Dan Kihanya is a Seattle-based entrepreneur, investor, and startup founder who has built companies from the ground up — including co-founding MyPoints.com, which went public, and helping grow a fintech app to over one million users in India. Today, he leads Path Ahead Ventures at REI Co-op, running accelerator and investment programs that put money and resources directly into outdoor businesses owned by Black, Latino, Indigenous, Asian American, and Pacific Islander founders. He also co-hosts the podcast Founders Unfound, which spotlights exceptional tech founders from underrepresented backgrounds — proof that he's not just building his own path, but actively opening doors for others.
Their story
Entrepreneur. Sometimes you get paid nothing!
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Key quotes
“Think of problems, not ideas. A lot of times people think about, it's all about the invention or I came up with a new gizmo or a new thing. Think about the products or the problems that the world has. Be curious about the world.”
Dan Kihanya, Entrepreneur & Director of Path Ahead Ventures
“Sometimes you get paid nothing. The hope and the thing that drives you is the fact that you're building something that you own.”
Dan Kihanya, Entrepreneur & Director of Path Ahead Ventures
“If I was a Western European 500 years ago, I definitely would have been one of those people that said, let's get in the ship, let's hit that water. I don't need a map. We'll figure it out as we go.”
Dan Kihanya, Entrepreneur & Director of Path Ahead Ventures
“I think if people doubt me, I want to prove them wrong. So that drove me a little bit.”
Dan Kihanya, Entrepreneur & Director of Path Ahead Ventures
“Relentlessly pursue something that you're passionate about. You may not know what that is — in which case, relentlessly pursue the exploration of what your passion is.”
Dan Kihanya, Entrepreneur & Director of Path Ahead Ventures
Career highlights
Think about problems to solve, not just cool ideas to invent.
Dan says most people wait for a lightbulb moment, but real entrepreneurship starts with noticing what's broken — in healthcare, energy, payments, or whatever you care about — and asking how to fix it.
You don't need a specific degree — or even a degree — to be an entrepreneur. You need to be a relentless learner.
Dan points out there's no pedigree requirement for entrepreneurship. What matters is your ability to solve problems, adapt fast, and execute with hustle, whether that comes from school or real-world experience.
Understand the difference between a salary and equity — entrepreneurs bet on ownership, not paychecks.
Dan explains that he sometimes made little to nothing month-to-month, but the real payoff was building something he owned that could be sold later. He uses the analogy of building a house on your own land.
Use the 'why now, why us' test before committing to any business idea.
Dan's framework for evaluating opportunities: Is the problem real? Are we the right people to solve it given our backgrounds and networks? And is the timing right — is a wave about to crest that we can catch?
Corporate America can be a launchpad, not a life sentence — use it strategically and know when to pivot.
Dan spent five years in corporate America before using business school as a deliberate 'hard break.' He moved to Silicon Valley in the mid-90s, caught the early internet wave, and never looked back.
Build your problem-solving muscle every single day, no matter what you're into.
Dan says whether you love fixing cars, doing math puzzles, or playing word games, find ways to exercise that 'how do we get around this?' instinct — because that's all startups really are.