# Todd Kaufman

> Todd Kaufman is the co-founder and CEO of Test Double, a remote software consultancy founded in 2011 and converted to 100 percent employee ownership through an ESOP in 2020. A programmer since sixth grade, Kaufman has shaped the company around careful diagnosis, durable software, consultant autonomy, and the belief that the people creating value should share in it.

- **Role:** Co-founder and CEO at Test Double
- **Organizations:** Test Double, The Ohio State University
- **Education:** Computer science, The Ohio State University
- **Known for:** Co-founded Test Double in 2011 and led its growth to more than 100 employees., Converted Test Double to 100 percent employee ownership through an ESOP in April 2020., Helped build a consultancy that reports completing more than 1,000 projects.

## Career timeline

- **Sixth grade** — Discovered BASIC programming in a classroom in Marysville, Ohio.
- **1993-1998** — Studied computer science at The Ohio State University.
- **2008** — Attempted to lead more than 60 software consultants through a difficult downsizing, an experience he later listed among his noteworthy achievements.
- **2009** — Met Justin Searls around a recruiting event; the two later connected on Twitter.
- **2010** — Worked with Searls for the same company and client, bonding during long drives between Ohio and Michigan.
- **2011** — Co-founded the remote software consultancy Test Double with Justin Searls.
- **2014-2018** — Published and delivered talks about change, joy at work, software purchasing, pressure and running a consulting business.
- **2020** — Converted Test Double into a 100 percent employee-owned company through an ESOP.
- **2023** — Led Test Double as it acquired Pathfinder Product, adding more than a dozen product management consultants.
- **2026** — Articulated Test Double’s pragmatic AI stance and a 2030 vision of achieving 1,000 client outcomes.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Test Double in 2011 and led its growth to more than 100 employees.
- Converted Test Double to 100 percent employee ownership through an ESOP in April 2020.
- Helped build a consultancy that reports completing more than 1,000 projects.
- Led the company through its 2023 acquisition of Pathfinder Product.
- Led Test Double during eight consecutive Inc. 5000 appearances from 2016 through 2023.
- Spoke publicly about organizational change, founder experience, remote work and running a software consultancy.

## Latest updates

- **2026-06** — Published 'Outputs are cheap. Being wrong isn't,' arguing that faster software production increases the need for product judgment and preparation for scale.
- **2026-04** — Invited leaders to Test Double office hours focused on pragmatic AI workflows and contextual judgment.
- **2026-02** — Explained Test Double’s decision not to rebrand around AI and introduced a measurable 2030 vision of 1,000 client outcomes.
- **2025-06** — Marked five years of Test Double’s ESOP and reiterated his confidence in employee ownership.

## Links

- Website: https://testdouble.com/team-directory/todd-kaufman
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/testdoubletodd

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