Tim O'Reilly
Tim O'Reilly (born June 6, 1954) is an Irish-born American publisher, author, and entrepreneur who founded O'Reilly Media in 1978, establishing it as a leading provider of technical books, online learning platforms, and industry conferences that have advanced software development and emerging technologies.[1][2]
O'Reilly popularized key concepts such as open source software, Web 2.0, and the Maker movement, shaping industry paradigms through his writings, events like the O'Reilly Open Source Convention and Web 2.0 Conference, and early initiatives including the launch of Global Network Navigator (GNN), the first web portal, in 1993.[1][3]
As CEO and chairman of O'Reilly Media, he has authored influential works like WTF? What's the Future and Why It's Up to Us (2017), advocating for proactive governance in technology's societal impacts, and serves on boards including Code for America while investing via O'Reilly AlphaTech Ventures.[1][3]
His efforts have emphasized knowledge-sharing and innovation ecosystems, from pioneering animal-covered technical manuals to fostering communities that propelled open standards and participatory web technologies, though he has reflected on business missteps in scaling such ventures.[1][4]