Joher Khan
Joher Khan served as COO and Managing Partner at Founders, Inc. from November 2021 to February 2026, overseeing operations, brand, programs, and the development of over 60,000 square feet of campus space 1. He departed in February 2026 to co-found PLUMSODA, a media company focused on cultural storytelling about the technology industry 3.
Education
Khan earned dual bachelor's degrees in Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Davis, attending from 2002 to 2007, with a minor in Technology Management 1. He later completed an MBA at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business from 2014 to 2017, concentrating in design/innovation and marketing, where he served as VP of the EWMBA program 1.
FM Global
Khan joined FM Global, a commercial property insurance company, in June 2007 as a Business Risk Consultant, writing risk reports and evaluating exposures for businesses worth up to $500 million 1. He was promoted to Senior Business Recovery Consultant in August 2009, a role he held until 2016, in which he negotiated settlements for property and business loss claims exceeding $10 million for Fortune 500 clients and made strategic decisions alongside C-suite executives during large-dollar losses 1.
Berkeley Haas and design work
During his MBA at Haas, Khan participated in design and innovation consulting projects for McDonald's, Ingram Micro, and other companies 1. He served as a Design and Innovation Instructor at Haas from December 2016 to April 2017, designing and leading a retreat with over 250 MBA students and 20 industry innovation executives from companies including McDonald's, Citibank, and Abbott Labs 1. He also worked as a Design Thinking Lead at IDEO U from December 2016 to December 2017 1. In 2016, he completed a certificate program in Designing for Social Innovation and Leadership through the UN University for Peace, with field immersion in Thailand and Bali 1.
SYPartners
Khan worked at SYPartners, a strategy and design consultancy, from June 2017 to November 2021, rising from Strategist to Senior Strategist to Strategy Director 1. The firm works with CEOs and executive teams at companies including Starbucks, IBM, Apple, Nike, and Target on vision setting, brand strategy, and organizational transformation 1. As Strategy Director, Khan defined new visions and strategies for executive teams, translating them into operating models, brands, and offerings 1.
Founders, Inc.
Khan joined Founders, Inc. in November 2021 as COO, later holding the titles Managing Partner and Head of Founder Experience 1 2. Over four years he built the operational foundation for what became a venture fund, accelerator, and emerging tech lab at the Fort Mason campus 1. His responsibilities spanned designing an in-house startup studio that launched and spun out eight companies, producing over 75 events and hackathons engaging tens of thousands of founders, establishing the organization's brand identity, building a multi-platform audience across X, TikTok, and YouTube, recruiting a multidisciplinary team, and raising LP capital and structuring investment vehicles 1. He oversaw the development of over 60,000 square feet of physical space from site selection through construction and launch 1. On The Org, his direct reports included Kiran Khanzada (Head of Hospitality) and Shafaq Ahmed (Head of Operations) 2. In parallel with his f.inc role, he has served as VP of Operations at thirdweb, a web3 developer platform co-founded by Furqan Rydhan, since November 2021 1 4.
Departure and PLUMSODA
In February 2026, Khan announced his departure from Founders, Inc. in a LinkedIn post, calling the chapter "one of the most meaningful" of his career 3. He wrote that "the way we talk about tech feels incomplete" and that most coverage focuses on funding rounds and growth metrics rather than the culture, psychology, and internal dynamics of the ecosystem 3. PLUMSODA, his new venture, combines cultural storytelling through collaborations with filmmakers, writers, and artists with limited-run merchandise drops that function as commentary on specific moments in tech 3. He described it on X as "the same stuff but for tech companies" in reference to the "new media" label 5. The company also works with startups to create apparel that reinforces their brand positioning 3.
References
- Joher Khan — LinkedIn(accessed Apr 18, 2026)
- Joher Khan — The Org(accessed Apr 18, 2026)
- Joher Khan — After more than four years building Founders, Inc. (LinkedIn)(accessed Apr 18, 2026)
- Joher Khan — RocketReach(accessed Apr 18, 2026)
- joher khan — X profile