James Ruben
About James Ruben
James Ruben is the Founder and CEO of Hellosaurus, a platform for interactive children's content, which he has led since 2019. He previously held key roles at HQ Trivia, Google, and Microsoft, and has a strong educational background with degrees from Harvard University and Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
Work at Hellosaurus
James Ruben serves as the Founder and CEO of Hellosaurus, a position he has held since 2019. Under his leadership, Hellosaurus has evolved from a one-person operation to a team of over 30 employees. He oversees all aspects of the company, including engineering, product development, design, marketing, content creation, operations, finance, and educational research. Ruben led the development of the Hellosaurus Creator Studio, which provides no-code interactive video creation tools for children's content creators. His efforts have positioned Hellosaurus as a pioneer in participatory entertainment and education.
Previous Experience
Before founding Hellosaurus, James Ruben held various positions in notable companies. He worked at HQ Trivia as Head of Product from 2017 to 2019. Prior to that, he was a Product Manager at Google for one year and an Investment Partner at Dorm Room Fund for one year. He also interned at Microsoft and Google in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Additionally, he served as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Highland Capital Partners in 2013 and taught at Maru-a-Pula School in Botswana in 2011.
Education and Expertise
James Ruben holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Computer Science from Harvard University, where he studied from 2012 to 2016. He is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration at Stanford University Graduate School of Business, expected to complete in 2024. Ruben also participated in Y Combinator's S20 batch, which further enhanced his entrepreneurial skills and network.
Achievements and Recognition
Ruben has received multiple awards for his work with Hellosaurus, including the 2022 Kidscreen Winner for 'Best Kids Streaming Service' and the 2021 Fast Company 'World Changing Idea.' He has been recognized by Forbes as 'Mister Rogers for the iPhone Generation' for his contributions to children's interactive media. Additionally, he has successfully raised millions in venture capital from prominent investors, including Y Combinator and General Catalyst.