Lorenzo Thione

Lorenzo Thione is an expert in Artificial Intelligence, a public speaker, an advocate for inclusion, and passionate about the power of storytelling. His diverse achievements and contributions across multiple fields make him a unique and inspiring figure in both technology and the arts.

With a career as a distinguished expert and speaker at the intersection of AI and Technology, Art, and Social Advocacy and a profound background in Artificial Intelligence (AI), he has been an AI researcher and technologist at FXPal/Parc, and was a co-founder of Powerset, a pioneering AI company that developed one of the earliest AI-powered web search engines. Powerset was later acquired by Microsoft and became a part of the launch of Bing in 2009​.

Currently, he serves as the Managing Director of Gaingels, where he oversees the Artificial Intelligence investment practice. Gaingels is a leading LGBTQIA+/Allies investment syndicate and one of the most active private investors in North America. He is also a co-founding chairman of StartOut, both organizations dedicated to supporting and elevating LGBTQ+ leaders in the venture startup ecosystem​.

Beyond technology and venture capital, he is a celebrated storyteller and creative producer in the Theater. He is a four-times nominated and twice winner of the Tony Award for his work in producing on Broadway. His productions include "Hadestown," "The Inheritance," and "Allegiance," a musical he co-created and produced which starred George Takei and Lea Salonga. He continues to be involved in several theatre projects, including the upcoming musical Indigo, which he co-conceived, highlighting his expertise in creative producing and storytelling​.

He is also a serial entrepreneur, an active investor, and an advisor to numerous AI startups, leveraging his ongoing commitment to the AI field and to the technological and social revolution it is ushering. Thione's career, roles, and the numerous projects - both creative and philanthropic - he has taken part in highlight Thione's deep belief in the power of representation and inclusion in both business and the arts. As such, he was also recognized as one of the most influential LGBT people in tech in 2014 and 2018​.

He was born and raised in Milan, and completed his studies at the University of Texas at Austin, from which he holds an M.S in Computer Engineering.