Hi, I’m Dan Steiny. With over 20 years of experience in Platform and Product Partnerships and Business Development, I specialize in building ecosystems that drive both business growth and product innovation while empowering creators. I’ve done this work with Fortune 500 companies like Sony, Motorola, Harman/Samsung, as well as innovative startups such as MediaNet Digital, Liquid Audio, and SoundHound.AI.
What I Do
- Platform & Product Partnerships: Developing ecosystems through strategic partnerships.
- Fractional Business Development: Unlocking revenue streams and expanding market opportunities.
- Content Acquisition & Licensing: Securing high-value partnerships and IP agreements.
My Approach
Leveraging a global network and expertise in business development, I help businesses thrive by creating and managing dynamic partnerships. From guiding startups to IPO success to driving product innovation, I specialize in delivering results. My creativity in songwriting and screenwriting further fuels my passion for empowering creators and innovators.
Recent engagements include:
- ManifestUX (Product Strategy. Design. Experience.)
- Native Voice.AI (All you favorite voice assistances in one place.)
- GenUI (Trusted partners in software development.)
- The Underground Group (Authentic content. Compelling Stories.)
- Wcities (Connect. Explore. Discover.)
- US Market Access Center (Your gateway to the US.)
- UC Berkeley’s stEP startup program (Student Entrepreneurship Program.)
DAN STEINY NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Drawing from a proven track record of negotiating over a hundred content acquisition, distribution, and technology licenses, I’ve supported numerous startups and Fortune 500 companies in pioneering content-focused products and services.
✅ SoundHound.AI: Led content and data partnerships for SoundHound.AI, a trailblazer in the AI audio and music space (IPO during tenure).
✅ JBL & Google/YouTube Music: Orchestrated a multi-million global co-marketing partnership between JBL Smart Speakers and Google/YouTube Music, a first-of-kind for Harman International.
✅ Sony VAIO: Managed software partnerships and integration for Sony’s groundbreaking VAIO, the company’s first-ever consumer computer.
✅ Liquid Audio: Directed product management & business development for Liquid Audio, the first online platform legally selling digital music (IPO during tenure).
✅ MediaNet: Directed strategic partnership management for MediaNet, the first major label-owned digital music streaming company.
✅ Live365: Drove business development with Live365, a pioneer in pure-play streaming radio.
✅ PBS Home Video: Managed content partnerships with PBS Home Video under Pacific Arts, overseeing PBS’s first entry into the retail market (Pacific Arts was founded by Michael Nesmith of The Monkees fame).
NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND FIRSTS
Drawing from a proven track record of negotiating over a hundred content acquisition, distribution, and technology licenses, I’ve supported numerous startups and Fortune 500 companies in pioneering content-focused products and services.
✅ SoundHound.AI: Led content and data partnerships for SoundHound.AI, a trailblazer in the AI audio space (IPO during tenure).
✅ JBL & Google/YouTube Music: Orchestrated a multi-million global co-marketing partnership between JBL Smart Speakers and Google/YouTube Music, a first-of-kind for Harman International.
✅ Sony VAIO: Managed software partnerships and integration for Sony’s groundbreaking VAIO, the company’s first-ever consumer computer.
✅ Liquid Audio: Directed product management & business development for Liquid Audio, the first online platform legally selling digital music (IPO during tenure).
✅ MediaNet: Directed strategic partnership management for MediaNet, the first major label-owned digital music streaming company.
✅ Live365: Drove business development with Live365, a pioneer in pure-play streaming radio.
✅ PBS Home Video: Managed content partnerships with PBS Home Video under Pacific Arts, overseeing PBS’s first entry into the retail market (Pacific Arts was founded by Michael Nesmith of The Monkees fame).
SERVICES DETAILS
✅ Business Development/Partnership Support: I use data-driven methods and market analyses to support all phases of building growth partnerships, including outreach, licensing negotiation, co-marketing, and ongoing partner management.
✅ Business Model Definition: I assist companies in defining business models and value propositions to expand strategic partnerships, particularly in the digital media space.
✅ AI/LLM Expansion: I help AI companies build data partnerships, understand revenue opportunities from these engagements, and execute successful licensing and launch strategies.
✅ Content Reach: I collaborate with content creators and aggregators to expand their market reach on the latest distribution platforms and services.
✅ Product Development: I advise and assist in execution for consumer electronics and SaaS companies on content-focused product development and content integration execution.
INDUSTRY & DOMAIN EXPERIENCE
✅ Streaming Content: Audio, Music, Entertainment, Media, OTT, Publishing.
✅ Artificial Intelligence (AI): Virtual Assistants, Generative AI, LLM, Speech Recognition, Machine Learning.
✅ SaaS: Content Services & Applications, Data Platforms.
✅ Consumer Electronics: Connected Car/Automotive, Mobile & IoT.
✅ Content Creator: Songwriter, Screenwriter, and Performing Musician
Content Acquisition expertise spans collaborations with diverse entities, including news organizations, publishers, streaming music providers, radio stations, data providers, online video/film/TV platforms, audiobook distributors, podcasts, gaming companies, mobile app developers, and software providers. I’ve applied this skill set at industry giants like Sony, HP, Motorola, and Harman International (a Samsung company), as well as at pioneering AI startups such as SoundHound.AI and Native Voice.AI, and at video distributor Pacific Arts/PBS Home Video.
Content Distribution experience includes partnering with manufacturers of PCs/notebooks, IoT, mobile devices, consumer electronics, and the connected car. I’ve done this work for Harman International, MediaNet Digital, Live365, and Liquid Audio.
Whether you’re an AI platform navigating data licensing, a hardware or SaaS leader seeking content partnerships for product development, or a content creator/aggregator aiming for broader distribution, let’s connect. Together, we can explore collaborative opportunities, leverage my networks, and drive innovation and transformative change in the dynamic worlds of technology and media.
