About David Douglas Stone

Maine’s economy is uniquely positioned at the forefront of both the cultivation of natural resources and the leveraging of high-tech sustainability. I’m committed to contributing to and strengthening that economy by supporting entrepreneurs who are building innovative, resilient companies where people can work, grow, and thrive.

Drawing on experience across fintech/payments, food systems, and sustainability, I provide strategic guidance and practical insights to founders who want to capitalize on emerging market shifts and create lasting impact.

As the co-founder and former CEO of CashStar, I built and led an 80-person team of engineers, payments experts, and digital innovators who transformed physical gift cards into a category-defining digital experience, serving four of the top ten North American retailers, including The Home Depot, Gap, Walmart, and Best Buy, as well as major restaurant brands such as Chili’s, Pizza Hut, and Starbucks. Under my leadership, CashStar was recognized three times as one of the Best Places to Work in Maine, reflecting the open, entrepreneurial culture we built together, which I’m as proud of as any revenue milestone.

That experience is part of more than 20 years of executive leadership, spanning Fortune 500 companies and high-growth technology ventures. At American Express, I pioneered the American Express Gift Cheque, the first universal prepaid product, which exceeded $300 million in sales. Prior to founding CashStar, I worked with the Mobile Commerce team at Intel Capital to identify emerging mobile and digital couponing applications, and advised Waste Management on launching Greenopolis, its early sustainability platform designed to incent and reward green consumer behavior. I was also named one of the top five prepaid entrepreneurs and honored as a Mass High Tech “eCommerce All-Star.” Today, I work with founders and entrepreneurs who are building innovative, resilient companies in fintech and payments, food systems, and sustainability. I advise across the full arc of company-building, from early strategy and product-market fit through scaling teams, navigating market shifts, and creating open cultures where people actually want to work.

If you’re building something in Maine, or building something that could benefit from someone who has, I’d like to talk.