Volume 1 · Issue ∞EST. 2003 · CHICAGO, IL

Howdy.
I’m Dan Golden.
A man of many nouns.

Marketer. Builder. Conscious Capitalist. Dad of Four. Musician. Extraordinaire.

plus a few more nouns
Dan Golden
TheOrangeGuy
A bit about

The nouns, explained.

I built and co-ran a digital marketing agency for 15 years. Now I build things and use those skills to grow them — software, content sites, and a few real businesses, mostly under Pandotic. Some I founded, some I invested in, some I advise, and some are finished chapters.

That’s the short version, not the bio. The real one — the agency years, the sale, the gap years, and why I build what I build — is on the About page.

Read the full bio →
23+
Years in marketing
10,000
World-changing ideas I’m “working on”
40
Ventures built, backed, or exited
4
Kids
The communities

My Tribes

I’ve been lucky to surround myself with amazing communities of humans and entrepreneurs. Friends, advisors, co-founders — all elevating humanity through business.

FAForbes Agency CouncilMember since 2020
CCConscious CapitalismChicago Board
CBChicago BBBBoard Member
YYECChicago Chair
EElectionDay.orgFounder
2I2112 Inc.Mentor
The companies I keep

Ventures & Projects

Everything I’ve founded, built, backed or exited — 40 ventures in five houses. The navigator sorts them by how I’m actually involved.

Live Building Exited / acquired

40 ventures · 19 live · 16 building · 5 exited

Open the Ventures navigator →

Filter by house, by how I’m involved, or by type.

Brands & institutions I’ve partnered with over 22 years

ToyotaCabela'sFTDChaseNorthwesternDePaulForbesInc.Ad AgeConscious CapitalismAMAANAPubconClutchHuffPostTINYpulse
From classrooms to keynotes

Speaking, Teaching & Workshops

Big stages, small stages, classrooms, zoom rooms — I love teaching and talking. These days I mostly talk about building with AI, marketing that doesn’t suck, and running a business like a human.

Photo · TINYcon keynote
TINYcon keynote
Photo · Workshop mode
Workshop mode
HLHeroConf London
CCConscious Capitalism
SGSmall Giants
TTINYcon
IINBOUND
PPubcon
NNorthwesternLecturer, Medill IMC
DUDePaul UniversityAdjunct Lecturer, Digital Marketing
AMAmerican Marketing AssociationGuest Speaker & Workshops
AOAssoc. of National Advertisers10+ Events & Workshops
2I2112 Inc.Mentor
Don’t take my word for it

People Who Don’t Have To Be Nice

Dan Golden is one of the few individuals that ticks all the boxes. He is an expert in his industry, an employee-centric leader, and, more importantly, does a phenomenal job educating others on how to combine the two.
Andrew SumitaniDirector of Marketing, TINYpulse
We hosted Dan for a discussion — Search marketing trends: What's now, what's new, what's next. Feedback from our members was overwhelmingly positive; his insights resulted in actionable items.
Margaret Beck, MAAPSenior Director, AASA
Dan inspires his audience; he builds a foundation of knowledge then takes us into the future. I always hear great feedback after his presentations.
Roy WollenPresident, Hansa Marketing Services
The presenter and his content were EXCELLENT. One of the best webinars I've attended (and I've been attending A LOT of them during the pandemic!).
Very Kind Anonymous Survey ResponderProbably a real person
Take my word for it

Articles, Press & Other Content

The stuff I’ve written, been quoted in, or appeared on. The full vault has all of it.

Browse all 35 →Showing 6 of 35
↓ More Sizzling Content ↓
The fun content

Guitars, Keys, Ukuleles & a Melodica

Before I was a “business guy” I was a touring musician — three bands, one Chicago Music Awards nomination, and a basement I still play in.

Photo · on stage
On stage, somewhere loud
Buddha's Belly2001–2005 · Touring jambandThe Mediocre Fight2008–2012 · Hotel Cafe, LAThe Snot Rockets1993 · PNW grunge, plaid

Headlined House of Blues, opened for Umphrey’s McGee and Burning Spear, and slept in our share of cheap motels at 3am. That touring jamband is also how I fell into digital marketing — I took a search-engine internship in 2003, right as Google launched AdWords.

The whole band hall of fame →