Bill Gross Speaking Fee: $30,000 to $50,000

Bill Gross has been a lifelong entrepreneur, beginning his journey in high school with a mail-order solar energy business. His passion for innovation continued at the California Institute of Technology, where he designed and sold high-end loudspeakers to fund his education. These early ventures laid the foundation for a career dedicated to technological advancement and creative problem-solving. After graduating, Gross founded GNP Development, Inc., creating "HAL," a natural language interface for Lotus 1-2-3. This success led to the company's acquisition by Lotus Development Corporation in 1985. In 1991, he established Knowledge Adventure, an educational software publisher known for titles like "JumpStart," which was later acquired by Havas/Vivendi. In 1996, Gross founded Idealab, one of the first technology incubators, aimed at nurturing innovative startups. Under his leadership, Idealab has launched over 150 companies, including notable successes like GoTo.com, which pioneered the pay-per-click advertising model, and eSolar, focusing on renewable energy solutions. Gross's commitment to sustainable technology led him to establish Heliogen, a company developing concentrated solar power systems capable of generating extreme heat for industrial processes. This innovation holds the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions in heavy industries. Throughout his career, Gross has shared his insights on entrepreneurship and innovation at global forums, including TED and the World Economic Forum. His dedication to fostering new ideas continues to inspire and influence the next generation of entrepreneurs.