Biz Stone

Biz Stone. Christopher Isaac "Biz" Stone is an American entrepreneur and investor best known as a co-founder of the social media platform Twitter. A key figure in the early development of the World Wide Web, he has been involved with several influential technology companies, including Google and Blogger. Stone is also recognized for his philanthropic work and advocacy for humane technology and social good.

Early life and education

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Stone grew up in the nearby suburb of Wellesley. He developed an early interest in graphic design and technology, creating artwork for his high school newspaper. After graduating, he briefly attended Northeastern University but left before completing his degree to pursue a career in design. His first professional role was at the publishing company Little, Brown and Company, where he designed book covers.

Career

Stone's technology career began in earnest when he joined the startup Xanga as a creative director. He later moved to Google in 2003 after it acquired the blogging platform Blogger, where he had become a lead developer. At Google, he worked on the early integration of Blogger with other services like Gmail and AdSense. In 2005, he left Google to join his former colleague Evan Williams at the podcasting company Odeo. It was during his time at Odeo that the concept for a new microblogging service began to take shape, leading to a pivotal project with Jack Dorsey and Noah Glass.

Co-founding of Twitter

In 2006, Stone, alongside Jack Dorsey, Evan Williams, and Noah Glass, co-founded Obvious Corporation, the parent company that would launch Twitter. Stone played a crucial role in defining the platform's vision, culture, and user experience, famously championing the "fail whale" error page as a friendly way to handle server overloads. Twitter's public launch at the South by Southwest festival in 2007 propelled it to rapid global adoption. As the company grew, Stone served in various executive roles, including Creative Director, helping guide Twitter through its IPO in 2013 before stepping back from day-to-day operations.

Other ventures and investments

After Twitter, Stone co-founded several new ventures. In 2014, he launched the search engine Jelly, which was later acquired by Pinterest. He also co-founded Super, a platform for community interaction. Stone is an active investor and advisor through his involvement with Obvious Ventures, a venture capital firm focusing on companies that combine profit and social good. His investment portfolio and advisory roles include a diverse range of technology and media startups, such as the meditation app Headspace and the news outlet The Intercept.

Philanthropy and activism

Stone is a prominent advocate for ethical technology and corporate responsibility. He and his wife, Livia, founded the Biz and Livia Stone Foundation, which supports education, health, and conservation causes. He is a signatory of the Giving Pledge, committing to donate the majority of his wealth to philanthropy. Stone frequently speaks on the need for humane technology and has supported initiatives aimed at combating online harassment and misinformation. He has also served on the board of DonorsChoose, a platform connecting public school teachers with classroom funding.

Personal life

Stone married Livia Stone in 2007, and they have one son. The family resides in San Francisco, California. An avid reader and writer, Stone authored a memoir titled *Things a Little Bird Told Me*. He is known for his optimistic philosophy on technology's potential to benefit humanity and maintains an active, though measured, presence on various social platforms.