Dick Costolo

Dick Costolo
Joi Ito · CC BY 2.0 · source
Name	Dick Costolo
Birth date	1963-09-10
Birth place	Royal Oak, Michigan, United States
Occupation	Technology executive, entrepreneur, investor
Alma mater	University of Michigan
Known for	Former CEO of Twitter

Dick Costolo

Richard "Dick" Costolo (born September 10, 1963) is an American technology executive, entrepreneur, and investor best known for serving as chief executive officer of Twitter from 2010 to 2015. Over a career spanning Silicon Valley startups, Chicago improv comedy, and venture capital, Costolo held senior roles at established platforms and founded companies that interfaced with major players such as Google, Microsoft, and Facebook. He has been involved with accelerators, private equity, and philanthropic initiatives connected to institutions like University of Michigan and cultural organizations in Chicago.

Early life and education

Costolo was born in Royal Oak, Michigan and raised in the Metropolitan Detroit area. He attended Cranbrook Kingswood School before matriculating at the University of Michigan, where he studied computer science and participated in campus organizations and local arts communities. During his time in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Costolo became connected to regional technology networks and early internet entrepreneurship that later informed his move to Chicago and eventual relocation to San Francisco, California.

Career

Costolo’s early career combined programming, product development, and performance. He worked on projects tied to companies such as Sun Microsystems and startups that later intersected with platforms like Netscape and AOL. In Chicago, he co-founded the sketch and improv group environments that connected him with the Second City ecosystem and performers who later worked with organizations such as Saturday Night Live and SNL. He co-founded and led startups including FeedBurner competitors and services that related to blogging platforms and syndication, overlapping with actors in the space like Evan Williams and Biz Stone.

In the 2000s Costolo co-founded the company that evolved into FeedBurner-style analytics and advertising services; his entrepreneurial activities drew attention from larger firms including Google and Microsoft. He later served as a partner and mentor in startup accelerators and venture funds alongside investors from Benchmark and Sequoia Capital. Costolo also worked as a consultant and executive-in-residence at organizations connected to Y Combinator-era companies, and he held board or advisory roles with services that interfaced with LinkedIn, Spotify, and YouTube.

Tenure as Twitter CEO

Costolo joined Twitter in a senior operational role prior to assuming the CEO position in 2010, succeeding Evan Williams. As CEO, he navigated Twitter’s growth through major events tied to global news coverage such as the Arab Spring, the 2011 Egyptian revolution, and international elections where platforms like Twitter intersected with broadcasters like CNN and agencies like Reuters. Under his leadership the company completed its initial public engagement with investors and worked with public-market participants including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and JP Morgan Chase to prepare for an eventual public offering.

During Costolo’s tenure Twitter expanded product features and partnerships, negotiating agreements with media companies such as NBCUniversal, Disney, and News Corp while competing with rivals like Facebook and Google for user attention and advertising revenue. He presided over strategic investments in engineering and international offices, and engaged with regulatory and policy debates involving governments and civil society organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. Costolo also managed crises related to abuse and spam on the platform, working with content moderation teams and technology partners including researchers from Stanford University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology to improve safety systems.

Costolo announced his resignation in 2015, at a moment when Twitter confronted product-monetization challenges and investor pressure from firms like Vanguard Group and BlackRock, Inc.; his successor, Jack Dorsey, returned to an executive role.

Post-Twitter activities and investments

After leaving Twitter, Costolo became active as an angel investor and advisor, joining networks that included partners from Andreessen Horowitz, Founders Fund, and regional funds in Chicago and San Francisco. He invested in and advised startups across advertising technology, publishing, and developer tools, with portfolio ties to companies such as Stripe, Slack Technologies, Airbnb, GitHub, and consumer apps competing with Snap Inc. and Pinterest. Costolo also co-founded and participated in incubators and mentorship programs tied to organizations like Techstars and 500 Startups, and he engaged with corporate boards and philanthropic venture initiatives, linking to universities including University of Michigan and arts institutions such as Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Costolo has delivered keynote addresses at conferences including SXSW, Web Summit, and TechCrunch Disrupt, and he has appeared at policy forums hosted by think tanks like the Brookings Institution and trade groups like the Internet Association.

Personal life and philanthropy

Costolo resides between San Francisco, California and Chicago, Illinois and has participated in philanthropic efforts supporting education and arts organizations, contributing to causes affiliated with University of Michigan alumni programs and cultural institutions such as Second City and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. He has supported initiatives focused on digital literacy and civic technology with partners including Code.org and local civic groups in Cook County, Illinois. Costolo’s public speaking and mentorship continue to influence entrepreneurs and non-profit leaders across networks connected to Silicon Valley and Midwest innovation communities.

Category:1963 births Category:Living people Category:American chief executives