Join us for a timely, bold discussion with Jim Fruchterman, MacArthur Genius, Caltech-trained physicist, pioneering tech CEO, social entrepreneur, and author of the new book TECHNOLOGY FOR GOOD: How Nonprofit Leaders Are Using Software and Data to Solve Our Most Pressing Social Problems (Sept 2, MIT Press)
Jim will discuss:
- The "Social Sector Time Machine": Non-profits often lag a decade+ behind the for-profit sector in technology, a gap that presents significant opportunities for social good
- How to tell “good” tech-for-good ideas from “bad” tech-for-good ideas: Common pitfalls behind why 95% of initiatives fail
- How to invest strategically in technology: How to justify tech investments with clear payoffs in cost savings or mission impact
- How social entrepreneurs and nonprofits can leverage new AI tools: Prioritize AI applications to make humans more effective and productive rather than replace them
From co-founding two of Silicon Valley's first successful AI startups in the 1980s, to starting tech nonprofit Benetech which pioneered accessible e-books for people with disabilities, to his latest software Terraso, an open-source platform offering local leaders tools to fight climate change, Fruchterman provides a compelling narrative for how technology can be a powerful force for good when guided by social impact principles.
Jim Fruchterman is a leading social entrepreneur and the founder of Benetech and Tech Matters, award-winning tech nonprofits based in Silicon Valley. He is the recipient of the MacArthur Fellowship for his work with Benetech, and the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship. He is a Distinguished Alum of the California Institute of Technology.
