10 eBay alumni who founded companies
Each of these eBay alumni who founded companies worked at eBay before starting the company they run now, in roles that ranged from software engineer and product manager to general manager and distinguished architect. A reader can learn how people who worked at eBay went on to build companies, from the founders themselves.
Professionals to explore
Akhilesh Srivastava
LinkedInExperience: Founder, CEO · FenixCommerce
Akhilesh Srivastava was Director - Delivery Experience and Returns at eBay from 2014 to 2017, and has been Founder, CEO of FenixCommerce since 2017.
Alex Ablazevics
LinkedInExperience: Founder · Ivy Video
Alex Ablazevics was Senior Product Manager, eBay Live at eBay from 2024 to 2026, and has been Founder of Ivy Video since 2026. At eBay, Alex Ablazevics was also Product Manager, Core Product from 2021 to 2024.
Gayatri Patel
LinkedInExperience: Founder · Maiar, Inc.
Gayatri Patel was Senior Director of Product Management & Head of PMO, Core Technology at eBay from 2018 to 2022, and has been Founder of Maiar, Inc. since 2023. At eBay, Gayatri Patel was also Director of Product Management, Core Technology from 2009 to 2018.
Guru Hariharan
LinkedInExperience: Founder and Chairman of the Board · CommerceIQ
Guru Hariharan was Director and GM, Global Marketplace Experience at eBay from 2011 to 2012, and has been Founder and Chairman of the Board of CommerceIQ since 2019. Guru Hariharan was also Founder and CEO of Boomerang Commerce from 2012 to 2019.
Howard R.
LinkedInExperience: Chairman of the Board & Founder · B-Stock
Howard R. was GM, Private Marketplaces at eBay from 2002 to 2008, and has been Chairman of the Board & Founder of B-Stock since 2022. Howard R. was Founder & CEO of B-Stock from 2009 to 2022.
Robin Lobo
LinkedInExperience: Co-Founder & CEO · Lumian
Robin Lobo worked in Strategy & Operations at eBay from 2023 to 2025, and has been Co-Founder & CEO of Lumian since 2025.
Shekhar Nirkhe
LinkedInExperience: Co-Founder · ZeeHub AI
Shekhar Nirkhe was Director of software Development , Selling Engineering at eBay from 2017 to 2018, and has been Co-Founder of ZeeHub AI since 2023. At eBay, Shekhar Nirkhe was also Senior Engineering Manager, My eBay and Messages from 2011 to 2017.
Stephen R. Thomas
LinkedInExperience: Founder and CEO · Haypenny
Stephen R. Thomas was Distinguished Architect at eBay from 2004 to 2011, and has been Founder and CEO of Haypenny since 2020. Stephen R. Thomas was also Founder & CEO of Invitecast, Inc. from 2014 to 2018.
Tom Allason
LinkedInExperience: Founder · Residently
Tom Allason was Vice President - Product & Engineering (Shipping) at eBay from 2016 to 2018, and has been Founder of Residently since 2018.
Ulugbek M.
LinkedInExperience: Co-Founder & CTO · Exma AI
Ulugbek M. was Senior Software Engineer at eBay from 2024 to 2026, and has been Co-Founder & CTO of Exma AI since 2026.
Choose the right perspective
Start with the role each person held at eBay, since an engineer, a product manager and a general manager tend to describe the move to founding in different ways. Then weigh how long each has run the current company against the stage you are at.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What from your time at eBay shaped how you approached starting your own company?
- 02How did you decide what the first version of your company's product should be?
- 03What would you tell someone at a large marketplace company who is thinking about starting a company?
Reaching eBay alumni who founded companies
How can I contact one of these eBay alumni who founded companies?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 10 companies, including FenixCommerce; Ivy Video and Maiar, Inc., based on profile data retrieved on October 26, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach eBay alumni who founded companies?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. The offer is what the person receives, and Instant Expert's fee is added on top, so a $100 offer costs you $125. The fee is 20% of what you pay. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
Can an AI agent ask one of these eBay alumni who founded companies a question?
Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. Claude and ChatGPT can do the same through the Instant Expert connector: setup is at /docs/mcp for Claude and /docs/chatgpt for ChatGPT. x402 docs
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.