conversion Optimization | A/B Testing | Web and Mobile Analytics | Mobile Applications | Mobile Growth | iTunes App Store Optimization | e-Commerce | Social Media Marketing & Strategy | M&A Process | Pet Industry | Online Dating Apps

Darrell Lerner

The key to growing a startup in 3 steps.

Test → Learn → Iterate

Then double down on what’s working.

Tight feedback cycles let you gather data and make progress as quickly as possible.

(Quick clip from a podcast I did with Adam Metwally on growth + why virality is harder than people think.)

But here’s the part nobody really wants to admit:

You can’t really “engineer” virality.

Everyone thinks they know what will go viral…

until they post something they’re sure will rip, and it flops.

Then they post something random…

and it takes off...

That’s why “going viral” isn’t a strategy.

The right systems are.

You can’t force outcomes.

But you can run enough reps to find them.

That’s how you win in growth when there’s no formula.

The winners don’t predict virality. They build systems that find it.

What’s the most surprising post you’ve ever had take off?

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🔔 Follow me Darrell Lerner for more on entrepreneurship, startups, personal branding, and mindset.

2x Exited Founder & Growth Advisor • Built AllPaws (Acquired by PetSmart) • Co-Founded SNAP Interactive (100m users & $100m revenue)

40 Under 40 CPA Practice Advisor | Top 50 Women in Accounting | Helping B2A (Business to Accountant) companies and accounting firms increase their impact, influence, and income through leadership marketing. 👇

Desire to find and start conversations with your ideal clients? 
Grab my guide and get all the details: https://leaders-online.com/4cprocess/

Who am I?
Helping B2A (Business to accountant) companies and accounting firms increase their impact, influence, and income through leadership marketing. 
 ➤ Build a strong personal brand and grow a network of engaged followers. [Influence]
 ➤ Produce content that reaches the right people and positions you as an authority. [Impact]
 ➤ Gain access to leadership and business opportunities. [Income]

Outside of work, you'll catch me spending time outside or riding my horses. 🐎

Why become a thought leader?
 Now more than ever, an online presence is key to succeeding in business. Positioning yourself as a thought leader online enables you to gain access to the opportunities you desire while building trust with the people you serve. 

Who I work with:
✔ Accountants
✔ CPAs
✔ Coaches and consultants that serve the accounting industry
✔ R&D Tax Credit Firms
✔ SaaS companies that offer solutions to the accounting industry 

How I’m different.
Having spent the past 10 years working in marketing, sales, accounting, I have a unique perspective on the intersection between positioning, selling, and running profitable businesses. While working for one of the largest corporations in America, I saw firsthand how many firms missed out on business opportunities because of their lack of online presence, and I don’t want that to happen to you.

When it comes to thought leadership, there's not a one size fits all approach. I've built my online reputation from the ground up and know how to help you do the same.

Together, we’ll increase your influence, impact, and income. 

How it works.
1. Schedule a discovery session.
2. Together, we’ll build a plan that helps position you as a thought leader in your industry, sets you up to have access to the leadership opportunities you desire, and places you in front of your ideal clients. 
3. We’ll support your efforts. From coaching calls to helping you manage your ongoing efforts, we’re with you every step of the way.

Ready to get started? 

Make an appointment here: http://leaders-online.com/

Katie Thomas, CPA

One of the biggest complaints clients have about their accountants isn’t numbers or technical skill. 

It’s communication.

Not just “I sent an email and didn’t hear back.” That’s a problem too. 

But more often, it’s the silence during the work itself.

Clients want to know: Where are we in the process? What’s next? What should I expect?

Here’s the harsh truth: most accountants are overworked. They don’t have the bandwidth to communicate proactively. And without clear expectations set at the start, frustration is inevitable.

If you want to stand out as an accountant, communication isn’t optional. It’s how you turn overworked and invisible into trusted and indispensable.

#accountingandaccountants #business #smallbusiness

2025 Most Powerful Women in Accounting | 40 Under 40 | Top 50 Women in Accounting | Helping accounting firms increase their impact, influence, and income through leadership marketing. 👇

“I want this year to be bigger.”

More revenue.
Better clients.
A stronger brand.
More opportunity.

Have you said or thought any of the above? 

If so, I love that. 

But here is the truth I have learned in my own business and working with hundreds of firms.

A bigger year requires a bigger level of honesty.

You can't reach new goals with last year’s habits.
You can't attract better clients if you never show up where they are.
You can't grow your firm if you keep protecting your comfort zone.

And you can't outwork a broken system.

If you want a different year, you need a different rhythm.
One that is consistent.
One that builds authority.
One that helps the right people find you and the wrong ones filter out.

The firms that grow are the ones who stop hiding.
They post.
They follow up.
They tighten their offers.
They lead with their voice, not generic content.
They show up where their ideal clients are hanging out.
They spend time networking with the right people, not just prospects but people who inspire them.

And they say no more often.
To bad fits.
To chaos.
To things that take them away from what they are building.

If you want a bigger year, it’s absolutely possible, but it likely requires some changes. 

Which change will you focus on first?

#accountingandaccountants #business #smallbusiness

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The Battle

Darrell Lerner

Katie Thomas, CPA

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Posts

Engagements

Likes

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