Dr. David Altounian

Areas of Expertise

• Entrepreneurship, marketing, management, leadership, business strategy

Education

• B.S. in business administration, California Coast University (1993)
• MBA, Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management (2007)
• Ph.D. in business administration, executive research, Oklahoma State University (2014)

View My CV

What's My Why?

My teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that education should be directly relevant and engaging for students, particularly in fields like marketing and entrepreneurship, where industry dynamics are rapidly evolving. I work to bridge the gap between theoretical concepts and real-world applications by drawing upon my experience in technology, product development, marketing, and management. By illustrating course material with lessons learned from my career, I aim to provide students with a practical understanding of the subjects that I teach. I believe that helping students see the immediate relevance of course content to their future endeavors is crucial for fostering engagement and genuine interest in the subject matter.

Professional Experience

Currently, I am actively engaged in several roles that leverage my extensive experience in the technology and startup sectors. As a partner and mentor at Capital Factory in Austin, Texas, I have been supporting emerging entrepreneurs since May 2013. This role allows me to utilize my expertise to guide startups and contribute to the vibrant startup ecosystem.

Additionally, I serve as a board member of RIHub in Providence, Rhode Island, a position I've held since March 2023. This role enables me to play a part in fostering innovation and economic growth in Rhode Island by supporting local entrepreneurs and businesses.

These roles allow me to stay connected with the latest trends in technology and entrepreneurship while contributing to the development of innovative communities. My current focus is on mentoring, advising and supporting the growth of startups and innovation hubs.

Media Coverage

Providence Business News, Rhode Island Inno, Austin Business Journal, Inc. Magazine, Huffington Post, Austinstartups 

Selected Publications

Spinuzzi, C., Altounian, D., Pogue, G., Cochran, R., & Zhu, L. Articulating Problems and Markets: A Translation Analysis of Entrepreneurs’ Emergent Value Propositions. Written Communication, 35(4), 379-410., 2018

C. Spinuzzi, D. Altounian and G. P. Pogue, "Go or No Go: Learning to Persuade in an Early-Stage Student Entrepreneurship Program," in IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, vol. 63, no. 2, pp. 100-117, June 2020

Zahay, D., Altounian, D., Pollitte, W., & James, J.. Effective Resource Deployment in Digital Marketing Education. Marketing Education Review, 29(3), 182–192, 2018

Altounian, David, and Mike Cronin. Winning With Strategic Marketing: Driving Success for Startups and Small Businesses. Business Expert Press, 2023.

DeMaria, Russel, Altounian, David, Quick and Easy Macintosh Guide for MS-DOS Users, Ashton-Tate, 1989