# Sam Pardue

> Sam Pardue is a Portland entrepreneur, inventor, and the founder and CEO of Indow, a manufacturer of precision-fit interior window inserts. After co-founding Lensbaby and working in marketing at Intel, he turned the drafty original windows in his 1906 Craftsman into a product-design problem. The result was a patented compression-fit insert intended to improve comfort, energy performance, and noise control without replacing historic windows. His public work also includes service on the Oregon Global Warming Commission, advocacy for historic preservation, and efforts to apply lean operating practices to a small manufacturer.

- **Role:** Founder and CEO at Indow
- **Organizations:** Indow, Lensbaby, Intel, Oregon Global Warming Commission
- **Education:** BA, Political Science, Duke University, MBA, marketing and strategy, Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business
- **Known for:** Founder and co-inventor of Indow's press-fit interior storm-window system., Named on patents covering press-fit storm windows and movable Lensbaby lens systems., Co-founded Lensbaby and helped establish its branding, marketing, and global distribution.

## Career timeline

- **1998** — After completing his MBA at Carnegie Mellon, joined Intel as a marketing manager.
- **2004** — Co-founded Lensbaby with photographer Craig Strong and helped build its brand, marketing, and global distribution.
- **2010** — Stepped down as Lensbaby CEO and founded Indow after developing an interior window insert for his 1906 Portland home.
- **2011** — Indow won the CleanTech Open's national Energy Efficiency category and Sustainability award, and placed second for the grand prize.
- **2012** — Indow announced a $1.3 million Series A round; its product received a Bronze Edison Award, and Pardue's press-fit storm-window patent was issued.
- **2013** — Indow completed a $2.6 million Series A fundraising round and received a BetterBricks Special Judges Award.
- **2015** — Indow was named Small Business Manufacturer of the Year by the Portland Business Journal.
- **2016** — A second cited press-fit storm-window-system patent was issued to Pardue and co-inventors.
- **2018** — Served as a voting member of the Oregon Global Warming Commission and participated in Oregon forest-carbon policy work.
- **2020** — Indow received Oregon Entrepreneurs Network's Give Award for its Clean Practice initiative.
- **2022** — Spoke on commercial and multifamily building decarbonization at events including the NREL Industry Growth Forum and The Clean Fight programs.
- **2023** — Appeared as a panelist at the Cascadia Cleantech Accelerator.
- **2025** — Discussed simple energy-efficiency inventions, secondary glazing, commercial buildings, and business-building philosophy on the American Efficient podcast.

## Achievements

- Founder and co-inventor of Indow's press-fit interior storm-window system.
- Named on patents covering press-fit storm windows and movable Lensbaby lens systems.
- Co-founded Lensbaby and helped establish its branding, marketing, and global distribution.
- Led Indow through the 2011 CleanTech Open, where it won Energy Efficiency and Sustainability honors and placed second for the grand prize.
- Indow received a Bronze Edison Award in 2012.
- Indow was named Portland Business Journal's Small Business Manufacturer of the Year in 2015.
- Indow received the 2020 Oregon Entrepreneurs Network Give Award for Clean Practice.
- Served as a voting member of the Oregon Global Warming Commission.

## Latest updates

- **2025-10** — Appeared on American Efficient's podcast to discuss secondary glazing, carbon reduction in buildings, marketing energy-efficiency products, and his approach to evaluating business ideas.
- **2025-04** — A Building Performance Association feature revisited Indow's prototype story, its laser-assisted measurement workflow, commercial IndowPRO work, and participation in the DOE Building Envelope Innovation Prize.
- **2023-12** — Discussed Indow's collaboration with Cooper Standard ISG on durable silicone compression seals for wide temperature swings.
- **2023** — Listed a Cascadia Cleantech Accelerator panel appearance among his public speaking engagements.

## Links

- Website: https://indowwindows.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sampardue
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/indowwindows
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IndowWindows
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indowwindows
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/indowwindows

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/sam-pardue
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-26