Jim Semick

Jim Semick is a Lecturer at the University of California, Santa Barbara, teaching courses like TM 149 Creating a Market-Tested Business Model. He also serves as a guest lecturer and mentor in the New Venture Program. With over 25 years of experience in software product innovation, Jim co-founded ProductPlan and played key roles at AppFolio and Citrix Online (GoToMyPC, GoToMeeting, GoToWebinar). He combines academic instruction with active involvement in tech startups as a mentor and angel investor in Santa Barbara.

• B.S. in Finance and Marketing, University of Idaho

His research and teaching focus on entrepreneurship, product management, and business model validation, drawing from extensive industry experience in bringing disruptive software products to market. Jim’s career spans technology writing (Microsoft Press), corporate leadership in SaaS companies, and academic instruction on market-tested business strategies.

As a frequent speaker and writer, he contributes to discussions on startup ecosystems, software development lifecycle, and strategic market entry. His industry-academia bridge enriches students through practical insights from his 25+ year career.