James Edward Dillard

I'm an entrepreneur, product creator, and dad. I co-founded Macro Oceans and am an Emergent Ventures awardee. Previously, I led product teams at Stripe and YouTube.

Here's a quick way to get to know me and my work:

Products

• Big Kelp Hydration by Macro Oceans. A hydrating bioactive made from regenerative Alaska kelp.
• Kelp Pots by Ocean Made, powered by Macro Oceans. An upcycled kelp alternative to peat pots home gardeners.
• Introducing Stripe Apps. A short video I made to commemorate the launch of the Stripe Apps Ecosystem.

Writing

• Product 101. Some lessons I've learned about building products.
• Things I learned in 2024 (and 2023 too).
• Building a superstar career outside a super star city. Some inspiration for those of us living outside of SF and New York.

I'm deeply curious. I keep a blog here about whatever happens to capture my attention and keeps me in the creative habit. Like many others, I like getting email. Send me a note and say hi: jdilla dot xyz at gmail dot com.

Be brave and have fun.