James is an entrepreneur and technologist focused on building businesses and brands that thrive and endure. He co-founded oakpool, a founder and employee-owned digital marketing firm that builds teams, systems, and software to help brands achieve sustainable growth.
oakpool works globally, with team members and clients across the United States, Canada, Latin America, and Europe. Past and present clients include GORE-TEX, Goslings Rum, Caesars Entertainment, and Zum.
At oakpool, James leads new product and service development, including oakpool.ai, which focuses on Generative Engine Optimization, helping brands become legible, referenced, and surfaced inside modern AI search engines like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Claude.
Along with his work at oakpool, James has spent nearly a decade in early-stage venture capital and company formation, working as an investor and Entrepreneur-in-Residence at firms in Boston, London, and the Bay Area. He earned his MBA at Imperial College London and his BA at the College of Charleston.
James comes from a family of artists, curators, gallerists, and writers, and approaches entrepreneurship as a creative act. Beyond his work, James is passionate about travel, skiing, fly fishing, the arts, and our planet.
Tell us what you’re working on, and we’ll tell you honestly whether we can help.
