(If you're having trouble viewing the videos, this is also available on my blog Cooler by the Lake)
Braintree Founder Bryan Johnson shared the highlights and lessons of Braintree’s amazing journey at our July Chicago Founders’ Stories @ 1871. We had another sold out crowd join us @ 1871 for pizza, beer, and to hear Bryan’s remarkable story of creating and growing Braintree since 2007. If you missed our early Founder’s Stories you can check them out online: Click here to view June’s Event with Open Table Founder Chuck Templeton or Chicago Founders’ Stories Kick Off Event with Grub Hub Founders Matt Maloney and Mike Evans.
Bryan and Braintree’s story is remarkable and full of insights for entrepreneurs at all stages. Today Braintree helps many of the fastest growing and most reputable merchants in the world accept credit card payments online. In 2011, Braintree reached #47 on the Inc. 500 list, and ranked #1 in online payments. As a B2B company many people weren’t familiar with Braintree until they received $34 million in funding from legendary Silicon Valley venture capital firm Accel Partners (Accel was Facebook's original venture investor).
My INCISENT teammates and I have really enjoyed partnering and sponsoring the past three Chicago Founders’ Stories @ 1871. Since the event sold out we recorded it and are putting it online for those who couldn't make it. We broke up the hour into three segments for easier viewing:
In the first segment Bryan shares where the idea for Braintree came from, how he became a tech entrepreneur, his pre-Braintree start-ups and those lessons:
[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AChHDArn0wI&feature=plcp]
In the second segment Bryan talks about his lessons learned from Braintree’s journey, raising money from Silicon Valley and the keys to Braintree's success:
[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HI_s_VcPr8&feature=plcp]
In Segment three, Bryan answers questions from the Chicago Founders' Stories crowd
[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_g1RJUYekUI&feature=plcp]
We hope you enjoy Bryan’s story and insights of how his journey all began and where he is now. Stay tuned for more information on our next Chicago Founders’ Stories @ 1871.
