Eric Ries is an entrepreneur, author, and pioneer of the Lean Startup movement. He graduated from Yale University in 2001 with a B.S. in Computer Science and quickly dove into the startup world, co-founding Catalyst Recruiting while still an undergraduate. Ries went on to serve as CTO of IMVU, his third startup, where he developed the principles that would become the foundation of the Lean Startup methodology.

In 2011, Ries published "The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses," which became an international bestseller and has been translated into over 30 languages. The book revolutionized the way entrepreneurs approach building businesses, emphasizing rapid experimentation, customer feedback, and iterative design.

Ries has served as an entrepreneur-in-residence at Harvard Business School, IDEO, and Pivotal. He is a frequent speaker and advisor to startups, large companies, and government organizations around the world. In 2015, he founded the Long-Term Stock Exchange, aiming to create a new public market experience for modern companies and investors committed to long-term success.

Eric Ries lives in San Francisco with his wife, Tara, and continues to influence the global startup ecosystem through his writing, speaking, and entrepreneurial ventures.