About me

Hey there—great to meet you!

I’m Stephen Saine, a technology entrepreneur, builder, and lifelong innovator. I’ve spent the past two decades creating internet businesses, exploring new markets, and learning valuable lessons, often the hard way. My journey started early: at age 15, during the late ’90s internet boom, I founded Saine Communications, a web-design and computer consultancy in my hometown of Nashville, Tennessee.

Quickly, my entrepreneurial path expanded:

  • ChristianSales.com (1998): Built an e-commerce store selling Christian and Southern Gospel music. We bootstrapped our business to profitability, unlike many competitors during the internet bubble. (Fun fact: our competitor, MusicForce, once sold 49% of their business to Gaylord Entertainment for $18 million, an unforgettable lesson in hype versus sustainable growth.)

  • iNewz.com (1998/1999): Created digital publishing platforms that allowed small-town newspapers to migrate from print to digital, dramatically reducing their distribution costs.

  • HometownExchange.com and PureFamily.net (1998-1999): Ran two dial-up internet service providers, one community-focused and another providing family-friendly internet services with charitable giving.

In 2000, I headed to Vanderbilt University, earning dual degrees in Mathematics and Engineering Science. While there, I worked on innovative web platforms for the university’s administration.

After graduation in 2004, I joined Music City Networks in Nashville, creating rapid application platforms for e-commerce and fan clubs serving major country music artists.

In 2006, I ventured into my first funded startup, CollegePostings.com, a hyper-ambitious college-centric social network and marketplace (think Facebook meets Yelp meets Craigslist). We raised $500k but learned a valuable lesson about keeping it simple (the famous “KISS” principle). After returning most of our investors’ capital, my co-founder headed to Google, and I joined Yahoo! in Sunnyvale, CA.

From 2007 to 2012 at Yahoo!, I gained invaluable experience working on account security systems (handling millions of daily interactions), APIs serving 250k requests per second, and learning firsthand how large-scale technology operates at massive scale.

After Yahoo!, I continued building:

  • Paperlet (2012): A browser-based e-book publishing platform. Though we parted ways due to differing visions (I wanted to pursue immersive digital storytelling inspired by the NYT’s “Snow Fall”), I still hold that vision today.

  • Ruvixx.com (2013): Co-founded a sophisticated brand protection, royalty management, and IP licensing platform used by industry giants like Arm Semiconductor, Dolby Laboratories, and Philips Lighting. It remains one of my proudest technological achievements due to its elegant architecture and long-lasting functionality.

  • GreenLight Medical (2014 - 2022): As technical co-founder and advisor (later CTO), we built a workflow engine streamlining hospital supply chains. We successfully grew the company and achieved an exit to symplr in 2022.

Since 2023, I’ve focused my energy on the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, particularly at its intersection with healthcare, and currently serve as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Terrarium Ventures, a healthcare-focused venture studio.

Outside of my professional endeavors, you’ll find me cycling (often on a Peloton) or rooting passionately for the San Francisco Giants.

I’m excited by conversations, collaboration, and the continuous exploration of what’s next. Let’s connect. I look forward to hearing from you.

Cheers,
Stephen