Jordi Hays

Born and raised in California by a schoolteacher and nonprofit worker, I’ve been captivated by business for as long as I can remember. At 12, I launched my first venture—a skateboard brand called J Man—raising $650 to manufacture and sell products in local shops. While others idolized athletes, I dreamed of becoming an international businessman.

Over the years, I worked jobs ranging from mowing lawns to hospitality at The Ritz-Carlton, always focused on delivering exceptional experiences. While at UC Santa Barbara, I co-founded Branded Native, a YouTube ad network that has paid tens of millions to creators and remained profitable for over 20 quarters.

After stepping back as CEO, I co-founded Party Round with my wife, Sarah. Known for viral marketing and a $10M raise from a16z and others, it evolved into Capital—a full-stack financial platform—acquired by Rho in 2023. Along the way, we launched New York Tech Week and the Founder Series campaign.

Now, I host TBPN with John Coogan.