Industry Coach

Brian Witlin eats, sleeps, and breathes innovation. He loves to spread his “can-do” enthusiasm at the d.school through executive education programs and student coaching. As the founder of many startup ventures, Brian tries to bring his real world experiences as an entrepreneur to the classroom.

Since graduating from Stanford with a Master of Science in Engineering and Design, Brian has focused on new product innovation and disruptive design thinking through his co-founded company RootPhi, LLC. Averaging a new patent filed every one to two months, RootPhi, has developed a range of products including new sustainable materials, sports equipment, and office products. Brian's company has collaborated with other product firms, licensed product ideas, and is currently working on launching a whole new product category and brand, Golaces, that will revolutionize footwear.

Before co-founding RootPhi, LLC, Brian founded and ran operations at an internet startup Leverworks which he sold two years after its inception to Leo Media (now Quasar Strategies).

Brian, a Chicago native, enjoys the mild winters and intellectually stimulating atmosphere that Silicon Valley has provided for him. Brian is a classically trained artist/draftsman with a BS in Business and Economics from Lehigh University. He draws upon his diverse background, in particular his Stanford design and engineering training, to continually innovate with an eye on the commercial and social value of what he creates.