Chris Messina

Chris Messina has been at the forefront of social technology since 2004, playing a pivotal role in shaping the digital landscape. Known for his invention of the hashtag, a tool that revolutionized social media by enabling the organization of content and the formation of online movements, Messina has worn many hats throughout his career. As a product designer, developer advocate, community organizer, and open-source advocate, he has made significant contributions to companies like Google and Uber while also founding startups and creating social innovations like coworking and BarCamp.

In addition to his technological achievements, Messina is a sought-after speaker, having delivered talks at prestigious events such as TEDx, SXSW, and Google I/O. His insights have been featured in leading media outlets like The New York Times, TechCrunch, and Wired. Messina's influence extends beyond the tech world; he has made a cameo in Netflix’s "The Social Dilemma" and is referenced in notable books like "No Filter" by Sarah Frier and "Billion Dollar Loser" by Reeves Wiedeman.

Throughout his career, Messina has consistently been a catalyst for change, organizing grassroots movements like the campaign that propelled Mozilla Firefox to its first 100 million downloads and co-organizing the first BarCamp, which popularized the unconference event model globally. His work in launching the first coworking spaces has sparked a worldwide movement, further cementing his legacy as a pioneer in the tech community. Today, Messina continues to offer "product therapy" to founders and makers, helping them launch successful products and ideas.