Donald Doane - Co-Founder, ConnectYard

Donald Doane

Co-Founder, ConnectYard

More about Donald Doane

Donald Doane is the CEO of ConnectYard. Founded in 2007, ConnectYard specializes in helping colleges and universities tap the power of social media for student recruitment, retention and alumni re-engagement.


Previously, Doane founded OpenDemand in early 2000 and served as the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer. Doane has been involved with testing and analyzing the performance of Web sites and applications since the first commercial Web load/stress testing tools were introduced on the market and was one of the early visionaries to recognize the business need for companies to quickly adapt to the "open", or unlimited, demand of the Internet.


Prior to OpenDemand, Doane held various senior-level and key management positions with companies including Ovid Technologies, Qwest Communications, Icon CMT Corp. and Interworld Technology Ventures, and has provided consulting services to large accounts such as UBS, CBS, CitiCorp, Bear Stearns, US Clearing Corp., and PR Newswire.
Donald Doane received a BS degree in Electrical Engineering from the Cornell University, College of Engineering.

Signing up on our website is completely free! If you encounter any issues with profile or notice something unusual, please don't hesitate to report it to us. We're here to help ensure a smooth and secure experience.
Featured speaker at previous eChai events:
Fundraising For Startups - Founder Perspectives
CoRise Summit
Founders and startup folks who joined past eChai startup events

The eChai Effect - In Their Words

"At DevX.Work, we’ve greatly benefited from our association with eChai. Their events and networking forums have connected us with high-potential startups, ecosystem leaders, and innovation-driven professionals — many of whom have become valuable partners, collaborators, and even clients. What stands out most is the openness and accessibility of the community — whether you're an early-stage founder or an experienced entrepreneur, eChai provides a welcoming space to learn, collaborate, and grow. It's more than just a network — it's a catalyst for real, collaborative growth. We’re proud to be part of the eChai community. Highly recommended for any organization aiming to grow within the startup space."
Umesh Uttamchandani - Co-Founder, DevX
Umesh Uttamchandani
Co-Founder, DevX
"We found eChai to be a force multiplier throughout our startup journey. Through it, we connected with folks from DevX, Allevents, Plutomen, and more - many of whom became friends of IndiaBizForSale.com and even part of our clientele."
Bhavin S Bhagat - Co-founder of Indiabizforsale and IBGrid, TiE Ahmedabad President
Bhavin S Bhagat
Co-founder of Indiabizforsale and IBGrid, TiE Ahmedabad President
"After moving back from the USA, eChai became my go-to space to learn how the Indian startup ecosystem works. It offered direct exposure to startup thinking and a community that openly shares business insights. What stood out was how easy it was to connect, learn, and grow through real conversations. As we built our IT hardware rentals business, eChai helped us find our niche and refine our path. Proud and grateful to be part of this amazing community."
Heet Sheth - Growth and Tech, Sheth Info
Heet Sheth
Growth and Tech, Sheth Info

eChai Partner Brands

eChai Ventures partners with select brands as their growth partner - working together to explore new ideas, open doors, and build momentum across the startup ecosystem.