# Sean Byrnes

> Sean Byrnes founded mobile analytics company Flurry, acquired by Yahoo in 2014, and co-founded automated business analysis company Outlier with Mike Kim in 2015. He is now a general partner at Near Horizon, a CEO coach and an investor, and co-hosts The Startup Help Desk. His interests also include illustration, comics and rock climbing.

- **Role:** General Partner at Near Horizon
- **Organizations:** Near Horizon, LucidFog, Flurry, Outlier, The Startup Help Desk
- **Education:** BA in engineering and computer science, Dartmouth College, MS in computer science, focusing on AI, Cornell University
- **Known for:** Founded Flurry, acquired by Yahoo for approximately $270 million in 2014., Co-founded Outlier, an automated business analysis platform used by businesses including Nike and Capital One., Founded LucidFog in 2015; Near Horizon’s biography lists investments in 71 companies and 12 venture funds.

## Career timeline

- **2005** — Founded Flurry, initially offering mobile email and news.
- **2008** — Flurry shifted from consumer apps toward an analytics platform for app developers.
- **2014** — Yahoo completed its Flurry acquisition on August 25 for approximately $270 million in cash.
- **2015** — Founded Outlier with Mike Kim and founded investment firm LucidFog.
- **2022** — Announced Outlier’s service closure on May 2; subsequent professional biographies record an acquisition in 2022.
- **2024** — Appeared as a Near Horizon partner in an August Startup Help Desk episode about the firm’s model.
- **2025** — Published essays on AI business models, customer research and distribution advantages through Near Horizon.

## Achievements

- Founded Flurry, acquired by Yahoo for approximately $270 million in 2014.
- Co-founded Outlier, an automated business analysis platform used by businesses including Nike and Capital One.
- Founded LucidFog in 2015; Near Horizon’s biography lists investments in 71 companies and 12 venture funds.
- Mentored and coached hundreds of technology CEOs, according to his Near Horizon biography.
- Co-hosts The Startup Help Desk with Ash Rust and Nic Meliones.

## Latest updates

- **2025-05** — Published Distribution Advantages, explaining how Data Driven Daily helped Outlier reach its earliest customers.
- **2025-03** — Published Finding the Right Problem, advocating more than 100 customer research interviews before selecting a solution.
- **2025-01** — Published The Swiss Cheese Model of AI, discussing services with integrated software and selling outcomes.

## Links

- Website: https://seanbyrnes.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sbyrnes/
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/sbyrnes
- GitHub: https://github.com/sbyrnes
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artbybyrnes/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/sean-byrnes
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-25