Joseph Knecht

All Media Inquiries:

• Email: sales@proteus.co
• Speaking Engagement Request Form

Achievements, Awards, Special Recognition

• 2002 - Award for doing business with Japan from the Japanese External Trade Organization
• 2003 - Award for Small Business of the Year from the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce
• 2006 - Award for Fastest Growing Company by the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce
• 2006 - Award for 40 Under 40 – Midlands Business Journal
• 2013 - Nmotion - Mentor of the year
• 2014 - Nmotion - Mentor of the year
• 2015 - Founding Chairman of Technology Association of Nebraska (TAN)
• 2016 - Startup Executive of the Year - University of Nebraska College of Business
• 2019 - Sales Enablement Society Member
• 2020 - Forbes Technology Council Member

Bio

I left New York City with plans to return to Wall Street after completing my tour through West Virginia University for my undergraduate degree and a quick stop in Lincoln, Nebraska to earn my Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

While a student in 1999, I joined a startup software company (today called Proteus) and have yet to leave the heart of the Silicon Prairie. My zest for people and approaching challenges differently has since grown into corporate consulting, coaching and mentoring 250+ intra/entrepreneurs. I have helped hundreds of businesses identify and seize opportunities to validate, build and scale b2b software-as-a-service (SaaS) products and companies with multi-million dollar revenues (and growing).

Now leading Proteus as CEO, we have successfully seized shifts in the software industry and developed our powerful and transformative Proteus Cloud Platform which actualizes rapid idea validation, product creation and dynamic growth for clients. This guidance helps Proteus's corporate and entrepreneur clients (start-up to Fortune 500) validate b2b SaaS products and corresponding markets- either growing, killing or pivoting the idea. Additionally, I coach clients and entrepreneurs to leverage software and "be the disruptor, not the disrupted." This vision has saved companies from being outpaced by competitors and billions of wasted dollars for clients and their businesses. Our current disruption for Proteus is the Buyer Enablement platform ProteusEngage for complex b2b sales which is revolutionizing the shifts present before and after COVID-19. 

I have co-founded 3 companies and helped guide the Proteus team into venture partner investments in 15 companies with subsequent raises of over $70 mil and several exits. I am active in the international startup ecosystem, a frequent speaker and adviser to many startup and high growth ventures. I also started TAN (Technology Association of Nebraska), serving on its board as well as several other organizations.

Away from the business world I am a devoted husband to my wife Jennifer and spend time hunting, horse showing and enjoying time with family and friends.