Hi 👋,
My name is Cole Nelson and I’m currently working at a stealth startup 🤐. Additionally, I’m part of the Design Leadership Forum at InVision and I mentor design leaders at early-stage startups for First Round Capital.
Over the past 10 years I’ve led product design and creative teams at startups like NEXT Trucking, HopSkipDrive and Y Combinator backed Locent as well as consulted for companies like Red Bull, FOX and CBS.
My passion is leading multidisciplinary design teams focused on crafting incredible experiences that bridge online and offline.
🚚 NEXT Trucking
Head of Design 2018 - 2020
NEXT is a marketplace designed to efficiently connect shippers and truckers. NEXT has raised over $124 million from Sequoia Capital, Shea Ventures, Mucker Capital and was named one of Forbes next billion dollar companies.
I led Product Design, User Research and Marketing Design. My teams worked on our driver app, shipper dashboard, internal tools and design system.
🚕 HopSkipDrive
Director of Design 2015 - 2018
HopSkipDrive is a ride service for kids. HopSkipDrive has raised $68 million from Upfront Ventures, Greycroft Partners, FirstMark Capital and more.
I led Product Design and Marketing Design. My teams worked on our driver app, parent app and internal tools. While at HopSkipDrive I helped scale the product from beta to the leading ride service for kids operating in most major US cities.
Recent Side Projects
📷 Rentee
Product Design Consultant 2020
Rentee enables neighbors to seamlessly rent anything for cash using a QR code. I worked with the founders to define and design the first version of the app. Rentee is currently in development.
🏈 GamyFy
Product Design Consultant 2019
GamyFy is the perfect addition to your live sports experience. Predict, compete and win. I worked with the founder to define and design the first version of the app. GamyFy is currently in development.
💆 Squeeze
Product Design Consultant 2018
Squeeze is a tech enabled massage chain that lets you customize every aspect of your experience, book and pay through the app so you can float out of the parlor. Squeeze was created by the founders of Drybar.
I worked with the founding team to define and design the UX for the first version of the web and mobile products.
