Chris "CB" Brenchley
Managing Partner, Venture Building
Chris ("CB") Brenchley's career spans two worlds: the corporate landscape and the startup scene. As Managing Partner, Venture Building at Mach49, he draws on over 25 years of corporate strategy and entrepreneurial know-how to support and strengthen new venture teams.
A serial innovator, Chris has proven experience in the rapid commercialization of digital product and service offerings, generating over $50M in early stage revenue for both Global 1000 and startup ventures in publishing, edtech, fintech, energy, entertainment, and HR.
Early in his career, back when the internet was a fledgling sensation and e-commerce was in its infancy, Chris was a marketing coordinator at a medical publisher. He immediately saw the potential for the web to completely transform how businesses interact with and serve their customers, and drafted a business plan — a fervent manifesto — to present to his bosses. His initiative got the green light and he was tasked with spearheading it, indelibly shaping how he approaches risk-taking and tackling daunting challenges. Building on the Wayne Gretzky quote, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take," above all else Chris learned to just take the damn shot — early, and often.
In 2018, Chris led a successful Mach49 Incubate for Stanley Black and Decker. As Co-founder, CEO, and Board Chairman of the resulting startup, Surehand, Inc., he continued to break new ground. Underscoring his value of being fearless and taking on seemingly impossible challenges, his visionary creation, the ROCK THE TRADES™ workforce development ecosystem, earned a spot in Fast Company's 2022 World-Changing Ideas Awards.
At Mach49, CB leans into his experience navigating the worlds of corporate disruptive growth and startups to drive the best outcomes, with and for each client. His bold approach and servant-leadership style give venture teams the confidence and operational capabilities they need during the agile and ambiguous early stages of the new venture journey.
When not neck-deep in venture building, CB is a seasoned traveler who enjoys immersing himself in new places and cultures. Whether on a business trip or exploring new cities with his wife Kim, he practices being a flâneur — an art of aimless wandering and keen observation, which allows him to slow down and focus intently on the world around him. Through his daily walks, CB tunes out the noise of his work, alleviates stress, and unlocks new ideas. This not only enriches his personal life, but serves as a source of creativity across his professional endeavors.
Chris holds a BA in English literature with a minor in political science from the University of Delaware.
A serial innovator, Chris has proven experience in the rapid commercialization of digital product and service offerings, generating over $50M in early stage revenue for both Global 1000 and startup ventures in publishing, edtech, fintech, energy, entertainment, and HR.
Early in his career, back when the internet was a fledgling sensation and e-commerce was in its infancy, Chris was a marketing coordinator at a medical publisher. He immediately saw the potential for the web to completely transform how businesses interact with and serve their customers, and drafted a business plan — a fervent manifesto — to present to his bosses. His initiative got the green light and he was tasked with spearheading it, indelibly shaping how he approaches risk-taking and tackling daunting challenges. Building on the Wayne Gretzky quote, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take," above all else Chris learned to just take the damn shot — early, and often.
In 2018, Chris led a successful Mach49 Incubate for Stanley Black and Decker. As Co-founder, CEO, and Board Chairman of the resulting startup, Surehand, Inc., he continued to break new ground. Underscoring his value of being fearless and taking on seemingly impossible challenges, his visionary creation, the ROCK THE TRADES™ workforce development ecosystem, earned a spot in Fast Company's 2022 World-Changing Ideas Awards.
At Mach49, CB leans into his experience navigating the worlds of corporate disruptive growth and startups to drive the best outcomes, with and for each client. His bold approach and servant-leadership style give venture teams the confidence and operational capabilities they need during the agile and ambiguous early stages of the new venture journey.
When not neck-deep in venture building, CB is a seasoned traveler who enjoys immersing himself in new places and cultures. Whether on a business trip or exploring new cities with his wife Kim, he practices being a flâneur — an art of aimless wandering and keen observation, which allows him to slow down and focus intently on the world around him. Through his daily walks, CB tunes out the noise of his work, alleviates stress, and unlocks new ideas. This not only enriches his personal life, but serves as a source of creativity across his professional endeavors.
Chris holds a BA in English literature with a minor in political science from the University of Delaware.
