Five minutes, 20 slides. What would you say?
At every Ignite, 16 artists, technologists, thinkers, and personalities take the stage to answer this challenge. Our goal is to spark new conversations and collaborations across cultures and disciplines.
Be a part of something bigger
Ignite was started in Seattle in 2006 by Brady Forrest and Bre Pettis. Since then hundreds of 5-minute talks have been given across the world. There are thriving Ignite communities in Seattle, Baltimore, Portland, Paris, and now, right here in San Francisco!
Ignite SF Organizers
Patti Chan
Patti Chan is an entrepreneur, maker of websites, and lover of food. She's a recent transplant from the East Coast, where she co-founded a guide to local restaurant deals and taught Interaction Design. She also co-founded Ignite Baltimore, growing it from a 75-person event in a beloved dive bar to one attended by over 400 people in a world-class art museum. When she's not managing interactive projects at Intridea, Patti can be found wandering the Mission and relaxing around her sunny Castro home.
Jon Bishop
A connoisseur of fine beer, an enthusiast of steep ski runs and an aficionado of innovative tech, Jon is passionate about many things. After growing up in Southern California, Jon moved to San Francisco in search of a stronger tech culture and he has not been disappointed. During the week, you'll find him working with various clients on marketing and, once a month, hosting a beer tasting with Patti.
Dan O'Neill
Like Jon, Dan grew up in Southern California, yet inexplicably failed to learn to surf properly. After the college years, he abandoned the left coast and bounced around New York, Washington and the sprawling megalopolis that is São Paulo, Brazil, before landing in Philadelphia for a brief stint, where he got hooked on the Ignite concept. Now back in the land of milk and honey (California), Dan is soaking up SF, while remaining an unabashed bookworm, and spending weekends on his bike or exploring his Hayes Valley 'hood.
Volunteers
Our Ignites run smoothly because we know we can rely on great volunteers before, during, and after each event. Here are a few of the ingredients that make a successful Ignite:
- Social media, blogging, and promotion
- Fundraising and catering
- Live tweeting
- Event and registration, setup
Interested in getting involved? We'd love to meet you. Email us at volunteer@ignitesanfrancisco.com!
Rules of Ignite
Ignite speakers run the gamut from best-selling authors and millionaire entrepreneurs to thirteen-year old activists and unemployed writers - and everything in between. Sometimes they don't speak at all, letting a performance speak for itself. There are no rules when it comes to WHO speaks at Ignite, just what you do when you get there:
- Speakers get 20 slides. No more. No less.
- Each slide automatically advances after 15 seconds. No we cannot change this for you.
- No pitches. This is NOT a product demo.
We'd love to have you speak at our next Ignite. Submit your proposal here.