Donald Larson M.S., M.B.A.

Donald Larson, B.S. Nuclear Engineering

Entrepreneur | Former Naval Officer | Systems Strategist | Business Thought Leader

Donald Larson is a man who sees no contradiction between discipline and creativity, between structure and disruption. A proud U.S. Navy veteran, engineer by training, and entrepreneur by conviction, Don has built a career at the intersection of technology, enterprise, and strategic thinking.

A graduate of The Ohio State University, Don earned his Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering, where he gained hands-on experience working on the refueling of the Ohio State University Research Reactor. This early immersion into complex systems shaped his uniquely analytical mind—a mind trained to identify patterns, anticipate risks, and solve high-stakes problems with confidence and precision.

Don's leadership roots trace back to his service as a U.S. Naval Officer, where he developed the clarity, decisiveness, and mission-first mindset that continues to guide his professional life today. After his service, he returned to Cleveland and carved out a legacy as one of the region’s most respected and fearless business innovators.

Don is the Founder of the Gorilla Group, Cleveland’s premier entrepreneurial incubator and executive exchange, where maverick thinkers and doers come together to challenge orthodoxy, scale ideas, and pursue market-driven excellence. He has served as a Board Member of North Coast Entrepreneurs and currently sits on the Board of Advisors at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, where he mentors aspiring entrepreneurs and policy-shapers.

He serves as the President of the British American Chamber of Commerce—a unique transatlantic leadership role bridging innovation and investment between Ohio and international markets. Don has also held the mic as host of “Capitalist Cleveland, Business Radio”, a program known for elevating voices of enterprise and intellectual honesty. His commentary on the Monday Night Roundtable further cemented his reputation as a trusted, bold voice in regional policy and economics.

Don’s specialties in Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and complex systems integration make him a sought-after software analyst and business consultant, advising both startups and legacy firms on how to modernize and thrive. He combines engineering logic with marketplace savvy, speaking frequently on technology transformation, leadership, fiscal reform, and energy policy.

Never one to shy away from the battlefield of ideas, Don ran for Congress in Ohio’s 9th Congressional District, mounting a direct challenge to incumbent Marcy Kaptur. As a fiscal conservative and policy innovator, he promoted reform that was economically sound, constitutionally rooted, and intellectually fearless—bringing “outside-the-box” solutions to Washington's broken models.

Don is passionate about exceptionalism, relentlessly advocating for a culture that rewards merit, innovation, and truth. Whether on a podium or in a boardroom, he compels audiences to think harder, aim higher, and act with greater purpose.

When he’s not engineering systems or advising CEOs, Don can be found riding one of his beloved motorcycles, exploring backroads with the same vigor he applies to business and public service.

He lives just outside Cleveland with his wife and is the proud father of three grown daughters, each charting their own course with the same courage and independence their father lives by.

Donald Larson is proof that the American spirit of ingenuity, discipline, and liberty is alive and well—and still making waves from Cleveland to Capitol Hill.