Marcus Whitney believes in the power of small groups to solve big problems. That’s why, as a technology pioneer and start-up mentor for business in Nashville and beyond, he uses his rare combination of focused vision, energy and magnetism to be an effective thought leader in his fast-moving areas of expertise.

Marcus, a Brooklyn native, is at the center of the social commerce revolution at Moontoast, which offers clients (ranging from musicians to retailers) a seamless social media and e-commerce platform to maximize customer acquisition and revenue. It’s at Moontoast that he’s demonstrating his conviction that it’s an important time for business owners to understand and take advantage of social commerce. As co-founder and CTO of Moontoast, Marcus directs product development and helps customers design and execute marketing and merchandising strategies that deliver results leveraging the power of the engine. In addition, he’s helped Moontoast expand operations to Boston, also a thriving technology start-up community, while maintaining a strong Nashville presence.

A co-founder of Jumpstart Foundry and former partner at Emma, Inc., Marcus has demonstrated his commitment to positively shaping the universal digital landscape and—closer to home—growing a vibrant and fertile technology business environment to match Nashville’s world-famous music and healthcare industries.

He’s a Managing Director at the aforementioned Jumpstart Foundry, a seed-stage mentor-driven microfund that selects and matches entrepreneurs to established advisers in their respective fields. Marcus is also a co-founder of BarCamp Nashville and PodCamp Nashville, popular “un-conferences” that bring together professionals focused on the future of digital enterprise. He serves as an active member of the Entrepreneur Center, which provides resources for aspiring entrepreneurs, and Leadership Music, which supports music business leaders and promotes them to action.