Fundraising Fox

Josh Payne

Investor

Co-Founder & General Partner at OpenSky Ventures

Nashville, Tennessee, United States

About

Founded Onward, an ecommerce post-purchase platform bootstrapped to $20m ARR, and StackCommerce, a commerce and content platform acquired by TPG in 2020. Has served as a venture partner at Amplify.LA and mentor at Techstars and 500 Global, and is an active angel investor across SaaS and commerce.

LinkedIn ↗X / Twitter ↗
Latest on 𝕏

Josh Payne @jnpayne

Link to the full post here - https://t.co/4lzexo2YDc

Jun 23, 2026 · ♥ 2

Josh Payne @jnpayne

Today is one of the biggest days in Onward’s history: I'm excited to share that Onward has acquired Inveterate! I’ve always admired what Dylan Whitman and the Inveterate team built - powering memberships and loyalty for incredible brands like Cuts Clothing, Honeylove, Lashify, https://t.co/sKvAkatpgS

Jun 23, 2026 · ♥ 38 · ⇄ 2

Josh Payne @jnpayne

Onward May 2026 recap -- month 41 of growing profitably and bootstrapped. Revenue up 14.9% MoM & 142% YoY with $1B in cumulative GMV upgraded! Full breakdown👇 WHAT'S WORKING: - Large Mid-Market + Enterprise Focus --> Maintaining a tight Ops team w/ continued focus on premium https://t.co/MfjcOAlMmY

Jun 22, 2026 · ♥ 9 · ⇄ 1

Experience

  1. OpenSky VenturesGeneral Partnercurrent2023 — presentNashville Metropolitan Area
  2. OnwardFoundercurrent2024 — presentNashville Metropolitan Area
  3. Retention BrandsOwnercurrent2022 — present
  4. Yearly LegacyAdvisorcurrent2024 — present
  5. IntroAdvisorcurrent2021 — presentLos Angeles Metropolitan Area
  6. ABLEAdvisorcurrent2024 — present
  7. LevantaAdvisorcurrent2023 — present
  8. Siena AIAdvisorcurrent2023 — present
  9. Max RetailAdvisorcurrent2022 — present
  10. TechstarsMentorcurrent2021 — presentLos Angeles Metropolitan Area
  11. 500 StartupsMentorcurrent2017 — present
  12. StackCommerceFounder & Board Member2022 — 2025Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
  13. StackCommerceFounder & CEO2011 — 2022Venice, California
  14. Candid WholesaleAdvisor2022 — 2025
  15. TareAdvisor2023 — 2024
  16. Amplify.LAVenture Partner2022 — 2024Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
  17. Amplify.LAMentor2015 — 2022Venice, CA
  18. Dollar Flight ClubAdvisor2022 — 2024
  19. BountyAdvisor2022 — 2023Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
  20. RDYAdvisor2022 — 2023Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

Education

  1. Duke University - The Fuqua School of BusinessMBA, Finance & Marketing2006 — 2008
  2. Indiana University BloomingtonB.S., Computer Information Systems1998 — 2002

Skills & more

Negotiation6Marketing Strategy3Business Strategy2MarketingE-CommerceProduct Marketing44Monetization26Contract Negotiation14Partnership Development4New Business Development33Strategic Partnerships99Partnerships13
+12 moreStart-upsContent SyndicationAudience DevelopmentAd NetworksBusiness DevelopmentDigital MediaEntrepreneurshipVenture CapitalInvestmentsStrategyManagementLeadership

From Josh's professional profile.

Same school

Also attended Duke University - The Fuqua School of Business165

David BlivinMANAGING PARTNER at Cottonwood Technology FundVinnie McSweeneyInvestor at OpenView Venture PartnersBrooke BalcomBoard Member at CincyTechChad L. SummeBoard Member at CincyTechMatias BarberoVenture Partner at FJ LabsTracie RotterPartner, Platform at Lux Capital

+ 159 more

Also attended Indiana University Bloomington115

Tianen LiangTax Controller at Felicis VenturesDavid KraneCEO & Managing Partner at GV (Google Ventures)Keren GottliebEvent Manager at GreycroftLogan HilleLife Sciences Analyst at CincyTechJay JohnsonBoard Member at CincyTechEric TobiasInvestor at High Alpha

+ 109 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Max Retail2

Anna BarberVenture Partner at Everywhere VenturesAlisha LoosFinance Operating Partner at The Artemis Fund

Also worked at 500 Startups128

Kaz TeradaVenture Advisor at Monta Vista CapitalChristal NgAssociate at Golden Gate VenturesDemi ObayomiPrincipal at Sapphire VenturesGbenga AjayiPartner, Head of Africa and Middle East at QED InvestorsJustin LedbetterChief Operating Officer, Marlan Space at Cortado VenturesDannyInvestor at MGV.VC

+ 122 more

Also worked at Candid Wholesale1

Patrick MathiesonPartner at Toba Capital

Also worked at Yahoo!227

Jess LeePartner and Chief Product Officer at Sequoia CapitalMike SpeiserManaging Director at Sutter Hill VenturesFrédérique DameInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Marcie VuPartner at GreycroftIsabelle PhelpsPartner at Lerer HippeauPaul LevineOperating Partner at Sapphire Ventures

+ 221 more

Colleagues at OpenSky Ventures

Josh Resnick
Co-Founder & General Partner at OpenSky Ventures
Stephanie Nwokolo Hussey
Principal at OpenSky Ventures