
Brian Brackeen Speaking Fee: $10,000 to $20,000

Speaking Fee:
$10,000 to $20,000
Travels From:
CVG - Cincinnati, OH
Travels From:
CVG - Cincinnati, OH
Primary Topic Category:
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) / Social Justice
Primary Topic Category:
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) / Social Justice
Secondary Topic Category:
Business & Entrepreneurship
Secondary Topic Category:
Business & Entrepreneurship
Brian Brackeen Speaker Profile: At A Glance
Brian Brackeen is a General Partner at Lightship Capital and a recognized leader in technology innovation and ethical, inclusive tech development. He has built a strong reputation as an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion within the tech industry. Brian combines deep technical expertise with a passion for creating equitable opportunities. His work bridges entrepreneurship and social impact, inspiring organizations to build more responsible technology. He is sought after as a keynote speaker for his insights on ethical innovation and inclusive leadership.
Brian Brackeen is a General Partner at Lightship Capital, a Cincinnati-based venture capital firm dedicated to supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs in the Midwest. At Lightship, he oversees fund operations, leads the AI development team, and serves on the investment committee. The firm focuses on sectors such as artificial intelligence, consumer packaged goods, sustainability, e-commerce, and healthcare, aiming to empower women, people of color, individuals with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Before his role at Lightship, Brian founded Kairos, a Miami-based face recognition technology company. Under his leadership, Kairos was recognized by the Wall Street Journal as one of the top 25 startups in the country and positioned alongside tech giants like Microsoft and Face++ as a leading provider in the industry. The company processed nearly a billion faces and raised over $15 million from investors. Brian was also an early advocate for eliminating racial bias in facial recognition datasets and took a strong stand against the government's use of facial recognition technology.
Prior to his entrepreneurial ventures, Brian gained experience at Apple Inc. as a Senior Project Manager and at IBM as a Senior Managing Consultant. These roles provided him with a solid foundation in technology and business strategy.
In addition to his work at Lightship, Brian is an active speaker and mentor. He lectures globally on topics such as entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the digital economy. He is involved with organizations like Girls Who Code, Black Girls Code, and The School District of Miami, and serves as an advisor to the University of Chicago Science Commercialization Center.
Brian's commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in the tech industry is evident in his work and advocacy. Through Lightship Capital, he continues to support and invest in underrepresented founders, aiming to create a more equitable and innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem.