Dana Spiegel, Founder and CTO
Professional Overview
Dana Spiegel is an accomplished technology executive and entrepreneur with a strong track record of founding and leading successful startups. As the Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Lucid Green, she brings deep expertise in product development, engineering, and building innovative software solutions. Additionally, Dana serves as the Founder and Chief Code Therapist at FounderTherapy, where she provides strategic consulting and support to early-stage founders.
Experience Summary
Current Roles
Founder and CTO, Lucid Green (2018-05-01 to Present)
- Responsible for overseeing the technical vision, product roadmap, and engineering efforts of the company's flagship digital identity and supply chain traceability platform.
- Leads a team of talented developers and engineers to build cutting-edge solutions that enhance transparency and trust in the cannabis industry.
- Leverages her extensive expertise in emerging technologies, such as blockchain and IoT, to drive innovation and create industry-leading products.
Founder and Chief Code Therapist, FounderTherapy (2012-11-01 to Present)
- Provides strategic consulting and mentorship to early-stage founders, helping them navigate the challenges of building and scaling their startups.
- Draws on her own entrepreneurial experience to offer practical guidance on product development, team building, fundraising, and more.
- Actively engaged in the startup ecosystem, serving as a board member and advisor for MIT Delta V, a prominent NYC-based startup studio.
Previous Roles
Executive Director, NYCwireless (2001-07-01 to 2019-01-01)
- Spearheaded the growth and development of NYCwireless, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and expanding wireless internet access in New York City.
- Collaborated with local government, community groups, and technology partners to deploy innovative wireless solutions and bridge the digital divide.
- Established NYCwireless as a leading voice in the urban technology and smart city movements, driving policy changes and advancing the organization's mission.
Product and Engineering Consultant, Advisor, WorkMarket (an ADP company) (2010-07-01 to 2018-01-01)
- Provided strategic consulting and technical expertise to help guide the product development and engineering efforts of WorkMarket, a leading on-demand workforce management platform.
- Advised the company on leveraging emerging technologies and best practices to enhance their platform and drive innovation in the gig economy space.
Researcher, IBM (1998-06-01 to 1999-09-01)
- Conducted research and development projects focused on advancing IBM's software and hardware technologies, with a particular emphasis on networking and distributed systems.
- Contributed to the company's intellectual property portfolio through the development of novel solutions and the filing of patents.
Academic Background
Dana holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she graduated with distinction.
Areas of Expertise
- Product development and engineering
- Emerging technologies (blockchain, IoT, AI)
- Startup strategy and operations
- Organizational leadership and team building
- Digital transformation and innovation
- Community engagement and advocacy
Professional Impact
- Instrumental in the growth and success of Lucid Green, a leading provider of digital identity and supply chain traceability solutions for the cannabis industry.
- Recognized as a thought leader and subject matter expert in the urban technology and smart city movements, with a strong track record of driving policy changes and initiatives to expand internet access and digital inclusion.
- Leveraged her technical expertise and entrepreneurial experience to provide valuable consulting and mentorship to numerous startups, helping them navigate the challenges of building and scaling their businesses.
Conclusion
Dana Spiegel is a visionary technology leader with a proven track record of founding and leading successful startups. Her deep expertise in product development, engineering, and emerging technologies, combined with her entrepreneurial mindset and commitment to driving innovation, make her a valuable asset to any organization. As she continues to shape the future of the technology and startup landscape, Dana remains focused on creating impactful solutions and empowering others to achieve their goals.