About
Des Traynor co-founded Intercom in 2011 and, as Chief Strategy Officer, led the refounding that turned it into Fin: within 72 hours of ChatGPT's launch the roadmaps were scrapped and the teams reorganised around an AI support agent, which passed $100 million of recurring revenue growing around 350% a year inside a $400 million business Salesforce agreed to buy for about $3.6 billion in 2026. A Maynooth computer scientist who was lecturing and part-way through a PhD before leaving academia, he met Eoghan McCabe through Ireland's blogging scene and became one of the most widely read writers on product strategy.
Beyond investing
- Founded
- One of Intercom's four Irish co-founders in 2011, alongside Eoghan McCabe, Ciaran Lee and David Barrett.
- Education
- Was on an academic track — lecturing in computer science and part-way through a PhD on computer-science education — before leaving for startups.
- Boards
- Sits on Fin's board and runs research and development across the Dublin and London offices.
- Communities
- A long-running conference speaker and writer on product, and co-author of Intercom on Starting Up.
- More
- Drove the post-ChatGPT reset: roadmaps scrapped and teams reorganised inside 72 hours, plus a move to outcome-based pricing. Met Eoghan McCabe through Ireland's blogging community rather than at university, then joined his agency Contrast.
From Des's own website — common ground for a warm intro.
Co-founder & Chief Strategy Officer at Fin
Intro paths
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In turn, Des can intro founders to Fin's investors below.
Fin's investors · 22
137 VenturesSan Francisco500 GlobalSan Francisco · $150K checks · since 2011Across Capital PartnersMiamiAmplo VenturesSpringBessemer Venture PartnersRedwood City · $5M – $100M checksChemistrySan FranciscoFelicis VenturesSan Francisco · $500K – $15M checksFounders Circle CapitalSan FranciscoICONIQSan FranciscoIndex VenturesSan Francisco · $540K – $10.8M checksInertia VenturesNew York · $2M checksKleiner PerkinsMenlo Park · $500K – $15M checksLaunchBay CapitalLondonNewView CapitalBurlingameOlive Tree CapitalBostonSapphire VenturesMenlo Park · $5M – $20M checksScale Venture PartnersBay Area · $5M – $25M checksSprints CapitalLondonTapestry VCLondon · $500K – $1M checksTinySeedMinneapolis · $120K – $220K checksVillage GlobalCovina · $100K – $500K checksWEEKENDMiami · $100K – $300K checks
Co-founders at Fin
Experience
- FinCo-Foundercurrent2011 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- ContrastUser Experience Lead2008 — 2011
- National College of IrelandLecturer in User Experience Design2009 — 2010
- iQ ContentSenior Usability Analyst2007 — 2008
- NUI MaynoothLecturer / Research Assistant2003 — 2007
- NUI MaynoothSoftware Developer2002
Education
- Maynooth UniversityPhD (incomplete), Computer Science and Software Engineering2003 — 2007
- Maynooth UniversityBsc Hons, Computer Science and Software Engineering1999 — 2003
Skills & more
User Experience99User Interface Design99Product Strategy4Creative Writing2Presenter3Blogging15Usability Testing27Interaction Design33Metrics2User Interface51Analytics16Product Management14
+10 more
Web DevelopmentContent StrategyWeb DesignInformation ArchitectureUser Experience DesignWritingPublic SpeakingSpeaking EngagementsHTMLSaaSLanguages German
- Google Analytics Authorised Consultant — Google
From Des's professional profile.
Podcasts & interviews
featuring Des TraynorFrequently asked questions
- Where does Des Traynor work?
- Des Traynor is Co-founder & Chief Strategy Officer at Fin.
- What companies did Des Traynor found?
- Des Traynor founded Fin.
Paths to reach Des
People who overlapped with Des at the same organization — a shared school or employer with one of them is a warm way in.
Together at FinDes: Co-founder & Chief Strategy Officer
Eoghan McCabe2011–2026Co-founder & CEO of Fin (formerly Intercom)Trinity College DublinLindsey Li2021–2026Investor at Bessemer Venture PartnersThe Wharton SchoolKevin Lynch2025–2026Associate at MGVClaremont McKenna College · Milton AcademyChen-Chen Huo2025–2026Founder at Purple PlateUniversity of California, Berkeley · Y Combinator
Together at 500 GlobalDes: GA 3 2011
Christine Tsai2011CEO at 500 Startups VietnamMission San Jose High SchoolBedy Yang2011Managing Partner at 500 StartupsFGV - Fundação Getulio Vargas · University of PennsylvaniaHenrique Guimarães2011Investor at Cotidiano AceleradoraJiho Kang2011Partner at AntlerIndiana University - Kelley School of Business · Kyung Hee University · SKK GSB Sungkyunkwan UniversityEoghan McCabe2011Co-founder & CEO of Fin (formerly Intercom)Trinity College DublinEmi Takemura2011Impact Partner at Fresco CapitalKeio University · The Lauder Institute - University of Pennsylvania · University of Pennsylvania
Together at NUI MaynoothDes: Lecturer / Research Assistant
Founder mafias
500 Global mafia67
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Melanie Perkins500 Global 2012Founded CanvaCliff Obrecht500 Global 2012Founded CanvaCameron Adams500 Global 2012Founded CanvaEoghan McCabeGA 3 2011Founded FinHarry GrunerGA 19Founded Hilos +2Mike Sigal500 Global 2018Founded Fanvestor +2
+ 60 more
Maynooth University mafia2
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Same school
Also attended Maynooth University6
Cloë StanbridgeTalent Lead at AirTree VenturesEmma BurmanInvestor at Almi InvestKate O'BrienCFO at First Ascent VenturesCiara GreenOperations Manager at Seroba Life SciencesLiam HoranHub Community Development Executive at Western Development CommissionMilad AlucozaiHead of Life Sciences at BoxOne Ventures
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