Builder · Operator · AI-Native

Hey! I'm Luke.

I'm a product leader in Middle Tennessee. I led zero-to-one at Zapier, founded a VC-backed startup before that, and I'm currently obsessed with all things AI.

Luke Thomas
Based in Middle Tennessee Previously Zapier, Friday DISC DI (Initiator) Role Father of 4

What I Do

Build products.

Zero-to-one, napkin sketch to seven figures. I obsess over what customers actually need and cut everything else.

Grow what I build.

Product-led growth, programmatic SEO, conversion funnels, and scrappy experiments that turn small bets into big wins.

Use AI.

To build faster and do things that weren't possible before. I ship AI-powered products and use AI agents daily.

Background

2026 – Now

Founder, Homeschool Planner App

Building a scheduling and record-keeping app for homeschool families — for parents who'd rather teach than plan. Weekly curriculum planning, printable daily checklists for kids, voice/photo logging, and automatic record-building for state reporting. The plan bends with real life; the paper side stays paper.

2022 – 2025

Director of New Products, Zapier

Led the 0-to-1 zone for Zapier's new products (Interfaces, Tables, Canvas, Chatbots). Took multiple products from zero to seven figures of revenue. Built the initial AI Chatbot feature as PM — it's now a standalone product and Zapier's fastest-growing new offering. Coached 4+ product managers and led a cross-functional growth team.

2016 – 2022

Founder & CEO, Friday

Built an integrated operating system for remote teams — a "Company HQ" for working from anywhere. Raised $2.5M from Bessemer Venture Partners, Underscore VC, Active Capital, and El Cap. Ran the company for six years before shutting it down.

2015 – 2018

Head of Product & Growth, Crystal Knows

Led product strategy and growth at the personality platform behind DISC-based communication insights. Wore many hats across product, growth, analytics, and revenue — the startup generalist experience that shaped how I think about building products.

2014 – 2015

Growth Marketer, Safari Books Online

Built and ran growth campaigns that drove record B2C bookings — including a single campaign that generated seven figures of ARR and broke the company's 10-year booking record.

Book

Author, The Anywhere OS

Wrote a book on how to build and run a business from anywhere — covering leadership, hiring, onboarding, and staying productive as a remote team.

Education

B.A. Marketing, University of Maine

Home schooled, got a GED, then earned a marketing degree from UMaine. Non-traditional path from a dirt road in Maine to building products used by hundreds of thousands of people.

My Personality

Decisive and energized by ideas. Favors action over analysis. Handles stress well and uses natural charisma to motivate teams toward creative solutions.

DI — Initiator Dynamic Visionary Spontaneous
Risk tolerant
Risk averse
Trusting
Skeptical
Optimistic
Pragmatic
Deliberate
Fast-paced
Matter-of-fact
Expressive
Autonomous
Collaborative
Supporting
Dominant

Strengths

  • Trusting intuition and ability to improvise
  • Using charisma to persuade others
  • Confidently approaching new people
  • Taking charge of situations when needed

Blind Spots

  • May resist formal structures and rules
  • May reach conclusions with too little data
  • May have a difficult time staying focused on one task
  • May have trouble following consistent routines

Press

TechCrunch Boston Globe The Chronicle of Higher Education Inc. Magazine Portland Press Herald
Chronicle of Higher Ed With Access Codes, Textbook Pricing Gets More Complicated Than Ever Boston Globe Need to unplug? There's an app for that Portland Press Herald Portland maker of remote working tools a finalist in Zoom competition

Other Stuff

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The AI Boom Will Change Bitcoin Forever

YouTube
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Director of New Products at Zapier

YouTube
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Podcast

The Digital Workplace Podcast

YouTube

Selected Writing

View all writing →

Get in touch

I'm always up for a conversation about building products, growing businesses, or life in Tennessee. Reach out.