Chris "CB" Brenchley
Managing Partner, Venture Building
Chris ("CB") Brenchley's career spans two worlds: the corporate landscape and the startup scene. As Managing Partner, Venture Building at Mach49, he draws on over 25 years of corporate strategy and entrepreneurial know-how to support and strengthen new venture teams.
A serial innovator, Chris has proven experience in the rapid commercialization of digital product and service offerings, generating over $50M in early stage revenue for both Global 1000 and startup ventures in publishing, edtech, fintech, energy, entertainment, and HR.
Early in his career, back when the internet was a fledgling sensation and e-commerce was in its infancy, Chris was a marketing coordinator at a medical publisher. He immediately saw the potential for the web to completely transform how businesses interact with and serve their customers, and drafted a business plan — a fervent manifesto — to present to his bosses. His initiative got the green light and he was tasked with spearheading it, indelibly shaping how he approaches risk-taking and tackling daunting challenges. Building on the Wayne Gretzky quote, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take," above all else Chris learned to just take the damn shot — early, and often.
In 2018, Chris led a successful Mach49 Incubate for Stanley Black and Decker. As Co-founder, CEO, and Board Chairman of the resulting startup, Surehand, Inc., he continued to break new ground. Underscoring his value of being fearless and taking on seemingly impossible challenges, his visionary creation, the ROCK THE TRADES™ workforce development ecosystem, earned a spot in Fast Company's 2022 World-Changing Ideas Awards.
At Mach49, CB leans into his experience navigating the worlds of corporate disruptive growth and startups to drive the best outcomes, with and for each client. His bold approach and servant-leadership style give venture teams the confidence and operational capabilities they need during the agile and ambiguous early stages of the new venture journey.
When not neck-deep in venture building, CB is a seasoned traveler who enjoys immersing himself in new places and cultures. Whether on a business trip or exploring new cities with his wife Kim, he practices being a flâneur — an art of aimless wandering and keen observation, which allows him to slow down and focus intently on the world around him. Through his daily walks, CB tunes out the noise of his work, alleviates stress, and unlocks new ideas. This not only enriches his personal life, but serves as a source of creativity across his professional endeavors.
Chris holds a BA in English literature with a minor in political science from the University of Delaware.
A serial innovator, Chris has proven experience in the rapid commercialization of digital product and service offerings, generating over $50M in early stage revenue for both Global 1000 and startup ventures in publishing, edtech, fintech, energy, entertainment, and HR.
Early in his career, back when the internet was a fledgling sensation and e-commerce was in its infancy, Chris was a marketing coordinator at a medical publisher. He immediately saw the potential for the web to completely transform how businesses interact with and serve their customers, and drafted a business plan — a fervent manifesto — to present to his bosses. His initiative got the green light and he was tasked with spearheading it, indelibly shaping how he approaches risk-taking and tackling daunting challenges. Building on the Wayne Gretzky quote, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take," above all else Chris learned to just take the damn shot — early, and often.
In 2018, Chris led a successful Mach49 Incubate for Stanley Black and Decker. As Co-founder, CEO, and Board Chairman of the resulting startup, Surehand, Inc., he continued to break new ground. Underscoring his value of being fearless and taking on seemingly impossible challenges, his visionary creation, the ROCK THE TRADES™ workforce development ecosystem, earned a spot in Fast Company's 2022 World-Changing Ideas Awards.
At Mach49, CB leans into his experience navigating the worlds of corporate disruptive growth and startups to drive the best outcomes, with and for each client. His bold approach and servant-leadership style give venture teams the confidence and operational capabilities they need during the agile and ambiguous early stages of the new venture journey.
When not neck-deep in venture building, CB is a seasoned traveler who enjoys immersing himself in new places and cultures. Whether on a business trip or exploring new cities with his wife Kim, he practices being a flâneur — an art of aimless wandering and keen observation, which allows him to slow down and focus intently on the world around him. Through his daily walks, CB tunes out the noise of his work, alleviates stress, and unlocks new ideas. This not only enriches his personal life, but serves as a source of creativity across his professional endeavors.
Chris holds a BA in English literature with a minor in political science from the University of Delaware.
