# Roberto Ortiz

> Roberto Ortiz is a Puerto Rican designer and entrepreneur who co-founded Welcome after design leadership roles at Google and Yahoo. Recruited to Lockheed Martin at sixteen, he later helped build a fantasy sports business acquired by Yahoo and took Welcome through a pivot from restaurant software to virtual events. Based in San Juan, he now describes his work through Ventura Partners as coaching founders, advising companies, and building new projects.

- **Role:** Builder, founder coach and advisor at Ventura Partners; co-founder of Welcome
- **Organizations:** Ventura Partners, Welcome, Google, Yahoo, Lockheed Martin, ELEO, Grit & Virtue, FamilyLife, Y Combinator
- **Education:** Bachelor of Science, Philadelphia University, Y Combinator
- **Known for:** Began a professional design and technology career at sixteen., Helped build a fantasy sports company acquired by Yahoo in 2013., Held product design leadership roles at Google and Yahoo.

## Career timeline

- **Age 16** — Recruited to Lockheed Martin and began working in design and technology.
- **2010-2013** — Worked in product design at Google; these dates are reported in public career profiles.
- **2012** — Helped start the entrepreneur community that developed into ELEO.
- **2013** — Fantasy sports business Bignoggins was acquired by Yahoo; Ortiz subsequently led mobile design at Yahoo.
- **2015** — Launched Grit & Virtue with his wife Charlena.
- **2020** — Participated in Y Combinator Winter 2020; pivoted from restaurant and wholesaler software to Welcome’s virtual events platform.
- **2020-11** — Welcome announced a $12 million Series A led by Kleiner Perkins, with Kapor Capital, Y Combinator and WIN participating.
- **2024** — Listed on FamilyLife’s board in its 2024 annual report.
- **2026 (site observed October)** — Personal website describes Welcome as exited and identifies Ventura Partners as his current studio for founder coaching, advising and building.

## Achievements

- Began a professional design and technology career at sixteen.
- Helped build a fantasy sports company acquired by Yahoo in 2013.
- Held product design leadership roles at Google and Yahoo.
- Co-founded Welcome, which announced a $12 million Series A in November 2020.
- Co-launched Grit & Virtue, which FamilyLife says reaches more than 100,000 women.
- Serves on the FamilyLife board.

## Latest updates

- **2025-12** — Founder Pack published a video podcast episode about his early career on December 18, 2025.
- **2026-10** — As observed in October 2026, his undated personal site lists San Juan as his base, marks Welcome as exited, and describes current work at Ventura Partners.

## Links

- Website: https://robertoortiz.co/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertoortizux
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/robertoortiz

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/roberto-ortiz
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-27