Jay Lester

Jay Lester is a seasoned marketing and sales executive with extensive experience in startups at the Seed to Series A stages. With a career spanning multiple industries, Jay has built a reputation for forming long-term, impactful relationships and providing strategic guidance to growing businesses.

Professional Achievements

Jay has held Chief Marketing Officer and executive sales roles at multiple startups, where he played a key role in driving growth and securing funding. He has actively participated in fundraising efforts and is a trusted advisor to venture capital firms. His experience includes working with companies such as Fashion Project, Domino Media Group, SmartOps, and Transengine Technologies.

Skills and Expertise

Jay’s expertise spans marketing, supply chain, consumer packaged goods (CPG), retail, venture capital, fashion, and media. He is particularly skilled at helping startups refine their go-to-market strategies, develop impactful marketing campaigns, and build scalable sales processes. His ability to connect with founders and provide actionable advice has made him a sought-after mentor and advisor.

What Sets Jay Apart

Jay’s unique ability to form healthy, long-term relationships is a hallmark of his approach. As he puts it, "I’m still meeting every two weeks with one of the first teams I mentored in the iLab, seven years ago." His dedication to fostering meaningful connections and his strategic insights have been instrumental in the success of the businesses he has supported.

Connect with Jay

Learn more about Jay Lester and his work by visiting his LinkedIn profile.

Darden students and i.Lab founders can book a session with Jay.