About me
Nate Fender is a Principal Product Manager, Technical, at Amazon, where he drives innovation in omnichannel advertising measurement. With extensive experience bridging technology, entrepreneurship, and creative industries, Nate brings a unique perspective to product development and business strategy.
As co-founder and former CEO of Ario Technologies, an augmented reality startup, Nate led the company through successful fundraising rounds totaling $3.5 million, including venture capital from NRV and a $1.5 million SBIR grant from the United States Air Force, as well as $1 million from Verizon. Under his leadership, Ario secured partnerships with Fortune 500 companies including Canon and won prestigious awards including Beekeeper’s Frontline Innovator Award and NATO’s Innovation Challenge.
Prior to Amazon, Nate served as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Operations at SVT Robotics, where he contributed to strategic planning and operational efficiency in warehouse automation. His career spans digital marketing, product management, and business development roles at leading agencies and startups.
Nate’s entrepreneurial journey began in the music industry as co-founder and lead guitarist of Chasing Arrows, an MTV Woodie Award-nominated rock band. The band’s music was featured on MTV’s “College Life” series, and shared the stage with groups Vertical Horizon and Plain White T’s; experiences that shaped his understanding of audience engagement and market positioning.
Currently, Nate runs ItsWeirdTrue (instagram.com/itsweirdtrue), a viral Instagram account covering nostalgia and pop culture that has generated over 4 million views in the past month. His content bridges music industry insights with millennial cultural touchstones.
Nate holds a Masters of International Relations from Macquarie University and a Bachelor of Arts from Christopher Newport University, where his dual paths in music and technology first converged.
