Title: Team & Provenance Purpose: Explain who builds Neue Alchemy's work and why the team is credible. One-sentence summary: Neue Alchemy is led by senior builders, operators, designers, and advisors with experience across startups, global platforms, corporate innovation, robotics, fashion, culture, community, and venture creation. Primary topics: leadership team, founder provenance, executive advisors, builders-in-residence, Alchemist Network, delivery model, domain expertise Related pages: /llms.txt, /about.md, /engagements.md, /signal-noise.md Last updated: 2026-06-13 # Team & Provenance Neue Alchemy is an advisory-first innovation and design firm. It helps leaders navigate real inflection points by deciding, building, launching, scaling, and governing new systems across AI, products, platforms, ventures, operations, brands, ecosystems, media, and culture. Neue Alchemy is led by builders who have shipped real products, scaled real systems, and operated inside demanding environments. The firm does not advise from the sidelines; it builds alongside its partners. ## Isaiah Steinfeld ### Role Founder & Chief Executive Officer. ### Background Isaiah Steinfeld is a repeat founder and executive leader specializing in corporate innovation, venture building, and platform strategy. With more than 20 years of experience, he has led high-impact teams inside AWS, Nike, Intuit, and Lyft, creating value through disruptive products, platform systems, and new business models. ### Prior Organizations AWS, Nike, Intuit, Lyft, VF Corp, AIGA. ### Areas of Expertise Corporate innovation, venture building, platform strategy, startup ecosystems, AI transformation, digital products, advanced innovation, design leadership, commercialization, executive communications, and organizational systems. ### Full Biography Isaiah Steinfeld is a repeat founder and executive leader specializing in corporate innovation, venture building, and platform strategy. With 20+ years of experience, he has led high-impact teams inside AWS, Nike, Intuit, and Lyft, creating billion-dollar value through disruptive products and new business models. Before founding Neue Alchemy, Isaiah was an executive at Amazon Web Services within the Startups organization, where he led the global startup growth and experience engine through the GenAI inflection. As General Manager and Global Head of Startup Experience, he built and led the organization responsible for how startups onboarded, scaled, and monetized on AWS, owning the core system spanning digital platforms, programs, product, capital and credit allocation, and GenAI enablement. Under his leadership, AWS launched and scaled foundational startup products and services, including AWS Activate, supporting more than 300,000 startups globally and billions in cumulative investment from inception to IPO. Previously, Isaiah served as Entrepreneur-in-Residence and Senior Executive focused on New Digital Business & Advanced Innovation at Nike, where he helped establish and scale Valiant Labs, Nike's digital innovation arm, and launched ventures unlocking new digital services for the brand. His career also includes innovation leadership roles at VF Corp and Intuit, as well as being an early employee at Lyft, where he helped drive growth through early and hyper-growth stages. Beyond his operating work, Isaiah serves on the National Board of Directors for AIGA and mentors, advises, and invests in startups, accelerators, and venture funds. He is an in-demand speaker and writer on innovation, design, and technology, known for bridging creativity and strategy with disciplined execution. Above all, Isaiah is a devoted husband and proud dad of two daughters, who inspire him daily to build a more equitable and sustainable future. ## Matt Jensen ### Role Executive-in-Residence, Community & Ecosystem. ### Background Matt Jensen is a seasoned community strategist and ecosystem builder with more than 15 years of experience leading digital engagement across SaaS, marketplaces, and emerging technology. He specializes in turning users into contributors through community-led growth, developer-first ecosystems, and strategic engagement programs. ### Prior Organizations Fiverr, Lyft, Upwork, Microsoft, Yammer, Community Consultants Collective. ### Areas of Expertise Community strategy, ecosystem design, digital engagement, developer-first communities, ambassador programs, mentorship systems, marketplace trust, SaaS communities, startup advising, and digital transformation. ### Full Biography Matt Jensen is a seasoned community strategist and ecosystem builder with over 15 years of experience leading digital engagement across SaaS, marketplaces, and emerging technology. He