Cliff van der Linden

Yo, have you heard of Cliff van der Linden? Dude’s a straight-up legend in the world of civic tech and politics. Basically, he’s the guy who’s been crushing it at the intersection of politics, data, and tech for years.

So, here’s the scoop, Cliff’s a prof at McMaster University, teaching political science and running the Digital Society Lab. The guy’s not just talking about change, he’s out here building it. He’s also the boss behind Vox Pop Labs, which is the real deal in civic tech. They made Vote Compass, that super popular voter involvement tool used by millions worldwide, partnering with big media outlets. Think about that, millions of people actually use what he built to understand politics better. That’s no small feat.

His background? Dude’s got the creds. Ph.D. from the University of Toronto in 2019, but before that, he was all about journalism, economics, and political science, basically, a full-stack thinker. He even picked up a Certificate in Entrepreneurship from U of T, so he’s got the hustle mindset down too.

And he’s been recognized for all this, Entrepreneur of the Year in Toronto, McMaster’s Young Alumni Award, one of Toronto’s Top 12 Young Innovators. That’s some serious proof he’s not just talking but actually doing shit that matters.

What’s crazy is his process. Started from academia, advising governments on digital tech and public opinion, which shows he’s deeply invested in making democracy better, more transparent, more engaging. He’s been a visiting scholar at places like Oxford’s Internet Institute, and he’s published over 50 papers on public opinion and tech, so he’s got the brains to back up the hustle.

And it’s more than just tech or politics, he’s deeply involved with organizations like Action Canada and the G8 Research Group, always pushing the boundaries of how technology influences democracy and society. Plus, he jumped into programs like The Next 36 right from the start, showing he’s been in the game of high-impact entrepreneurship since day one.

Now, looking at his whole story, what jumps out? Cliff’s all about using tech to solve big societal problems. He jumped into startups, academia, government advising, and built something that actually makes a difference. His process screams passion for democracy and civic involvement. He’s not just about making money, he’s about making democracy smarter, more inclusive, more works well.

And get this, he’s about to be a Visiting Fellow at Oxford’s Internet Institute in 2025. That’s legit recognition from the world’s top folks in internet research. Shows he’s still pushing boundaries.

Long story short? Cliff van der Linden is one of those people who took his academic smarts, combined it with entrepreneurial grit, and built tools that actually change how people engage with politics. He’s a mix of nerd and doer, driven by a real desire to improve democracy, and he’s crushing it. No cap, this guy’s someone to watch.