Zev Siegl: Founder of Starbucks
Entrepreneur and keynote speaker Zev Siegl, Starbucks co-founder, delivers expert insights on startup strategy, funding, and business growth, helping entrepreneurs build sustainable, scalable companies.
- Highlights:
- Co-founder of Starbucks and early architect of its business model and culture
- Former Vice President, helping scale the company’s initial retail and wholesale growth
- Founder of multiple ventures across food, retail, and consumer products
- Advisor to 500+ entrepreneurs through Small Business Development Center
- Formats:
Keynote Speaker and Entrepreneurial Advisor
- Audiences:
Aspiring entrepreneurs, startup founders, small business owners, and innovation-driven organizations
- Outcomes:
- Gain clarity on how to launch and structure a sustainable business
- Understand funding pathways and financial planning fundamentals
- Learn practical strategies for scaling and navigating early-stage challenges
- Travels from: Seattle, WA
- **Fee range: $10,001 - $20,000
Keynote Topics
Starting Starbucks: How one company disrupted an entire industry
The start-up story of what is now the world’s largest gourmet coffee company is an amazing one, packed with insights for all companies and entrepreneurs. Co-Founder Zev Siegl reveals in words and photographs the key lessons from Starbucks as a local success in Seattle that became the foundation for the totally disruptive global expansion we know today.
Memorable Branding: The Secrets Behind Starbucks' Start-up
For its first store in Seattle in 1971, Starbucks three founders used highly effective market positioning, perfect customer service and aggressive promotion strategies. Co-Founder Zev Siegl reveals in words and photographs the secrets behind one of the world’s most memorable and easily recognizable brands as he tells the story of Starbucks’ original marketing and how it set the stage for a global success.
A Perfect Blend: Meet Starbucks' Extraordinary First Team
Hiring the right people is no easy task, but it is crucial to sign up top talent to ensure your company’s long-term success. Was the team the started Starbucks special? They were! Learn from Co-Founder Zev Siegl about the six men and women who in 1971 built the Seattle success that eventually conquered the world. Your audience discovers that it pays to have the right partners as well as hiring and retaining the right employees to grow your business.
Talent Short Bio
Zev Siegl is best known as a co-founder of Starbucks, one of the world’s most influential consumer brands. In 1971, alongside Jerry Baldwin and Gordon Bowker, he helped launch the company from a single storefront in Seattle’s Pike Place Market, rooted in a mission to provide exceptional coffee and meaningful customer connection.
As Starbucks’ first paid employee and later Vice President, Siegl played a critical role in shaping the company’s early operations, culture, and growth strategy. By the time he departed in 1980, Starbucks had expanded to multiple retail locations and a successful wholesale business.
Following Starbucks, Siegl built a diverse entrepreneurial portfolio, founding ventures such as Quartermaine Coffee Roasters, Peerless Pie, and BuckleUp. He later established a consulting practice focused on guiding small business owners through funding strategy, financial forecasting, business planning, and capital acquisition.
Read Full Bio
Zev Siegl is best known as the co-founder of Starbucks Coffee Company—one of the most recognized and influential brands in the world.
In 1971, alongside Jerry Baldwin and Gordon Bowker, Siegl transformed a shared passion for exceptional coffee into a pioneering business. From a single storefront in Seattle’s historic Pike Place Market, their vision was clear: to offer the finest fresh-roasted, whole bean coffees while creating a meaningful sense of connection through the coffee experience. Inspired by Moby Dick, the name “Starbucks” reflected the romance and tradition of early coffee traders.
As a former history teacher and the company’s first paid employee, Zev Siegl played a foundational role in shaping Starbucks’ early culture and operations. After serving as Vice President for a decade, he departed in 1980, by which time the company had grown to six retail locations and a thriving wholesale business.
Following his success with Starbucks, Siegl became a serial entrepreneur, founding ventures including Quartermaine Coffee Roasters in Washington, DC, Peerless Pie in Seattle, and BuckleUp. He also established a consulting practice dedicated to supporting small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. His expertise spans funding strategy, financial forecasting, business planning, private equity, and lending preparation.
From 2004 to 2012, Zev Siegl served as Lead Advisor for the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Southwest King County, where he mentored more than 500 entrepreneurs—helping them turn ideas into sustainable businesses.
Today, Zev Siegl is passionate about inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs. Through his keynote presentations, he shares practical, real-world insights drawn from his journey—from launching startups and building strong partnerships to securing funding and bringing products to market. His approach empowers audiences to navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship with confidence and clarity.
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