Jonathan Ng Sposato (pronounced SPŌ-sah-toe, born March 17, 1967)[1] is an American serial entrepreneur and startup investor in technology, media, and publishing.
Sposato is the chairman and co-founder of Geekwire, an American technology news website, and owns and publishes Seattle Magazine and Seattle Business Magazine.[2] He is also the founder of JoySauce Network, a multimedia platform that promotes American Asian talent through podcasts, TV programs, and news.[3]
Notably, Sposato was the first person to sell two profitable companies, Picnik and Phatbits, to Google.,[4][5][6] and in 2021, he successfully completed the sale of PicMonkey to Shutterstock. An investor in companies including Pokitdok, EveryMove, and Vizify.,[7] he made a pledge to exclusively fund startups that include at least one female founder.
Sposato graduated from Whitman College in 1989 and serves on the Whitman College Board of Trustees.[8][9]
In the early 1990s, Sposato held a senior management position within Microsoft's consumer division. He played a pivotal role in the strategic development of key Microsoft properties, directly presenting his insights to Chairman Bill Gates and the company's leadership. Additionally, Sposato was instrumental in the creation of the Xbox, the Xbox games business, and various MSN applications.[10]
Sposato is also the author of Better Together: 8 Ways Working with Women Leads to Extraordinary Products and Profit.[11][12]
In 2016, Sposato announced his decision to exclusively invest in technology companies founded by women, a move that garnered national attention.[13] As a result, he was recognized by several women-led organizations. He received accolades from American Women in Science, Vital Voices, and was honored with the University of Washington's "Man of Integrity" award.[14]
The University of Washington his Sposato's efforts around gender equality in 2017 with its "Man of Integrity Award."[15] Seattle Business Magazine profiled him as one of Seattle's most influential people of 2015.[16]
Sposato is the co-chair of United Way of King County's fundraising campaign to address homelessness in Seattle.[17][18]