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Esther Dyson          

Investor in Health Tech, Founder of Wellville, Philanthropist

Esther Dyson is a renowned entrepreneur, investor, and thought leader in the fields of technology, healthcare, and space exploration. Born in Zürich, Switzerland, Dyson is the daughter of renowned physicist Freeman Dyson and mathematician Verena Huber-Dyson. She graduated from Harvard University with a degree in economics and began her career as a journalist before transitioning into technology analysis and investment.

Dyson is the founder of EDventure Holdings, through which she has invested in numerous groundbreaking technology startups, including Flickr, Square, 23andMe, and Space Adventures. Her keen eye for innovation has established her as one of the most influential figures in Silicon Valley and beyond. She also served as the chair of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and as an early board member of ICANN, the organization responsible for internet domain management.

In recent years, Dyson has focused on healthcare innovation and community wellness through her initiative Wellville, a 10-year project aimed at improving population health in five U.S. communities. The project emphasizes the importance of preventive care, healthy lifestyles, and social determinants of health.

Dyson is a sought-after speaker and author, with her influential book "Release 2.0: A Design for Living in the Digital Age" providing early insights into the impact of the internet on society. Known for her forward-thinking approach, Dyson continues to drive progress at the intersection of technology, health, and human potential.

Speech Topics


Don't Fuss About Training Our AIs. Train Our Babies!

The importance of human capacity and self-awareness at a time when AI will become more "intelligent" but not more capable of genuine empathy. Esther Dyson argues that we need to invest in our next generation of human beings instead.

Present Without Leave

An inspiring tale of eternal curiosity. A life history to inspire kids and students of all ages. Esther Dyson's father's boss was Oppenheimer (at the Institute for Advanced Study). She left that bubble at the age of 16 to go to Harvard and write for the Harvard Crimson. At 17, she dropped out to spend half a year traveling, including two months with her then-boyfriend, who was serving in the Peace Corps in Morocco. From 2008-2009, she trained as a backup cosmonaut in Star City outside Moscow, Russia. Then she asked the basic question: Why are we spending so much time & money fixing preventable health conditions when it's often too late? She then began Wellville, a 10-year nonprofit project, working in 5 small US communities to foster health equity and long-term thinking. In this talk, Dyson talks about what she's learned and is open to curiosity and questions.

News


Video: Esther Dyson | Watch NOVA Online | PBS Video
Hear from innovator Esther Dyson about how she's pushing companies to change the world. Watch online: Esther Dyson from NOVA. On demand, streaming ...
Steve Case and Esther Dyson, Renowned Entrepreneurs ...
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Steve Case and Esther Dyson, Renowned Entrepreneurs & Investors, to Speak at the 5th Annual mHealth Summit ...
Esther Dyson's healthy HICCup is like raising 'one whopping child ...
SAN FRANCISCO — Esther Dyson is one of the most active investors in the rapidly emerging health IT sector. But she recently ceased investing to focus her  ...

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