Alain Sylvain

Alain Sylvain is the Founder and CEO of Sylvain Labs, a strategy and design consultancy that provokes progress for companies, people, and society at large. Clients include Google, American Express, Airbnb, Spotify, BlackRock, Waze, the WNBA, Samsung, Pepsico, Diageo, Hilton, AB InBev, IKEA, GM, Sonos, and the NBA. Founded in 2010, the company is headquartered in NYC, with offices in Amsterdam and Richmond, VA, and is a Certified B-Corporation.

Alain is a partner and investor in several ventures, including Master + Dynamic, a design-driven, premium audio brand, So Choice Softworks, a mobile gaming company, Lilo, an açai bowl company, and PetMio, a smart pet food startup. He serves on the board of Plus Pool, an ambitious project aiming to build the world’s first floating, filtering swimming pool in NYC harbor. Sylvain is a founding member of Kindred and a member of the New York City Mayor’s Creative Council. His commitment to social impact extends to his contributions to various non-profit initiatives, including the Lower East Side Girls Club, The Bowery Mission, and Anseye Pou Haiti.

As a seasoned speaker, Alain Sylvain has shared his insights at prominent events such as the Collision Conference, Fast Company Innovation Festival, The Atlantic’s Power of Purpose, The Next Web, and the 99U Conference. His discussions often challenge prevailing business norms and encourage embracing new perspectives, such as viewing "The Other" as a source of innovation. Sylvain addresses critical topics including the evolving role of brands in society, the overuse of the term "innovation," and the exploitation of "purpose" for profit. His approach not only provokes thought but also drives the discourse on how brands can meaningfully impact society, especially in times of crisis.