The Go-To
Voice For Entrepreneurship & Growth.
David Ezell helps entrepreneurs grow — on stage, behind the mic, and in every room that matters.
Based in Reno, NV.
Built in Louisiana.
TRUSTED BY:
WHAT I DO
Two lanes. One mission.
Everything I do is built around one thing — helping entrepreneurs grow. Here’s how I show up.
01
Speaking
Keynotes that create momentum. Two topics built from real experience — helping entrepreneurs launch faster and deliver something extra that builds loyalty and growth.
02
Hosting & Emcee
Professional host and emcee for startup events, pitch competitions, and entrepreneurship gatherings. Trusted by Techstars and Startup World Cup to represent their brand on stage.
03
How To Ride A Roller Coaster
A podcast about the honest truth of building something that lasts. Real entrepreneurs, real stories, no highlight reel.
Listen now →
04
Founders Live Reno
A quarterly stage I host in Reno where entrepreneurs get 99 seconds to pitch in front of a live audience. One of my favorite nights of the year.
Learn more →
05
Podcast Course
How to Start a Podcast in 24 Hours — everything you need to launch fast, sound great, and build an audience from day one.
SPEAKING
Keynotes that move rooms.
David speaks at entrepreneurship events, business conferences, chambers, universities, and corporate teams. Two topics — both built from real experience, both immediately actionable.
Former brand strategist at Yahoo and Meta. Host of a top entrepreneurship podcast. Louisiana-raised with a southern perspective on what it actually takes to build something people care about.
TOPIC 01
Your Podcast Is Already Late. Here’s How to Launch It Before You Leave This Room.
TOPIC 02
Lagniappe: The One Cajun Word That Will Change How You Run Your Business
BOOK DAVID
Bring David to your event.
Available for keynotes, breakout sessions, and panel moderation. Conferences, chambers, corporate events, and universities.
Trusted on the biggest stages in the startup world.
David is a professional host and emcee for startup events, pitch competitions, and entrepreneurship gatherings. Trusted by globally recognized organizations to represent their brand on stage — keeping energy high, rooms engaged, and events running with precision.
TECHSTARS
Startup Weekend Reno — Official Host & Emcee
STARTUP WORLD CUP
Startup World Cup Reno — Co-Host & Emcee
FOUNDERS LIVE
Founders Live Reno — Creator & Host
BOOK DAVID TO HOST
Bring the right energy to your event.
David hosts startup events, pitch competitions, demo days, entrepreneurship conferences, and community gatherings. He doesn’t just hold a mic — he runs the room.
→ Startup weekends and hackathons
→ Pitch competitions and demo days
→ Entrepreneurship conferences
→ University and accelerator events
→ Economic development gatherings
→ Panel moderation and facilitation
ABOUT DAVID
Built in Louisiana.
Sharpened at Yahoo and Meta.
Rooted in Reno.
David Ezell grew up in Louisiana — a place that teaches you early that community, storytelling, and showing up matter. That foundation never left.
He spent years as a brand strategist inside the world’s biggest companies — including Yahoo and Meta — learning how the best organizations build attention, loyalty, and culture at scale. He brings that same thinking to everything he does today.
As a speaker, David helps entrepreneurs and business teams move — with talks that blend story, strategy, and a Louisiana sense of lagniappe: a little something extra. As a podcast host, he has 100+ honest conversations with entrepreneurs about what building something real actually looks like.
The throughline across everything: real people, real stakes, and the kind of conversations that actually move things forward.
Occasionally he works directly with brands and entrepreneurs on strategy — reach out if that’s what you need.
THE PODCAST
How To Ride A Roller Coaster
Honest conversations with entrepreneurs in the thick of it. Not the highlight reel — the real story. What broke, what worked, and what they’d do differently.
100+ episodes in. New episodes every week. Available everywhere you listen to podcasts.
100+
EPISODES
And counting. New episode every week.
Real
STORIES ONLY
No highlight reels. No PR spin.
Every
STAGE OF GROWTH
Starting, scaling, surviving – all of it.
Free
ALWAYS
Available on all podcast platforms.
FOUNDERS LIVE RENO
A stage I built for entrepreneurs in Reno.
Every quarter I host a live pitch event where entrepreneurs get 99 seconds to pitch their company in front of a live audience. The crowd votes on the winner.
No judges. No investors required. Just founders, a stage, and a room full of people who get it.
It’s one of my favorite nights of the year and one of the best rooms in Reno for anyone building something.
NEXT EVENT
Date TBD — Reno, NV
Free to attend. Open to all entrepreneurs and anyone who wants to be in the room.
Want to pitch? Applications open before each event. Want to attend? Get on the list and I’ll send you the details when the next one is confirmed.
Let’s build something.
Whether you need a speaker, a podcast guest, an emcee, or just want to be in the room — use the right link and I’ll get back to you within 48 hours.