Ryan Spradlin

  1. Engineering

Built a consumer fintech app from zero to unicorn

I'm an engineering and product leader, with experience building zero-to-one at startups, guiding technology decisions, scaling teams and products, and an ability to be hands-on.


I helped build a unicorn fintech startup from the ground up at M1 Finance. I led the Product & Product Engineering departments for over 6 years, starting at zero and eventually hiring and leading 50+ engineers, designers, and PMs. We launched the product, earned 4.5+ star ratings in the app stores, raised $300M, and scaled to serve half a million customers managing over $6B in assets.


Now I'm leveraging what I've learned to help other growing companies build and scale.

  1. Node.js
  2. Product Management
  3. TypeScript
  4. Chief Technology Officer
  5. Chief Product Officer
  6. GraphQL
Hire Ryan
Ryan Spradlin

Work

Experience

  • Ranger Insurance

    Ranger Insurance

    Head of Engineering

    Aug 2022 - Present

    Ranger is a seed-stage startup focused on empowering insurance agents with better tech. The company has developed an innovative SaaS product for personal lines agencies that embeds deep insurance expertise into sophisticated automation, putting customer intelligence and personalized, advisory sales on rails.

    • Recruited and led our small-but-supercharged engineering and product design team
    • Led the rapid build of our product from the ground up
    • Helped navigate a significant pivot through a difficult business environment
    • Selected and contracted key vendors
    • Managed all marketing, sales, and other tech platforms used by our insurance operations
  • M1 Finance

    M1 Finance

    VP of Product and VP of Product Engineering

    Aug 2015 - Apr 2022

    M1 offers powerful, personalized, and automated tools for investing and saving.

    • Joined as employee #9 and helped build the company to a $1.45B valuation
    • Built and led the Product department, encompassing product engineering, product design, and product management
    • Launched the investing product, achieved product-market fit, expanded into new business lines (loans, checking, credit cards)
    • Scaled the team to 50+ engineers, designers, and PMs
    • Architected and scaled the GraphQL product API that powers M1's apps, built with Node.js
  • Acquity Group, Part of Accenture Interactive

    Acquity Group, Part of Accenture Interactive

    Technical Manager

    Jun 2008 - Aug 2015

    Acquity Group was a digital marketing, e-commerce, and custom technology development consultancy based in Chicago. It was acquired by Accenture in 2013 for $316M.

    • Client-facing technical advisor, engineering team leader, and full-stack developer on several large-scale software implementation programs:
    • Ford's first connected vehicle app
    • GM's brand websites for Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC, and Buick
    • Investment analysis application for Northern Trust bank
    • Custom touchscreen ticketing kiosk for the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago