Copyright Inc. Magazine
Devin Patel always had “a bit of an entrepreneurial itch.” In his 20s, he helped grow hostels in Barcelona and worked on business development at a mobile payments startup. In 2023, at the age of 31, Patel founded Miami-based Onbrand, which started as a digital platform for the corporate events industry. Less than a year later, he spotted an even bigger opportunity. Rather than focus on a corporate travel business, why not build a network dedicated to brand partnerships and all of their business dealings? To pull off this pivot, Patel would need capital. Fortunately, he knew Kevin Novak, a data scientist responsible for creating surge pricing at Uber, who was now the founder of San Francisco-based Rackhouse Venture Capital. The firm focuses on founder-led, early-stage companies that use data to unlock new efficiencies. When Patel connected with Novak to discuss funding opportunities, the partnership instantly clicked. “Because I knew Kevin before, there’s some trust already built into that relationship,” Patel says. “It’s similar to a marriage. You’re signing up for a long timeline with that individual.” Crucially, Novak didn’t bat an eye when it came to Onbrand’s pivot.
