People

We are scientists, engineers, operators, and designers who know how to innovate, execute, and scale at every stage of a business.

We are

Peter Barrett

General Partner

What’s your favorite thing about Playground?

I learn something new here everyday working with our team at the boundaries of hardware, software and AI. I’m inspired by entrepreneurs building watershed technologies that are challenging but consequential.

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What’s your “must read” book recommendation?

“Tetrascroll” by Buckminster Fuller

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Bruce Leak

General Partner

What invention will be ubiquitous when your kids are your age?

The holodeck will be used for “in-person” meetings making the daily commute unnecessary. Decoupling where we live from where we work will obviate the need for many office buildings and transit systems.

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Benjamin Kim

Partner

If you weren’t working at Playground, right now you’d be …

… a full time triathlete.

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Matt Hershenson

Venture Partner

Why did you create Playground?

One of the greatest benefits we can provide to entrepreneurs is sharing what we learned in building our own companies.

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Laurie Yoler

Venture Partner

What philosophy or vision guides your work?

A tenacious, focused, interdisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and marketers with the right leadership can create extraordinary companies.

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What’s the most valuable life skill you learned as a kid on the playground?

Always bring appropriate footwear.

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What invention will be ubiquitous when your kids are your age?

Continuous glucose monitors.

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Victoria Chernow

Advisor

What philosophy or vision guides your work?

“Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” -Teddy Roosevelt

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Jeannie Entin

Marketing, VP

Justin Ernest

Principal

What’s the most valuable life skill you learned as a kid on the playground?

Always play like it’s your last game.

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What philosophy or vision guides your work?

Attention to details they matter…

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What’s the most valuable life skill you learned as a kid on the playground?

Everyone has something valuable to contribute, so take the time to listen to their story.

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Erica Kane

Principal, Talent

What’s the most valuable life skill you learned as a kid on the playground?

To not be afraid to dunk on the boys in recess even though you’re a girl.

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Clinton Lazzari

Operating Partner

What’s your “must read” book recommendation?

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain

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Angela Lin

Principal, Talent

What’s the most valuable life skill you learned as a kid on the playground?

Invite everyone to join in on the fun!

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What’s the most valuable life skill you learned as a kid on the playground?

Be patient.

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If you weren’t working at Playground, right now you’d be …

Studying to be a horologist during the week and reviewing soccer games from around Europe during the weekend on Twitch.

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Chika Nakasu

Executive Manager

What philosophy or vision guides your work?

Never lose curiosity.

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Sasha Ostojic

Venture Partner

What’s your “must read” book recommendation?

“The Joy of Engineering Leadership” by Sasha Ostojic. A thriller with real world engineering twists and turns. Sitting on the bookshelf in my head.

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Richard Peretz

Venture Partner

What invention will be ubiquitous when your kids are your age?

Self-driving cars.

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Marissa Ramirez de Chanlatte

Associate

Vilma Roa

Receptionist

If you weren’t working at Playground, right now you’d be …

… spending time with kids/family/loved ones and beach bumming.

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Guocong Song

AI Speciality

What’s your “must read” book recommendation?

“Romance of the Three Kingdoms” by Luo Guanzhong, but the English translation may lose some cultural meaning.

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Nicole Sonnert

Associate

What philosophy or vision guides your work?

It is what it is, be adaptable, live in the moment, and have no expectations.

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What invention will be ubiquitous when your kids are your age?

Print at home clothes with reusable filament. Bespoke clothes – style, fit and color – that are benign to the environment.

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What’s the most valuable life skill you learned as a kid on the playground?

Teamwork makes the dreamwork!

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Kim Watson

Finance Manager

What philosophy or vision guides your work?

Honesty, integrity, hard work and the desire to have fun and make a difference every day.

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Phyllis Whiteley

Advisor

What philosophy or vision guides your work?

“I not only use all the brains that I have, but all the brains I can borrow”. Woodrow Wilson

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Greg Wilson

VP of Finance

What invention will be ubiquitous when your kids are your age?

Digital currencies and assets.

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Daniel Yum

Principal

If you weren’t working at Playground, right now you’d be …

… taking the specifications from the customer and bring them down to the software engineers! I have people skills! I am good at dealing with people!

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Join Our Team

Join Our Team

Playground is really a partner for entrepreneurs and mission oriented founders. Their deep bench of operational and technical expertise has been invaluable as our company scales.

Michael Martin
CEO & Founder at RapidSOS