Joel Inman is an experienced executive leader with a wealth of experience in deep tech, SaaS, and the hospitality/travel industries. With a proven track record in business development, corporate strategy, and fundraising, he has successfully raised over $30 million in capital across multiple ventures. Throughout his career, Joel has consistently demonstrated his ability to lead high-growth businesses, execute acquisitions, and navigate complex market transitions.
As CEO of Compute.AI, Joel stepped into a startup with a small but highly skilled engineering team, aiming to revolutionize compute infrastructure through AI-driven solutions. Under his leadership, Compute.AI secured early funding, validated product-market fit in collaboration with IBM, and reached a pivotal stage with a $5M Series A term sheet, though the board ultimately decided to sell the company.
Before Compute.AI, Joel held key leadership roles in Lexicon Travel Technologies, where he raised venture capital to acquire and relaunch a SaaS software platform in the hospitality industry. His strategic direction expanded Lexicon's customer base to over 150 clients, overseeing $30M in bookings under management. His successful leadership led to the company being acquired by Red Awning.
Joel also served as SVP & General Manager of PMC Division at Red Awning, where he managed a $60M+ P&L and transitioned former Lexicon clients, effectively doubling the company's channel management business. His deep expertise in financial operations, fundraising, and acquisitions extends back to his tenure as COO/EVP Finance & Operations at Upper Limit Aviation, where he led 270 employees, grew revenue from $13M to $35M, and raised $14M in debt financing to support fleet expansion.
Earlier in his career, Joel played a key role in Fusion-IO—a high-growth tech hardware company—where he led corporate strategy from early stage (<$10M revenue) through IPO ($2B valuation). His contributions included business development, OEM partnerships with HP, Dell, and IBM, and the $119M acquisition of NextGen Storage.
Beyond his executive roles, Joel is deeply committed to team building, strategic growth, and innovation. His ability to assemble and retain top-tier talent, coupled with his hands-on leadership in financial structuring and market expansion, has made him a sought-after expert in the SaaS and deep tech industries.