Alexis Madrigal: Why Startups Need To Solve Real Problems Again

Alexis Madrigal, speaking at this year's 99u Conference, thinks our modern entrepreneurial climate has a problem: we're not solving big problems anymore. The startup boom in the late 90s gave birth to revolutionary mobile devices. Now, the best we can do is Facebook.

Madrigal offers two solutions: stop the pervasiveness of "free" web apps and increase the diversity among founding teams. Fresh perspectives, he argues, will bring a new paradigm for startups -- and for creativity in general.

Antonio Ortiz

Antonio Ortiz has always been an autodidact with an eclectic array of interests. Fascinated with technology, advertising and culture he has forged a career that combines them all. In 1991 Antonio developed one of the very first websites to market the arts. It was text based, only available to computer scientists, and increased attendance to the Rutgers Arts Center where he had truly begun his professional career. Since then Antonio has been an early adopter and innovator merging technology and marketing with his passion for art, culture and entertainment. For a more in-depth look at those passions, visit SmarterCreativity.com.