Steve Chen is a pioneering technology entrepreneur, digital media innovator and the co-founder and founding Chief Technology Officer of YouTube. Best known for helping transform online video into a global phenomenon, Steve is one of Silicon Valley’s most influential figures. As an early member of the renowned PayPal "Mafia" and a visionary behind one of the internet’s most successful platforms, he has shaped the way billions of people create, consume and share content online. An Emmy Award winner recognised for his lifetime contribution to technology, Steve is hired as a speaker for his unrivalled insights into entrepreneurship, innovation, product development, scaling technology businesses and the future of digital media.
Born in Taiwan before moving to suburban Chicago as a child, Steve developed an early passion for technology and went on to study computer science at the University of Illinois. After graduating, he joined PayPal as one of its earliest employees, working alongside entrepreneurs and engineers who would later become known as the "PayPal Mafia", including Elon Musk and Peter Thiel. In 2005, Steve joined Chad Hurley and Jawed Karim to solve the challenge of making it simple for anyone to upload and share videos online. Their solution became YouTube, and within less than two years the platform had become one of the fastest-growing websites in history before being acquired by Google for $1.65 billion. Following the acquisition, Steve remained with the business to lead its technical development as it expanded to serve hundreds of millions of users worldwide.
Following his success at YouTube, Steve continued to invest in and develop innovative technology businesses. Together with Chad Hurley, he co-founded AVOS Systems before later launching the live streaming food platform Nom.com. He has also worked extensively with Google Ventures, supporting the next generation of technology startups and entrepreneurs. Throughout his career, Steve has received numerous honours, including being named one of Business 2.0's most influential people in business, recognised among Asian Scientist's leading innovators to watch, inducted as a Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois and awarded the Order of Lincoln. In 2019, his extraordinary contribution to digital media was recognised with an Emmy Award for lifetime achievement.
Steve is hired as a technology speaker because he offers first-hand insight into building one of the most transformative internet companies of the modern era. Drawing on his experiences founding YouTube, scaling global technology platforms and working alongside some of Silicon Valley's most influential entrepreneurs, he provides audiences with valuable perspectives on innovation, entrepreneurship, product design, digital disruption and business growth. His unique journey from software engineer to technology pioneer makes him an exceptional speaker for organisations seeking practical lessons on leadership, creativity and the future of technology.
Steve Chen's official speaking topics are listed below:
- Entrepreneurship: The YouTube Story,
- Innovation & Creativity,
- YouTube's Inside Story: What Makes It So Special?
- 2019 – Received the Technology & Engineering Emmy Award for Lifetime Achievement.
- 2018 – Inducted as a Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois and awarded the Order of Lincoln.
- 2016 – Co-founded the live streaming platform Nom.com.
- 2014 – Joined Google Ventures as an entrepreneur in residence.
- 2014 – Launched the video creation platform MixBit through AVOS Systems.
- 2011 – Named one of Asian Scientist's 15 Asian Scientists To Watch.
- 2011 – Co-founded AVOS Systems with Chad Hurley.
- 2007 – Named Webby Person of the Year alongside Chad Hurley.
- 2006 – Named one of Business 2.0's "The 50 People Who Matter Now".
- 2006 – Led YouTube's technical growth following its $1.65 billion acquisition by Google as Chief Technology Officer.
- 2005 – Co-founded YouTube and became its Founding Chief Technology Officer.
- 2005 – Worked as an early employee at Facebook.
- 1999 – Joined PayPal as an early software engineer and member of the PayPal Mafia.
How to hire Steve Chen
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Steve Chen for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do NOT accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
