Benedict Townsend

But it wasn't Wall Street that captured young Russ's imagination.

But it wasn't Wall Street that captured young Russ's imagination.

When it came time to find a job, design was a natural fit for Russ. And it's maybe not what you'd expect from a tech founder. In a world of Bill Gates characters building computers and writing code in their family garage, Russ's more artistic leanings stood out. But friends sought him out for design work for their tech startups, and he was in the right place at the right time.

When it came time to find a job, design was a natural fit for Russ. And it's maybe not what you'd expect from a tech founder. In a world of Bill Gates characters building computers and writing code in their family garage, Russ's more artistic leanings stood out. But friends sought him out for design work for their tech startups, and he was in the right place at the right time.

It was 2009, right in the middle of the financial crisis, but the tech industry was surviving and thriving. Along the way, Russ picked up an important lesson. To have the freedom to properly pursue your own ideas the way you wanted, you needed to be your own boss. You needed to be a founder.

It was 2009, right in the middle of the financial crisis, but the tech industry was surviving and thriving. Along the way, Russ picked up an important lesson. To have the freedom to properly pursue your own ideas the way you wanted, you needed to be your own boss. You needed to be a founder.

Russ wanted creative control over his next project, but he needed partners. The first to join him was Dom Hoffman.

Russ wanted creative control over his next project, but he needed partners. The first to join him was Dom Hoffman.

Russ and Dom seem to have one of those friendships where it just feels like your brains are in sync, excited by the same questions, fascinated in solving the same problems.

Russ and Dom seem to have one of those friendships where it just feels like your brains are in sync, excited by the same questions, fascinated in solving the same problems.

Remember, social media in 2012 wasn't the moving feast of crisp, high-definition videos we have on our phones today. It was pretty much all photos, which, you know, if you're 3G held out, took a couple of seconds to actually come into focus. Videos, well, those were for desktop when you had decent Wi-Fi. And so the first seed of Vine began to sprout.

Remember, social media in 2012 wasn't the moving feast of crisp, high-definition videos we have on our phones today. It was pretty much all photos, which, you know, if you're 3G held out, took a couple of seconds to actually come into focus. Videos, well, those were for desktop when you had decent Wi-Fi. And so the first seed of Vine began to sprout.

At what point did you make the decision to go, oh, this seems like a nice idea to, we should try and make this. Maybe this could be something.

At what point did you make the decision to go, oh, this seems like a nice idea to, we should try and make this. Maybe this could be something.

Dom and Russ needed one final piece to their puzzle, a programmer who could actually build an engine capable of powering the vehicle. That's where Colin, the third founder, comes in.

Dom and Russ needed one final piece to their puzzle, a programmer who could actually build an engine capable of powering the vehicle. That's where Colin, the third founder, comes in.

And did you feel that there was an element of risk in sort of putting your eggs in that basket or were you pretty certain about Vine?

And did you feel that there was an element of risk in sort of putting your eggs in that basket or were you pretty certain about Vine?

In June 2012, the company was officially founded. They were going for it. But nothing gets made without some cash. And that takes finding funders. Luckily, they had a head start.

In June 2012, the company was officially founded. They were going for it. But nothing gets made without some cash. And that takes finding funders. Luckily, they had a head start.