Brandon Ernst

Technology founder and public policy graduate student

At the moment

What I’ve built

2018-present Founder

Gaucho Plugins

My WordPress plugin company. I build eight plugins, three of them Stripe payment products, with 10,000+ active users across more than 100 countries.
2011-present Founder

Brand on Fire

My web and digital strategy agency. I have built and maintained 60+ small business sites since 2011, and most of those clients have stayed for years.

2019-21 Head of Marketing, Freemius · Remote Led a six-person team during 30-40% year-over-year growth and wrote 17 articles for software founders.
2018-19 Consultant, SCHORISCH Gruppe · Hamburg, Germany Advised executive leadership on digital outreach to policymakers and waterway-infrastructure decision-makers.
2016-17 Volunteer, U.S. Peace Corps · Senegal Coordinated community economic development for a 14-volunteer cohort and built digital-literacy training for local officials.
2015-16 Head English Teacher, Education First · Ningbo, China
2013-14 Program Assistant, USAID, Asia Bureau · Washington, DC Supported the Assistant Administrator and the Bureau in overseeing $1.2B+ across 20+ countries.
2010-12 Fellow, Institute for International Public Policy (PPIA) · Washington, DC
2008-12 B.A. Political Science and B.A. Business Administration, cum laude, Honors, Dominican University of California · San Rafael, CA

2014 International Journal of Public Policy

The economic impacts of United Nations peacekeeping operations: growth versus level effects

In 39 conflict-affected countries, UN peacekeeping did not raise GDP growth but raised the level of GDP per capita by 1.08 to 1.92%.
2019 Freemius Blog

Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) for WordPress Plugin and Theme Developers

What PSD2’s Strong Customer Authentication rules mean for plugin shops selling online, and what changes at checkout.
2021 Freemius Blog

How do WordPress Plugin Developers Make Money?

How commercial WordPress plugins earn revenue, and what developers can realistically expect to make.
2020 Freemius Blog

Nailing First Time User Experience (FTUE) for WordPress Plugins and Themes

Designing the first few minutes after installation, which is when most users decide whether to keep a plugin.