To round out our Thinc Iowa 2012 speaker slate, we couldn’t be more excited to announce the addition of three entrepreneurs, including Steve Case, co-founder and former CEO of AOL.
Case, a pivotal figure in the evolution of the internet, led AOL to its peak and negotiated the company’s merger with Time Warner, a deal that catapulted Case as a leader and “one of the nation’s greatest entrepreneurs,” according to CNBC.
Case is currently the chairman of the Startup America Partnership, and co-chair of the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. In addition to his role with Startup America, Case is the chairman and CEO of Revolution – an investment firm that has backed more than two dozen companies, including LivingSocial, Zipcar and AddThis – and the chairman of the Case Foundation.
From CNBC to Bloomberg Television to even the Colbert Report, Case has made the media circuit in his efforts to push for legislation change (like the Startup Job Act 2.0) and to help educate entrepreneurs. Pick up this month’s Entreprenuer Magazine (above) with the online pioneer featured on the cover and soon, he will make his way to Thinc Iowa to share his experience with us.
Thanks to our sponsor
We are also pleased to announce speakers Neal Sales-Griffin, founder and CEO of The Starter League, and Ron J. Williams, co-founder and CEO of Knodes. These two individuals will join Case and the 11 other entrepreneurs, investors and creatives who fuel our excitement for the conference, October 9-11.
Neal Sales-Griffin
The Starter League
Neal Sales-Griffin is currently the founder and CEO of The Starter League, the beginner web design and development school. The Chicago native has experience with venture firms OCA Ventures and Sandbox Industries and recently has garnered funds from fellow Chicago startup 37signals and the support of the co-founder and president of the company and former Big Omaha speaker, Jason Fried.
Ron J. Williams
Knodes
Named one of Fast Company’s “The 100 Most Creative People in Business 2012,” Ron J. Williams is the CEO and Co-founder of Knodes, the social and personal data context platform. He obsesses about making human networks actually work and loves connecting people – a mindset that fits perfectly with Thinc Iowa. Before co-founding Knodes and SnapGoods, Ron spent time running a successful test prep business and investing other people’s money in ed-tech businesses. He is a Brooklyn native, active mentor, speaker and lover of speed. And, he is a big asker of “why not.”
Purchase your Thinc Iowa ticket
Meet the full Thinc Iowa lineup
Listed below from top left to bottom right are the speakers of Thinc Iowa 2012.
Brad Feld – Foundry Group co-founder
Ryan Graves – Uber global GM and VP operations
Tara Hunt – Buyosphere co-founder and Agence Tuxedo digital and content director
Brian Spaly – Trunk Club CEO
Jeremie Miller – Singly co-founder
Danielle Morrill – Referly CEO and co-founder
Antonio Neves – THINQACTION founder
Steve Greenwood – Brewster CEO and co-founder
Avner Ronen – Boxee CEO and founder
Bart Stein – Stamped co-founder
Gentry Underwood – Orchestra CEO and co-founder
Tickets still remain for Thinc Iowa, a conference on innovation and entrepreneurship. Check out the discount for startups and entrepreneurs: Thinc Iowa tickets.
Credits: Photo from Thinc Iowa 2011 by Anna Jones | Art of Photography and Ikonix Studio.
The Silicon Prairie Series
Thinc Iowa is a conference on innovation and entrepreneurship. Limited to 500 attendees, the two-and-a-half-day event presents more than a dozen nationally-known speakers in an inspiring and engaging environment. The Thinc Iowa conference is part of the Silicon Prairie Series, the nation’s most ambitious events on innovation and entrepreneurship. Big Omaha and a future Kansas City event are also a part of the series.