Summary:
Jessica Livingston to keynote Bucknell's 175th Commencement on May 18, 2025.
Co-founder of Y Combinator, funding over 5,500 startups valued at $700 billion.
Renowned for her ability to assess founder character in early-stage investing.
Established Startup School, hosting industry leaders like Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos.
Author of the bestselling book Founders at Work and co-host of The Social Radars podcast.
A Trailblazer in Entrepreneurship
Jessica Livingston '93, a trailblazing entrepreneur and co-founder of Y Combinator, will deliver the keynote address at Bucknell University's 175th Commencement on May 18, 2025. Known for her remarkable ability to identify and nurture innovative entrepreneurs, Livingston has played a pivotal role in the startup ecosystem.
Impactful Contributions to Startups
Since co-founding Y Combinator in 2005, she has helped fund over 5,500 startups, including Airbnb, Coinbase, DoorDash, Reddit, Stripe, and Dropbox, collectively valued at over $700 billion. Bucknell President John Bravman praises her for embodying the values and skills nurtured at Bucknell, stating her influence on the entrepreneurial landscape is inspirational.
A Legacy of Supporting Founders
Livingston is renowned for her ability to assess character, which is crucial in early-stage investing. Her intuition has earned her the nickname "the social radar". She established Startup School, a significant annual conference for aspiring founders, featuring industry giants like Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Steve Wozniak.
In addition to her entrepreneurial endeavors, she co-hosts the popular podcast The Social Radars with Carolynn Levy, featuring distinguished guests like Brian Chesky and Tyler Schultz.
A Bucknell Foundation
Graduating with a BA in English in 1993, Livingston was previously the vice president of marketing at Adams Harkness before co-founding Y Combinator. She authored the bestselling book Founders at Work and was a founding donor of OpenAI, further supporting advancements in artificial intelligence.
Commencement 2025
The 175th Commencement will celebrate the Class of 2025 on May 18, 2025. Livingston expresses her excitement to return to Bucknell, aiming to demystify the startup journey for graduates and inspire confidence as they step into their futures.
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