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William Hurley, widely known as "whurley," is an innovator, entrepreneur and advocate in the fields of quantum computing and open-source software. A visionary leader, whurley has been at the forefront of technological advancements for over two decades, co-founding several startups that have significantly impacted the tech landscape. Among his notable ventures is Chaotic Moon, a creative technology studio that was acquired by Accenture in 2015, and Honest Dollar, a financial technology company acquired by Goldman Sachs in 2016. His latest endeavor, Strangeworks, focuses on making quantum computing more accessible and practical for a broader audience, highlighting his commitment to democratizing cutting-edge technology. In addition to his CEO duties at Strangeworks, whurley is a co-founder and General Partner at Ecliptic Capital.
A self-taught programmer and hacker, whurley has been recognized for his ability to bridge the gap between complex technological concepts and practical applications. He has contributed extensively to the open-source community, promoting collaboration and transparency in software development. His efforts have earned him numerous accolades, including being named an IBM Master Inventor and receiving the title of Apple's "Ambassador of Innovation." Additionally, whurley is a staunch advocate for diversity and inclusion in the tech industry, frequently speaking on the importance of creating equitable opportunities for underrepresented groups in STEM fields.
whurley is a prolific writer and speaker who shares his insights on the future of technology and its potential to transform industries and society. His engaging speaking style and ability to simplify complex topics have made him a sought-after speaker at conferences worldwide, including TEDx and SXSW, and he is the co-author of "Quantum Computing For Babies” and author of “Quantum Computing for Dummies.” An Eisenhower Fellow, whurley is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Liaison for Strategic Partnerships for the Entrepreneurship Steering Committee at the IEEE, first Ambassador to CERN and Society, founding partner of the CERN Entrepreneurship Student Programme, and co-founder of EQUALS; The Global Partnership for Gender Equality in the Digital Age.
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Invention Vs. Innovation
There's a huge difference between invention and innovation. One is a long process of creating something that has never existed. The other, an iterative process based on pulling together multiple inventions in a new and unique way that results in disrupting existing markets. Companies often struggle to understand the difference between the two resulting in the death of both within the organization. Understanding the difference between these two, and their operational and strategic impacts on a company's bottom line, is critical in today's business world.
Vaporware to Makerware
Powerpoints, "Vision Videos", and other vaporware our now a thing of the past. The vaporware to makerware movement has brought about the age of physical presentations. It's no longer acceptable to deliver "ideas" in a world where customers are demanding usable prototypes for everything from your latest mobile app to the next world changing Internet of things device. With the advent of easy to use prototyping tools for software and affordable 3D printing technologies the days of vaporware are over.
Innovation On Demand
Innovation is a goal of every organization on the planet today yet few organizations are actually able to innovate. Often this is due to the same principals that make organizations stronger choking out any hope of innovation becoming an integral part of a company's culture. "Innovation on Demand" is a revolutionary, well defined, process that allows companies struggling to innovate to approach innovation in a faster, more iterative, and more collaborative way that still allows for the mitigation of risk to the larger organization.
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