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Zev Siegl  

Co-founder of Starbucks, Founder Quartermaine Coffee, Lead Advisor for the Small Business Development Center

Zev Siegl is a co-founder of Starbucks Coffee Company and a serial entrepreneur. Nicknamed “Mr. Startup,” he also founded Quatermaine Coffee Roasters, Peerless Pie, SocialBees, and McGill Corporation. During Starbucks’ early days, Siegl, a former history teacher, was the only paid employee. In 1980, after 10 years as vice president, he exited Starbucks, which by then had expanded to six Seattle-area stores and a substantial wholesale business.

Siegl is an international presenter with exceptionally strong experience as an early-stage business entrepreneur, investor, director, executive, consultant and advisor. He held leadership roles in four start-ups and two turnarounds. He also spent eight years as an award-winning full-time early-stage advisor with the Small Business Development Center Network in Seattle. During that time, he advised more than 500 entrepreneurs and owners of small business enterprises. He is currently a consultant to early-stage companies regarding business plan documentation, complex financial forecasts, strategies for connecting with markets, and conducting offerings to angel investors.

Zev Siegl is experienced in speaking to entrepreneurs, small business owners, and business advisors. Energize young entrepreneurs at your youth leadership conference. Mr. Siegl's passion for helping young business people is clear throughout his presentations.

The presentation includes selected photographs and stories about Starbucks' first decade to help prepare audiences for 10 challenging hurdles that early-stage companies encounter.

Zev knows small business. He's developed six start-ups, including Starbucks Coffee and since 2004 has served as consultant to the owners of 200+ early-stage SMEs. Mr. Siegl's global presentations calendar currently includes audiences of young business owners in Russia, Kuwait and the United Kingdom

Speech Topics


Mr. Startup.

Zev Siegl’s passion for helping young businesses is clear throughout his energized presentation. The presentation includes selected photographs and stories about Starbucks’ first decade to help prepare audiences for 10 challenging hurdles that early-stage companies encounter. Zev has been there and, more importantly, he knows small business first-hand. He’s developed six start-ups from scratch and since 2004 has served as consultant to the owners of 200+ early-stage SMEs. He is experienced in speaking to entrepreneurs, small business owners, and business advisors about business development, business planning, sales and profit forecasting, business financing, and business acquisition challenges.

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