James Phelan
Membership: Founding Member
Joined: March 2023
Companies: Village Insights and Founder Institute Texas
Titles: Co-Founder and Managing Director
Education: BA & BS, Architecture, Urban and Regional Planning from University of Southern California, BA, Business, Management, and Marketing from University of St. Thomas
Social Media: LinkedIn
Professional Biography
Innovator, Strategist, Design Thinker, Super-Connector, Servant Leader & Dedicated Founder
James possesses an elegant style of harnessing and applying items observed & learned through valuable experiences and networks that contribute to beneficial results. He builds and nurtures team environments with an atmosphere of intelligent collaboration and individual expression. These skills were well-honed skills as a competitive sailing tactician, logistics lead (USN), investment banker, multi-time startup founder, avid mentor/ advisor, startup accelerator Managing Director, and as an active C-suite startup executive.
IHO (in his opinion): Communities, teams and their projects excel in environments where vision, the exploration of ideas, and learning are encouraged & celebrated. He thrives while rolling up his sleeves with diverse teammates & stakeholders to address opportunities leading to solutions solving BIG problems. His iterative methodologies and other supportive contributions improve organizational productivity, industry awareness of his companies, market connectivity & adoption - leading to growth/ bottom-line revenue.
How you ask? He tirelessly encourages & provides thorough analysis, intelligent design processes and actionable strategy & solutions that suit teams, and curates viable connections to marketplaces - driving value for every level of community, client, investor, and employee. He often leads partnership, commercialization, investment, strategic, and cultural efforts.
Innovation knows no industry limitations nor bounds.
In his “off time” he serves on the board of directors and in voluntary operational roles for influential arts, professional and startup community organizations - Attracting, promoting, and celebrating entrepreneurship & innovation, creativity, conviviality, abundance and success.
Features
Houston Culture Map: Houston Entrepreneur Plays Startup Matchmaker Everyone Succeeds
Endorsements
I have a pleasure working with James as part of the FI Houston team. James is one of the most welcoming, positive and encouraging people I've met in the Houston entrepreneurial community. Not only he knows how to motivate people on the FI managing team but he also has the right approach to FI founders. Through his vast entrepreneurial experience, James always sees through a problem, asks right questions and gives direction. His lessons and use cases are always to the point, and his advice is valuable. James plays an essential role in building and strengthening Texas startup ecosystem and he is an extraordinary role model, mentor, director, and entrepreneur.
- Natasha Gorodetsky, Head of Product
I had the pleasure to work with James on a "Finalist Team" for Houston Land Water Sustainability Forum's (HLWSF) Low Impact Development Urban Design Challenge. James brings a passion and wealth of knowledge of urban infill, transit oriented development and "place-making." With his assistance, our team created a concept that was not just a unique, but will truly mesh with the existing community. He was a great team member and I look forward to working with him on the next project.
- Kolby Davidson, Owner