Ben Huh Speaking Fee: $10,000 to $20,000

Ben Huh's journey from a journalism graduate to a pioneering internet entrepreneur is a testament to resilience and innovation. Born in Seoul, South Korea, he moved to the United States, where he attended Cordova High School in Rancho Cordova, California. In 1999, he graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in journalism, a notable achievement given that English was not his first language. Reflecting on this, Huh remarked, "I got a degree in a language I didn't speak because I felt something in the power of media that attracted me." After college, Huh ventured into the tech startup world, founding a web analytics company. Despite his dedication, the company folded after 18 months, leaving him broke and disheartened. At 23, he faced a period of deep depression, even contemplating suicide. However, he emerged from this challenging time with renewed determination, taking on various roles over the next six years to rebuild his career. In 2007, Huh's path took a pivotal turn when he acquired I Can Has Cheezburger?, a website featuring humorous images of cats with misspelled captions known as "LOLCats." Recognizing the site's potential, he transformed it into the Cheezburger Network, expanding to include other popular sites like FAIL Blog and Know Your Meme. Under his leadership, the network became a cultural phenomenon, attracting millions of visitors and bringing internet memes into the mainstream. Beyond Cheezburger, Huh co-founded Circa in 2012, an innovative news app aimed at reimagining how people consume journalism in the digital age. His contributions to the tech and media industries have been widely recognized. In 2011, he received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and in 2012, he was named one of Newsweek's "100 Most Influential Digital Disrupters." Today, Ben Huh is a sought-after speaker, sharing insights on entrepreneurship, innovation, and the evolving landscape of internet culture. His story serves as an inspiring example of perseverance, creativity, and the ability to adapt in an ever-changing digital world.