Find your path to Des
21 people in our graph share verified history with Des — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Emi TakemuraunlockedDes: together at 500 Global (2011)
×2Des: together at Fin
×3Des: together at 500 Global
×6Des: together at Maynooth University
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.
Likely email· guessed from name + firm domain, not firm-published
- d•••@fin.aireveal75% confident
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 published sources — 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 PartnersSan Francisco · $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
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
- Who is Des Traynor?
- 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.
- Where does Des Traynor work?
- Des Traynor is Co-founder & Chief Strategy Officer of Fin.
- What companies did Des Traynor found?
- Des Traynor founded Fin.
- Where did Des Traynor go to school?
- Des Traynor studied at Maynooth University (PhD (incomplete), Computer Science and Software Engineering); Maynooth University (Bsc Hons, Computer Science and Software Engineering).
- What podcasts and interviews feature Des Traynor?
- Tracked appearances include "Refounding in the face of AI", "How we rebuilt the company for the AI era".
Founder mafias
500 Global mafia671
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 FinAihui OngGA 3Founded Buela +3Mike Sigal500 Global 2018Founded Fanvestor +2
+ 664 more
Maynooth University mafia5
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Same school
Also attended Maynooth University11
Cloë StanbridgeTalent Lead at AirTree VenturesKate O'BrienCFO at First Ascent VenturesCiara GreenOperations Manager at Seroba Life SciencesNicola ConroyFinancial Accountant at Atlantic Bridge VenturesLiam HoranHub Community Development Executive at Western Development CommissionHelen KennyExecutive Assistant and Office Manager at MVPQ Capital
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+ 5 more
