James Slezak

Yo, you gotta hear about James Slezak. This guy’s a straight-up legend in the startup and tech world, and his story is all about jumping into the deep end, learning shit, and then crushing it with some advanced ideas. No bullshit.

So, he’s a YC W18 alum, which means he’s been deep in the startup game for a minute, and he’s backed by Sequoia, no small feat. But what really sets him apart is his crazy diverse background. Before founding Swayable, he’s been everywhere: The New York Times (VP and Chief of Ops for their global digital team), working with big orgs like McKinsey, Purpose, East Village Radio, the UN, and even co-founding Peers.org, which was all about representing folks in the sharing economy, working closely with Airbnb founders, no less.

What’s wild is his process from physics to startups. He got a PhD in experimental physics from Cornell, published in all the top journals, PNAS, Science, Nature, and even studied econ under Kaushik Basu. Basically, he’s got the brainpower of a scientist but uses it to build stuff that actually moves the world. That’s rare. He’s also an affiliate at Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center and Princeton’s Kahneman Center, which shows he’s still deep in the research game, always pushing boundaries.

But here’s the kicker: he founded Swayable, which is all about measuring the impact of content on persuasion. Think about it, major brands, political campaigns, foundations, using data to actually understand what works, not just guessing. It’s backed by YC and Sequoia, and it’s a public benefit corporation, so he’s not just chasing profit, he cares about social impact too.

What does that tell you about him? This dude’s all about blending science, tech, and social good. He’s not just building for the sake of it; he’s in it to change how we understand influence and power in the digital age. His track record shows he’s motivated by solving real problems, whether that’s fighting war, pushing social change, or just making data more meaningful.

He’s also been recognized as one of the top creatives changing the world by Origin Magazine and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Plus, he’s on the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Information Integrity, so the dude’s got his finger on the pulse of the biggest issues out there.

Bottom line? James Slezak is this rare combo of scientist, social innovator, and entrepreneur who’s always jumping into new stuff, learning fast, and then turning that knowledge into tools that actually matter. He’s not just talking, he’s out here reshaping how we measure influence and build a better future. That’s why he’s so damn important.