I currently lead product development, engineering management, and strategy for Grapevine, a Boston-based influencer marketing analytics platform serving 30,000+ content creators, startups, global CPG brands, and the ad agencies that represent them. Prior to joining Grapevine I worked on learning management systems (LMS) design at MIT. I focused on user research, UI design, front-end development, and accessibility best practices (ARIA, UAAG).
Management experience with user research, customer development, team building, product management, marketing programs, business analytics, AdTech, and EdTech. Technical experience with ORMs (Django), HTML5/Sass, Knockout.js, jQuery, Linux, version control (git, subversion).
* 2014 MassChallenge Alum and Gold Winner
* 2014 Harvard Business School Spark Conference speaker
Co-Founder, Chief Product Officer @ Grapevine connects brands with popular YouTube creators to drive sales, signups, and buzz. Today's top creators use Grapevine to find relevant products to introduce to their audience in exchange for a fee. Our tools make it easy for creators to track performance, increase their reach, and gain access to career changing opportunities.
* 2015 Boston 50 on Fire Finalist
* 2014 MassChallenge Gold Winner
* 2014 Forbes Under 30 Conference Startup Semi-Finalist
* 2014 AdTech Startup Spotlight Finalist
* As seen in WSJ, VentureBeat, Mashable, Beta Boston, Boston Herald, and others From May 2014 to Present (1 year 8 months) Greater Boston AreaProduct Design and Development @ Architected the Grapevine platform based on early stage operational processes and founder vision for go to market strategy. This included requirements gathering, front-end design and engineering (Django, Bootstrap, Sass, Javascript). Hired RDBMS expert and Python engineer to collaborate and execute a minimum viable product we could take to market. Additionally, I assisted CEO with web asset development, creative design, and business strategy. I left my consulting role at MIT to work full-time at Grapevine in May 2014. From September 2013 to May 2014 (9 months) Greater Boston AreaUX Developer @ Worked closely with product management, engineers and other designers to translate product requirements into highly usable web applications. Designed and developed significantly complex user interfaces for MIT courseware using HTML, OOCSS, and Knockout JS. Identified user needs and translated that knowledge into the creation of workflows and experiences with a special emphasis on usability and device compatibility. From August 2013 to May 2014 (10 months) Greater Boston AreaCo-Founder, Managing Partner @ Part of the KnowYour Corp. organization, FinServ Media LLC, is a premium vertical media network focused on helping financial services companies with customer acquisition, lead generation, and end of the funnel execution. Our publisher relationships are focused on digital media in the personal finance and investing niche. We also provide managed affiliate marketing programs for financial products and services through BankAffiliates.com.
* Developed new business with Fortune 500 financial services organizations
* Executed performance advertising programs for Fortune 500 financial services organizations
* Developed key relationships with major publishers to secure advertising inventory
* Implemented mission critical technology solutions for organization From November 2012 to March 2014 (1 year 5 months) Greater Boston AreaCo-Founder, CMO, Advisor @ KnowYour Corp. is a holding company which owns and operates websites and marketing infrastructure to help financial institutions acquire customers through digital channels.
* Managed distributed team of software engineers working on internal product development
* Led the research, design, and front-end development for web and mobile products
* Oversaw company-wide hosting support and management
* Special focus on lead generation for retail banking and insurance
* Technical liaison between key stakeholders and engineering team From September 2011 to March 2014 (2 years 7 months) Greater Boston AreaPrincipal @ Started my own internet marketing consulting business. Provided digital marketing and web development services for local small businesses. Acquired premium domain names and built web properties focusing on local lead generation for services businesses, including corporate and residential cleaning, locksmith, moving, plumbing, and contractor services.
* Built the first ever Multiple Listing Service (MLS) Facebook application for realtors to display listings through their own Facebook pages. Worked on deals with the nation's largest MLS.
* Developed comprehensive marketing and product strategy for physician marketing platform MCN and it's portfolio of web properties, resulting in over one million unique visitors per month. From October 2009 to November 2011 (2 years 2 months) Miami/Fort Lauderdale AreaMarketing Analyst @ Technical marketing analyst with the "applied sciences" team at MECLABS. Focused on acquiring premium domains and developing them into profitable web properties. From June 2009 to October 2009 (5 months) New Media Marketing Intern @ Worked on research to identify best practices in social media for public relations and provided the firm with recommendations for monetizing social media as a service for clients. Supported senior accounts managers with market research, press release and materials development, and outreach to journalists. From May 2009 to August 2009 (4 months) Corporate Marketing Intern @ Developed and implemented 90 day marketing strategies for newly recruited Agents, built strategic relationships with Jacksonville centers of influence to give agency greater marketplace exposure, marketed and promoted internal corporate initiatives From June 2007 to August 2008 (1 year 3 months)
Business/Managerial Economics @ Jacksonville University From 2007 to 2009 Economics @ Marietta College From 2005 to 2007 Grant Deken is skilled in: Software Project Management, Website Monetization, Social Media Marketing, SEO, Web Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Online Advertising, Email Marketing, Digital Marketing, Social Media, jQuery, PPC, CSS, Marketing, Web Development
Websites:
http://dekenomics.com