Todd

Gitlin

Talent Partner

Bio

Todd Gitlin is the Managing Partner & Founder of Safire Partners, one of the leading search firms focused on emerging companies with offices in NY and LA. Safire was founded in 2006, has a team of 25 people and takes on 100 searches annually. Todd has been a recognized leader in executive search since 1999 completing over 800 assignments. Since 2006, Todd has invested in 48 companies and advised countless others in the TenOneTen portfolio.

Hometown + Education

"Los Angeles, CA Chico State is where I went to college, but I learned more from every day in the streets"

What areas are you focused on as an investor?

Before TenOneTen

Safire Partners, CareerCreations + a few others

Earliest lesson learned about business?

Failing at scale put me back to business service and product being good

Nerdiest thing about you?

Most “LA” thing you’ve done?

What brought you to LA?

Born and raised

Lessons on mentorship?

What tech gets you endlessly excited?

Time travel

What tech or invention did you think of first?

Any instant deal breakers during a pitch?

The word “never”

Best piece of advice you've ever gotten

When you think you know everything, you know nothing. When you realize you don't know anything, you know everything. The difference is that you now ask questions.

How do you spend time outside of work?

Standout moment from your founder experience?

What founder traits that get you most excited?

A strong network

What are the greatest and hardest parts about being a founder?

Early lesson you learned about investing?

How many pets do you actually have?

Why did you join TenOneTen?

When intellect meets aptitude and work ethic, magic happens. The TenOneTen team is amazing.

Anything else?