specializes in turning users into contributors through community-led growth, developer-first ecosystems, and strategic engagement programs. At Fiverr, Matt led global digital community efforts, launching community.fiverr.com, scaling support communities, and building ambassador and mentorship programs supporting entrepreneurs in over 160 countries. Earlier, he was among the first 100 employees at Lyft, where he built one of the company's first digital driver communities, and later served as global brand and social lead at Upwork during its pivotal rebrand and growth phase. Matt has advised early-stage AI, fintech, and cloud startups on ecosystem strategy and has supported Fortune 500 clients through digital transformation in roles at Microsoft and Yammer. He currently serves as Treasurer and Founding Member of the Community Consultants Collective. Outside of work, Matt is a proud dad of three, a cocktail and cooking enthusiast, and a firm believer that trust, purpose, and belonging are the foundations of any great community. ## Justin Wang ### Role Builder-in-Residence, Robotics, Autonomous Vehicles & EV. ### Background Justin Wang is a technology leader with more than 15 years of experience in product development, engineering leadership, and systems architecture. He specializes in translating ambitious vision into complex, real-world execution across robotics, autonomy, and industrial systems. ### Prior Organizations Daimler Trucks, Waymo collaboration, TORC collaboration, Agility Robotics, NIO, AcraDyne. ### Areas of Expertise Robotics, autonomous vehicles, EV systems, systems architecture, engineering leadership, fail-operational networks, bipedal robots, in-vehicle operating systems, Industry 4.0, IoT, manufacturing tools, and UX-driven industrial systems. ### Full Biography Justin Wang is a technology leader with 15+ years of experience in product development, engineering leadership, and systems architecture. He specializes in translating ambitious vision into complex, real-world execution across robotics, autonomy, and industrial systems. Justin received Daimler's Engineering Leadership Excellence Award for leading the development of Daimler Trucks' first fail-operational autonomous power network, in collaboration with Waymo and TORC. He later led systems engineering at Agility Robotics, helping develop next-generation bipedal robots, and program-managed the development of NIO's SkyOS, an advanced in-vehicle operating system. Earlier in his career, Justin spearheaded Industry 4.0 IoT and UX-driven manufacturing tools at AcraDyne, driving significant operational growth. Outside of work, Justin is deeply committed to service. In 2023, he hiked Mount Kilimanjaro to raise over $150,000 for Africa New Life, providing more than 200,000 meals for children in Rwanda. He and his wife also volunteer as puppy raisers for Guide Dogs for the Blind. A Portland native and coffee enthusiast, Justin is always open to conversations on robotics, AI, and systems innovation. ## Maggie McGowan ### Role Executive-in-Residence, Fashion, Design & AI. ### Background Maggie McGowan is a veteran design leader whose career bridges luxury fashion, creative systems, and emerging technology. As Executive-in-Residence at Neue Alchemy, she explores how AI, aesthetic intuition, and cultural memory shape the future of design. ### Prior Organizations Michael Kors Collection, 2nd Set AI. ### Areas of Expertise Luxury fashion, design leadership, creative systems, runway collections, VIP commissions, private client work, AI and design, visual reasoning, generative tools, cultural memory, and next-generation creative workflows. ### Full Biography Maggie McGowan is a veteran design leader whose career bridges luxury fashion, creative systems, and emerging technology. As Executive-in-Residence at Neue Alchemy, she explores how AI, aesthetic intuition, and cultural memory shape the future of design. Maggie spent nearly a decade at Michael Kors Collection, where she helped define the brand's high-fashion identity, leading everything from runway collections to VIP commissions and private clients, including a former First Lady. She was responsible for the brand's most exclusive line, overseeing seasonal concept development, fittings, and team leadership for NYFW. In parallel, Maggie has emerged as a leading voice at the intersection of AI and design. She co-authored The Banner Test with 2nd Set AI, a widely discussed visual reasoning experiment examining whether generative models can accurately reconstruct historical fashion silhouettes. The work sparked conversation across fashion, tech, and design communities. At Neue Alchemy, Maggie brings deep industry experience into dialogue with