Ben Parr
About Ben Parr
Ben Parr is the Co-Founder and President of Octane AI, a Developer Champion at Shopify, and an advisor to multiple companies, with a background in AI, ecommerce, and personalized marketing strategies.
Company
Ben Parr is currently involved with multiple companies and initiatives. He serves as Co-Founder and President of Octane AI, a company that has garnered recognition, including being named Shopify's Best Storefront App in 2021. He is also a Developer Champion (Honorary) at Shopify. Additionally, Ben holds advisory roles at Aug X Labs and My World Chef. He is a limited partner at SuperLayer and Weekend Fund, and he sits on the board of directors of The Leila Janah Foundation, aiming to accelerate social enterprise in Africa and beyond. He is also a keynote speaker for Worldwide Speakers Group.
Title
Ben Parr holds several important titles across various organizations. He is the Co-Founder & President of Octane AI, a Developer Champion (Honorary) at Shopify, an Advisor at Aug X Labs and My World Chef, and a Limited Partner at SuperLayer and Weekend Fund. He is also a Board Member at The Leila Janah Foundation and has previously served important roles such as Chief Marketing Officer at Octane AI and Board Member at Sama.
Education and Expertise
Ben Parr studied at Northwestern University from 2004 to 2008, where he earned a B.A. in Science in Human Culture, Political Science, and Business Institutions Program (Minor). He is known for his expertise in AI and ecommerce, contributing to the development of AI-driven tools for ecommerce personalization. He has been instrumental in leveraging zero-party data and integrating AI with marketing strategies to enhance customer engagement.
Background
Ben Parr has a rich professional background, including being a former Co-Editor and Editor-at-Large at Mashable, where he wrote over 2,400 articles on technology, media, and startups. He was named one of the top 10 tech journalists in the world by Say Media and recognized as a 'Technology Industry Trendsetter, Luminary & Chronicler' by the Public Relations Society of America. He has served on the board of directors for Sama and has been an advisor to companies including Lufthansa, LeadIQ, Elanza Wellness, and Ustream (acquired by IBM).
Achievements
Ben Parr co-founded Octane AI in 2016, which achieved significant recognition when it was named Shopify's Best Storefront App in 2021. He authored 'Captivology: The Science of Capturing People's Attention,' featuring insights from notable figures like Sheryl Sandberg. In 2012, he was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Ben also educates the public on AI and its future through his newsletter The Social Analyst and his TikTok channel.