Elijah May

Elijah May is a seasoned public relations and marketing professional, serial entrepreneur, and popular pitch coach.

Only after launching an entrepreneur network and interviewing dozens of successful Texas CEOs did he officially agree to become a partner in a startup of his own, and still it was a miserable failure. This prompted May to take a deep dive into the science and philosophy of great business, reading dozens of books, examining countless case studies, and meeting with entrepreneurs from all walks of life. Now a public speaker, startup advisor, Managing Partner at The Experience Firm, and venture firm Funded House partner, May specializes in helping companies create the clarity that is critical to their success.

As a consultant, May has designed ground-breaking campaigns for brands like Reddit, Alienware, Infiniti, Beats by Dre, and T-Mobile. As an entrepreneur, he helped create and launch companies like Texas CEO Magazine, the Austin Entrepreneur Network, Future Maker Studios, Funded House, Team CMO, and The Experience Firm. And as a pitch coach, he has coached first-place winners at SXSW Pitch, Social Good Pitch, Pitch Black, and Mass Challenge.

May gives frequent presentations on the fundamental simplicity of the ideal relationship between a person and a company and how to build an indelible brand around that relationship. He focuses on people, purpose, and possibilities; understanding and creating real value; building a self-sustaining and naturally-productive culture; and doing things worth talking about.

May's 20+ year career in the brand-building business started in the public relations department of his alma mater, the University of Southern California, where he served as liaison to the film industry. He teaches classes on customer experience for Austin Community College and is a guest lecturer at the University of Texas. He serves on the boards of directors for both Energizing Health and the Maker Museum.