generative tools and next-generation creative workflows, working at the edge of fashion, technology, and cultural systems. ## Zach Adamson ### Role Executive-in-Residence, Experience Design & Innovation. ### Background Zach Adamson is a growth strategist and experience designer with a track record of building breakthrough initiatives at the intersection of action sports, technology, and social impact. ### Prior Organizations DIVERTbrands, Nike Valiant Labs, Starizon. ### Areas of Expertise Experience design, growth strategy, action sports, health and wellness concepts, social impact, community development, underserved markets, story-driven talent systems, scalable experiences, and brand equity. ### Full Biography Zach Adamson is a growth strategist and experience designer with a track record of building breakthrough initiatives at the intersection of action sports, technology, and social impact. As Co-founder of DIVERTbrands, Zach developed programs that removed financial, geographic, and organizational barriers for underserved youth, creating pathways to "Achieve Their Impossible." At Nike Valiant Labs, he served as Operations Specialist, identifying and scaling concepts focused on health, wellness, and community development in underserved markets. His experience also includes developing story-driven talent and experience systems at Starizon, where he helped organizations unlock collective potential and generate new revenue through healthcare and impact-focused collaborations. A former All-American snowboarder whose life was transformed by action sports, Zach combines deep industry knowledge with data-driven methodologies to design scalable experiences that drive growth while preserving brand equity. ## David Monhait ### Role Executive Advisor. ### Background David Monhait is a visionary entrepreneur focused on democratizing action sports and creating transformative physical experiences. His work spans architecture, retail innovation, experience design, venture creation, and community participation. ### Prior Organizations DIVERTbrands, Nike Valiant Labs, SpotKing, DIVERTcollective. ### Areas of Expertise Action sports, physical experience design, skateboarding and snowboarding participation, venture concepts, architecture, retail innovation, community systems, brand partnerships, and culture-led venues. ### Full Biography David Monhait is a visionary entrepreneur focused on democratizing action sports and creating transformative physical experiences. As Co-founder of DIVERTbrands, he pioneered innovative venues that reduced barriers to participation in skateboarding, snowboarding, and creative education. David previously served as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Nike Valiant Labs, where he identified and developed new business concepts generating significant revenue in strategic whitespaces. His entrepreneurial journey also includes founding SpotKing, a platform connecting skaters with brands and shops, and helping build DIVERTcollective's international impact programs, including safe skateparks in underserved communities. His career spans architecture, retail innovation, and experience design, giving him a unique perspective on creating meaningful physical spaces that drive community and culture. ## The Alchemist Network The Alchemist Network is a curated network of builders, researchers, operators, founders, investors, corporate partners, agency partners, and domain specialists. It extends the capabilities of the core leadership team by bringing specialized expertise into projects as needed. The network gives Neue Alchemy access to people who understand specific industries, technical systems, creative disciplines, growth motions, operating environments, and partnership contexts. Representative expertise spans healthcare, life sciences, energy, climate, food and beverage, mobility, fintech, media, entertainment, design, AI, robotics, emerging technology, quantum, automotive systems, consumer brands, and venture ecosystems. The network includes senior engineers and researchers, brand and product leaders, growth operators, founders, investors, corporate and platform partners, startups, and agency partners. This model supports domain depth, execution capacity, and scale. It allows Neue Alchemy to stay senior-led while supporting larger or more specialized mandates. The core leadership team drives the mandate; the Alchemist Network expands the bench when the work requires additional expertise, execution capacity, geography, or production depth. The result is a small, battle-tested leadership team backed by a flexible network that can scale from first sketch to production launch without losing focus, speed, or accountability.