Rachael Lake

Product Leader • Founder • Investor

0→1 product builder combining deep consumer empathy with rigorous analytical thinking. I build with AI tools daily, I've founded companies, and I bring an investor's eye for marketplace dynamics and sustainable growth.

0→1 Product DevelopmentConsumer MarketplacesAI-Augmented BuildingSubscription RetentionCFA Charterholder
Career Highlights
$1M
Revenue Built 0→1
30%+
YoY Growth
8+
Angel Investments
300%
Productivity Gain
Founder — bootstrapped to $1M, no VC
Investor — PropTech, marketplaces, health tech
Builder — shipping products with AI daily
Approach
How I Build Products
Every product I've built sits at the intersection of consumer empathy, analytical rigor, and a bias for shipping.
🎯

Start with the User

I've run moderated usability tests, analyzed heat maps, gathered feedback on Reddit, and conducted marketplace due diligence by experiencing products as both buyer and seller. The best product insights come from living the problem, not just studying it.

⚖

Think in Systems

A CFA charterholder who started in investment banking and asset management. I think in trade-offs, probabilities, and feedback loops. Two-sided marketplaces need someone who can balance both sides without breaking either one.

⚡

Ship Fast, Learn Faster

I built a consumer mobile app MVP in weeks using AI-assisted prototyping. I ran an entire company as the sole employee using automation tools. I don't wait for permission to build — I prototype, test, and iterate.

Experience
Building Products & Companies
From two-sided marketplace strategy to subscription retention to moderated usability testing — every role has deepened my ability to ship products people love.

Independent Product Builder & Consultant

Self-Employed • Remote
2015 – Present
  • Built "Karaoke Star" consumer mobile app from concept to working MVP using AI-assisted prototyping (Replit AI) in weeks — defining technical requirements, UX/UI, and managing development.
  • Built and manage The Foodie Globetrotter — a global culinary and travel content platform leveraging AI tools for content strategy, SEO, and audience growth.
  • Developed business plan and pitch deck for a two-sided marketplace connecting home chefs with customers (Series A) — including delivery logistics and onboarding flows for both supply and demand sides.
  • Conducted primary research on driver operations, app UI, and onboarding for Tiger Global's due diligence on DoorDash (LA market) and for Evercar, a marketplace matching rideshare drivers with leased vehicles. Translated findings into presentations for leadership.
0→1MobileAI PrototypingTwo-Sided MarketplacesUser Research

Product Lead & Entrepreneur-in-Residence

Antler • Boulder, CO
2023
  • Led product strategy for an AI consumer travel app with personalized activity recommendations based on user preference profiles (children, pets, activity level, food interests). Gathered feedback via Reddit, cohort network, and prepared Product Hunt launch.
  • Recruited as product/business lead by an Antler-funded enterprise AI SaaS startup (comparable to Glean) to help grow the team. Led marketing positioning and sales efforts.
  • Organized moderated usability testing sessions within the cohort, collecting live user feedback to inform product iteration and feature prioritization.
AI ProductsTravel TechUsability TestingRoadmap PrioritizationFunded

Founder & CEO

Takeout Kit • Sunnyvale, CA
2015 – 2020
  • Bootstrapped a consumer subscription platform from concept to $1M revenue with 20% margins as the sole full-time employee, using automation (Zapier, Shopify, MailChimp) to run all operations. No VC funding.
  • Designed subscription retention mechanics: curated new recipes monthly to drive engagement, balanced novelty with frictionless defaults to reduce churn, optimized onboarding. Analyzed heat maps to identify UI friction and improve conversion.
  • Secured retail partnerships with Walmart.com and Bloomingdales.com. Growth-hacked to first-page Google; earned Forbes & TechCrunch coverage. 30%+ YoY growth.
  • Hired and managed cross-functional team of designers, developers, marketing, and fulfillment. Streamlined logistics via Amazon FBA, reducing shipping costs by 30%.
SubscriptionRetentionHeat MapsAutomationSEOPartnerships

Senior Associate, Product

PIMCO • Newport Beach, CA
2011 – 2014
  • Acted as internal product owner: defined requirements, prioritized feature specs, and managed trade-offs with a dedicated developer team to build software automating 75% of workflows. 300% team productivity gain.
  • Translated complex quantitative analysis into strategic insights for institutional clients including Apple and Merck.
Product OwnerDev Team MgmtAnalyticsAutomation

Investment Banking Analyst

BNP Paribas • New York, NY
2007 – 2009
  • Issued $15B in bonds for auto and rail companies. Originated government-backed loans during the financial crisis.
Debt Capital MarketsStructured Finance
Education & Credentials
Foundation
🎓

MBA

UCLA Anderson
Marketing & Entrepreneurship

🏫

BA Economics

Wellesley College
NCAA XC Co-Captain

📈

CFA Charterholder

Chartered Financial Analyst
Series 7, 63, 3, 57, SIE

Live Projects
Products I've Built
Click through to see them live.
🍲

Takeout Kit

Consumer Subscription Platform

Bootstrapped to $1M revenue. Subscription retention mechanics, monthly curation, heat map analysis, and churn optimization.

0→1SubscriptionRetentionShopifyAmazon FBA
Visit Site →
🌎

The Foodie Globetrotter

Travel & Culinary Platform

Global culinary and travel content. The intersection of food, culture, homes, and discovery. AI-assisted content strategy and SEO.

ContentTravelHospitalityAI-AssistedSEO
Visit Site →
🎤

Karaoke Star

Consumer Mobile App (MVP)

Built with AI-assisted prototyping via Replit AI. Concept to working product in weeks, not months.

0→1MobileAI-BuiltUX/UIReplit
Try the MVP →
Angel & Private Investments
Investment Portfolio
I invest where I see conviction — in companies reshaping how people live, move, and connect.

Investment thesis: Backing founders building trust-driven platforms and infrastructure for modern living — from PropTech and autonomous mobility to clean energy and health innovation.

🚗

Nuro

Autonomous Vehicles

Autonomous delivery powering last-mile logistics.

nuro.ai →
🚚

Flexport

Supply Chain

AI-powered freight forwarding with full visibility.

flexport.com →
🌡

Elephant Energy

Clean Energy / PropTech

Home electrification. 1,500+ heat pumps across CO, LA, MA.

elephantenergy.com →
☀

Mado

Smart Home / PropTech

Automated solar window shades for intelligent home climate.

mado.com →
🏡

Boxabl

Housing / PropTech

Mass-produced modular homes. Reimagining housing delivery.

boxabl.com →
🧬

Portfolia

VC / Women's Health

Fund member backing Maven Clinic, Everly Health, and more.

portfolia.co →
🦴

OsteoBoost

Health Tech

First FDA-cleared wearable for osteopenia.

osteoboost.com →
🌿

Veracity Selfcare

Health & Wellness

Drug-free metabolic health via plant polyphenols.

veracityselfcare.com →

Let's Connect

Always interested in compelling products, marketplaces, and travel.

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