Robert H. Hacker

Robert Hacker is an innovator, educator and author who draws on decades of experience at the forefront of two industrial revolutions to describe how AI will transform research, technology and entrepreneurship. With a vision for a world where innovation and education unleash human potential to solve global challenges, Robert has architected high-impact initiatives in academia, business, and the nonprofit sector.

As the cofounder and current Sr. Director of StartUP FIU at Florida International University, Robert built a university-wide platform for innovation, supporting thousands of faculty, student and community business owners in startup creation and scaling. He has raised millions in grant funding, mentored future leaders, and taught graduate courses on entrepreneurship, digital transformation, and the future of technology. Since 2016 StartUP FIU has trained and educated over 30,000 students, faculty and community members on innovation and entrepreneurship.

Previously, Robert served as COO/CFO of One Laptop per Child (OLPC) at the MIT Media Lab, leading global operations that delivered technology to millions of children outside the US Prior to OLPC he built a publicly traded 1 billion company in Indonesia in seven years by raising venture capital and public market debt and equity. His background in international economic development spans more than sixty countries.

The Second Renaissance is a series of books dealing with the changes in the socio-economic framework from artificial intelligence. He is the author of two previous books on entrepreneurship, a TEDx speaker, and a frequent speaker on technology, entrepreneurship and education in both English and Spanish.