Jim Fruchterman

Founder/CEO, Tech Matters
Palo Alto, California,United States
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Who Is Jim Fruchterman?

Total Experience141 years
CompanyTech Matters
CountryUnited States

Jim Fruchterman is a prominent social entrepreneur and engineer, best known as the founder and former CEO of Benetech, a non-profit technology company based in Silicon Valley. He dedicated his career to developing technology solutions for pressing social needs. Before founding Benetech in 1989 (initially as Arkenstone Inc.), Fruchterman co-founded Calera Recognition Systems, a company that was a leader in optical character recognition (OCR). He transitioned his expertise to the non-profit sector to create positive social change, focusing on areas like literacy for people with disabilities (e.g., Bookshare), human rights (e.g., Martus software for secure documentation of abuses), and environmental conservation. He is a strong advocate for using technology to empower underserved communities and is recognized globally for his contributions to social innovation. Even after stepping down as CEO of Benetech in 2019, he continues to be an influential voice in the social technology space.

How Did Jim Fruchterman's Career Path Shape Their Journey?

Jim Fruchterman's work history includes a series of influential roles in various companies. Here is a detailed list of his professional journey:

Tech Matters - Founder/CEO(2018 to Present)
Marshall Institute - Guest Lecturer(2024 to Present)
Nexleaf Analytics - Member Board of Directors(2022 to Present)
Benetech - Board Of Directors(1989 to Present)
Board.Dev - Member, Tech Leadership Advisory Council(2023 to Present)
Social Enterprise Leadership Forum - Member(2007 to Present)
Callisto - Member Board of Directors(2018 to 2024)
The Rockefeller Foundation - Bellagio Center Alum(2023 to 2023)
Velox Robotics - Managing Member(2017 to 2021)
RAF Technology, Inc. - Board Member, Co-founder(1989 to 2019)

What Are Jim Fruchterman's Key Achievements?

MacArthur Fellowship

Awarded in 2006, often referred to as a 'genius grant,' in recognition of his innovative work in applying technology to critical social needs, particularly for people with disabilities and human rights defenders.

Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship

Received in 2004 from the Skoll Foundation for his outstanding work as a social entrepreneur leading Benetech to create significant social impact through technological innovation.

Founder of Benetech

Established Benetech (originally Arkenstone Inc.) in 1989, building it into a leading global non-profit that develops and uses technology to drive positive social change in areas like education, poverty, and human rights.

Creator of Bookshare

Spearheaded the development of Bookshare, the world's largest online library of accessible e-books for people with print disabilities (such as blindness, low vision, dyslexia, and physical disabilities).

Development of Martus Software

Led the creation of Martus, an open-source, secure software application that allows human rights groups, journalists, and activists around the world to safely collect, encrypt, and back up information about human rights abuses.

Pioneer in Optical Character Recognition (OCR)

Co-founded Calera Recognition Systems, which developed some of the earliest and most commercially successful OCR technologies, laying groundwork for digital text accessibility.

What's Jim Fruchterman's Educational Background?

BS/MS, EE and Applied Physics

Caltech - Year 1976

Electrical and Electronics Engineering

Stanford University - Year 1980

Degree Program

St. Viator High School - Year 1973

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Company Overview

Tech Matters
Total employees35
HeadquartersPalo Alto
Founded2019

Tech Matters is a non-profit organization that partners with social sector leaders to develop and adapt technology to address humanity's most pressing challenges. They focus on creating scalable and sustainable tech tools, often open-source, to empower organizations working in areas like humanitarian aid, conservation, and community development. Their goal is to help these organizations amplify their impact through better technology.

Tech Matters Funding Information
Unknown - Total Funding Raised
not applicable - Most recent funding amount
not applicable - Number of funding rounds
not applicable - Latest funding round
Lead Investors:
The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation
Twilio.org
Okta
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Salesforce.org

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