Keith Chaney, a former Google employee and dedicated member of the corporate strategy and partnerships team, embarked on a new journey by starting his own startup after being laid off in January 2023. Despite a significant salary decrease, Chaney’s enthusiasm and determination for his venture outshone the financial hardships.
Having a rich professional background that includes McKinsey and Capital One, and boosted by an MBA, Chaney was defined by his strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities, making him an asset in the tech industry. Despite layoffs in the post-COVID era, Chaney’s skill set remained highly coveted, paving the way for possibilities with growing tech startups. Currently, he is channeling his efforts on fintech, merging his profound business insights with innovative digital advancements.
The end of Chaney’s journey with Google turned out to be a disguised blessing. Throughout his tenure at Google, Chaney had been building Peadbo, an innovative side project. Leaving Google enabled Chaney to dedicate his time fully to Peadbo, which eventually evolved into a disruptive technology. This proves success often lies in passion and dedication, rather than just status and financial gains.
Peadbo is a platform, designed to help users create and manage teams for personal and professional growth.
Finding startup success post-Google tenure
Initially, Peadbo was in the nascent stages with Chaney and his co-founders juggling their jobs and the platform. However, their determination and constant improvements to the platform soon started attracting users. It demonstrates that hard work and sacrifices often lead to fruitful rewards.
Transitioning from a secure, well-paying position at Google to running a startup was undoubtedly a challenge for Chaney. However, his continuous commitment ensured he was not deterred by a lower income. Instead, he finds immense gratification in his current role, putting in all his efforts towards achieving his startup’s objectives.
To strike a balance between his new entrepreneur duties and family life, Chaney had to make lifestyle adjustments. Despite financial struggles, the autonomy and the steady growth of his startup, Peadbo, offer him satisfaction. His initial financial contribution to Peadbo was somewhat counterbalanced by the financial aid received from Techstars, which helped keep the venture moving forward.
