Pat Kinsel likes to solve big problems. As founder and CEO of
Proof, formerly known as Notarize, Pat created the first company that made it possible to legally notarize documents online.
Before Proof, Pat co-founded the technology start-up Spindle, which was acquired by Twitter in 2013. He was also a partner in the venture capital firm Polaris Partners where he helped build companies such as Drizly which was acquired by Uber.
In this episode, Pat shares insights for entrepreneurs young and old on building a company that “stands the test of time”.
In the episode we will learn:
- (2:06) — How did growing up in Silicon Valley influence Pat's entrepreneurial spirit?
- (3:33) — What inspired Pat's early desire to become a venture capitalist?
- (5:07) — What was Pat's journey from college to founding Spindle?
- (7:57) — What problem was Spindle trying to solve and what was the process of selling it to Twitter like?
- (10:16) — What lessons did Pat learn from the sale process with Twitter?
- (12:05) — How did a frustrating notarization experience lead to the founding of Notarize (now Proof)?
- (14:35) — How did Pat and his team navigate regulatory challenges to scale Proof?
- (17:03) — What qualities does Pat believe are important for a CEO leading a pioneering team?
- (19:37) — What common mistakes do young entrepreneurs make?
- (23:51) — What values does Pat want to cultivate in his children as they grow up?
- (26:14) — What drives Pat to continue working hard in his business and personal life?
- (29:08) — What does the future have in store for Pat?
What is The Road to Why?
From start-up entrepreneurs to multi-generational family business owners, most founders are driven to succeed for reasons well beyond making money. Whether it’s a passion for reshaping their industry, building a family legacy or advancing the causes they care most about — or, in many cases, all of the above — exploring the larger “why” of their life’s work offers insights into how successful leaders operate and what is really important to them.
On The Road to Why, host Eric Czepyha, Director of Business Services at Northern Trust, speaks with business owners, entrepreneurs and visionaries about business, family, wealth and legacy and shares advice and life lessons from those who have found success in ways expected and unexpected.