Beginning in 1995, Jonathan Kochmer wore a number of different hats at Amazon. Recruited by Bezos due to his early internet know-how, Kochmer helped conceive of Amazon’s earliest online promotions while acting as a senior editor for its editorial content, writing thousands of book reviews and curating its featured titles. When Amazon expanded beyond books, he conceived of Amazon’s now-essential “Browse” feature, amongst other data systems. Being an Amazon employee was intense for Kochmer; during one three-month period, he never left the office and simply showered at the Amazon headquarters.
Kochmer left the company in 2001, and has proceeded to lead a fascinating and varied career. He founded and ran an independent record label-turned-public relations firm, Sarathan Records, for fifteen years, during which he oversaw all aspects of the company’s operations. One of the artists signed to the label was Two Loons For Tea, an alt-pop musical duo featuring Kochmer and musician Sarah Scott. So far, they have released three albums; their latest, “Nine Lucid Dreams,” was nominated for Best Pop/Rock Album at the 2008 Independent Music Awards.
Kochmer is still involved in the tech world. He has contributed work on information systems for eco-friendly organizations, including nonprofit Earth Economics and Singapore-based startup Synectify, and is a supporter of modern tech solutions such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and blockchain. Today, he travels the world making presentations on AI and serves as a mentor at LongHash Ventures, a global blockchain venture capital fund.
