David Chie

David Chie is the founder of Maple Drive, a retained executive search firm for institutional-scale family offices, venture and private equity firms, and the founders and investors whom they back. At twenty-five he bought Palo Alto Staffing, a legacy Silicon Valley staffing brand, and spent the better part of two decades refining his craft before founding Maple Drive.

Those years were never only about the firm. He has been an active investor, builder, and connector across Silicon Valley, and helping founders succeed is one of his deepest passions. He has recruited for many of the world's most successful entrepreneurs and investors, and for some of its largest asset managers.

The work at that level is anything but routine. It means understanding each role from first principles and scouring the world for the rare person who will deliver. He often works as part therapist, part researcher, and part organizational designer, uncovering the real need beneath the stated one. Whether working with the founder of a complex multi-billion-dollar asset manager or the founder of an AI startup, he looks for the talent that will bring out the best in the entity he supports.

What drives him now is using AI to connect talent with work of real consequence. He believes the integration of humans and AI is the most important challenge of this moment. Getting it right, matching people to roles they find meaningful, is worth building a firm around. It starts with finding the leaders who will define the future.