Sam grew up in the Bay Area and spent part of his high school years living in China, an experience that sparked a lasting curiosity for cultural immersion and shaped how he looks at technology’s ability to bridge people, markets, and ideas. He graduated summa cum laude from Middlebury College with a B.A. in International Politics and Economics and a distinction in Chinese, where he also served as president of the college’s improvisational comedy group. Sam thinks of himself as a technology optimist; he is energized by partnering with exceptional founders and companies to build toward a future that is more resilient, compassionate, and meaningfully better for the people it serves. He is fluent in Mandarin, loves to play tennis and golf, and is a geography nerd.

The opportunity to collaborate with such a great group of people, first and foremost—both the colleagues I work alongside and the teams we partner with. I’m equally motivated by the chance to continually learn and improve each day in order to better serve the teams we support.

Serving as president of my college’s improvisational comedy group was a formative experience in how I learned to collaborate. This trains you to build through uncertainty and disagreement by responding with “yes, and” rather than “no” or “but,” to listen closely, accept what’s in front of you, and help shape better outcomes through collaboration rather than confrontation.

Lasting impact is defined by how you show up - not just in the good times, but in the challenging ones as well. I strive to be a true extension of the teams we partner with, always rolling up my sleeves and working with the same founder intensity in service of a shared mission.