Chris Wetherell

Wetherell, Christopher J.
Born
Oregon, USA
OccupationSoftware Developer
Known forGoogle Reader, Avocado, Dealership, Citizens Here and Abroad

Chris Wetherell is a software developer and musician from the US best known as the founder of Google Reader and as an influential "ex-Googler" since his departure from the company.

Software engineer

While working at Google in 2005 as a Senior Software Engineer, Wetherell was involved in developing the feed aggregator Google Reader.

After leaving Google, Wetherell worked at Twitter as Consulting Project Lead on a new "Retweet" feature, co-founded Thing Labs and worked on Brizzly, before co-founding Avocado to produce an intimacy application of the same name. After witnessing the widespread use of his “retweet” option, Wetherell thought, “We might have just handed a four-year-old a loaded weapon.” Wetherell later worked on a social spin-off called Pears (Avocado closed in February 2017). Avocado was invested in by General Catalyst and Lightspeed Venture Partners among others. He's currently the CEO at Myxt.

Musician

Wetherell is also a musician, performing drums and vocals for American rock bands Dealership and Citizens Here and Abroad.

Personal life

Wetherell is a native of Beaverton, Oregon.

References

  1. 1 2 Kantrowitz, Alex (July 1, 2013). "Google Reader Founder: I Never Would Have Founded Reader Inside Today's Google". Forbes. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  2. ↑ Tate, Ryan (August 21, 2013). "Google Couldn't Kill 20 Percent Time Even if It Wanted To". Wired. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  3. ↑ Milian, Mark (November 20, 2009). "Betting that Brizzly will be huge, ex-Googlers are working on things". Technology, LA Times Blogs. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  4. ↑ Maas, Jennifer (November 8, 2013). "5 Apps for Couples: 'Hug,' 'Kiss,' Keep Tabs on Your Boo". ABC News. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  5. ↑ Kantrowitz, Alex (July 23, 2019). "The Man WHo Built the Retweet: "We Handed a Loaded Weapon to 4-Year-Olds". Buzzfeed. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  6. ↑ Brownlee, John (February 24, 2014). "The Schmoopiest Social Network Is All About P.D.A." Fast Company. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  7. 1 2 Malik, Om (March 13, 2013). "Google Reader lived on borrowed time: creator Chris Wetherell reflects". Gigaom. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  8. ↑ Dalugdug, Mandy (April 18, 2023). "Audio file management startup Myxt, founded by ex-Google and Stripe developers, raises $2m". MBW. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Art of the Dealership". SF Weekly. June 9, 1999. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  10. ↑ Scanlin, Tim. "Dealership". Epitonic. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  11. ↑ SPIN Staff (December 26, 2006). "Citizens Here and Abroad". SPIN. Retrieved January 15, 2015.