Paul Friesen

Developer & Platform Marketing | CMO | Advisor & Investor

Intelex-Atlassianex-Panoply by SQream

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I’m a CMO for infrastructure, developer and creator platform companies, with prior CEO

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I specialize in translating complex systems—APIs, data platforms, and AI infrastructure—into clear category narratives and repeatable go-to-market engines that scale from product-led adoption to enterprise I’ve spent my career building and scaling GTM systems across startups, growth-stage companies, and public-company environments—leading teams, sharpening positioning, and driving durable revenue growth in technically complex Today, I’m operating as an Operator-in-Residence, working closely with founders and executive teams on infrastructure and platform GTM. My focus includes PLG → enterprise expansion, multi-ICP positioning (developers, operators, buyers), pricing and packaging inputs, launch strategy, sales enablement, and applied exploration of AI-driven GTM Previously, I served as CMO at Rapid (acquired by Nokia), the world’s leading API hub. I built and led a full-stack marketing organization spanning product marketing, growth, enterprise, brand, and developer relations; repositioned the category; scaled marketplace adoption; launched high-growth self-service offerings; and helped drive enterprise expansion with customers including Sun Life and Before Rapid, I joined Panoply as CMO and later became CEO, leading GTM, product (non-engineering), customer operations, and company strategy through rapid growth and a successful acquisition by SQream. During my tenure, we raised $20M+, grew revenue 100%+ YoY, scaled trials 5×, reduced churn below 10%, and built strategic partnerships with Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Snowflake, and Earlier, I built GTM foundations at Algolia—supporting 100%+ YoY growth and a $2B valuation—and led Marketplace and Ecosystem GTM at Atlassian in the years leading up to IPO, helping grow the business 3× and establish what became $1B+ in lifetime marketplace I began my career in product marketing at Intel, managing the $6B Xeon business across the Americas and developing a deep foundation in infrastructure GTM, enterprise complexity, and ecosystem-driven I’m selective about advisory and investment work while preparing for my next full-time operating role.