Co-founder of Block, formerly Square, Former Chair of the St. Louis Fed, and Professional Glass Artist
Jim McKelvey: Biography at a Glance
- Jim McKelvey co-founded Square, now known as Block, which revolutionized mobile payments and expanded to offer comprehensive business-management tools.
- In addition to co-founding Square, Jim founded LaunchCode, a nonprofit providing free programming education, helping thousands secure tech jobs in under six months.
- He is the author of The Innovation Stack and multiple other works, including textbooks and a guide on glassblowing, a field where he is a master artist with work featured in MoMA and the Smithsonian.
- Jim has served on the board of the St. Louis Federal Reserve, led corporate transformations at Emerson Electric, and is currently involved in innovative projects like plastic-free diapers and digital identity management.
- Along with his entrepreneurial ventures, Jim is passionate about glassblowing and speaks to share his insights on innovation, tailoring his talks to suit diverse audiences.
Videos
Biography
There’s a good chance you’ve encountered a Square device, especially if you’ve recently visited a food truck or small business. The small piece of plastic that allows merchants to accept credit cards on their smartphones has become ubiquitous across the U.S. and recently expanded into Australia, offering a comprehensive suite of business-management tools. Co-founded by Jim McKelvey and Jack Dorsey (also known for co-founding Twitter), the company now employs over 2,500 people and has a market value exceeding $30 billion.
Since co-founding Square—now Block—and witnessing its valuation surge to over $100 billion, Jim McKelvey has continued his mission to drive innovation. He founded LaunchCode, a nonprofit organization that offers accessible programming education and enables individuals to secure full-time tech jobs in under six months. Now in its second decade, LaunchCode has helped thousands of graduates, all free of charge.
Jim is also the author of several books, including The Innovation Stack, which outlines how world-changing companies are built on a foundation of innovative, competition-proof strategies. His other works include two textbooks on computer programming and The Art of Fire, the leading guide on glassblowing, a field in which he is considered a master artist. His work in industrial design is featured in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City and the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. Jim also operates Third Degree Glass Factory, one of the largest centers for glassblowing arts in the United States, located in St. Louis.
In addition to his entrepreneurial endeavors, Jim has served six years on the board of the St. Louis Federal Reserve, where he was involved in recruiting its new President. He currently serves on the board of Emerson Electric, guiding them through a corporate transformation. His latest projects include helping individuals take control of their digital identities, developing the world’s first plastic-free disposable diaper, and working to streamline the FDA drug approval process.
Though widely recognized for co-founding Square, Jim is equally passionate about his work as a glass artist and his commitment to solving difficult, often overlooked challenges. He enjoys speaking because it allows him to share his insights on complex topics, and he tailors his talks to meet the unique needs of each audience.
Topics
The Innovation Stack: Building an Unbeatable Business One Crazy Idea at a Time
Just as Square was taking off, Amazon launched a similar product, marketed it aggressively, and undercut Square on price. For most ordinary startups, this would have spelled the end. Instead, less than a year later, Amazon was in retreat and soon discontinued its service. How did Square beat the most dangerous company on the planet?
Square co-founder Jim McKelvey reveals the strategy that led to the company’s success: the Innovation Stack.
McKelvey's fascinating and humorous stories of Square's early days are blended with historical examples of other world-changing companies built on the Innovation Stack to reveal a pattern of ground-breaking, competition-proof entrepreneurship that is rare but repeatable.
The Innovation Stack is a thrilling business narrative that's much bigger than the story of Square. It is an irreverent look inside the world of entrepreneurship, and a call to action for all of us to find the entrepreneur within ourselves and identify and fix unsolved problems--one crazy idea at a time.
Customer-Driven Innovation
The Outdated Ritual of Asking for Permission
What’s stopping you from doing what you would like to do? We no longer need to ask anybody permission to do anything. The tools that exist today thanks to the Internet allow you to get started by ourselves and to learn as we go along, at our own pace.
The Role of Focus in Solving a Problem
Jim noticed a very talented artist who was living in his beat up car and wondered why. He was a talented artist who could be getting paid well for his work. Why wasn’t he? Jim realized the artist had no access to the systems that paid him. As he built Square, Jim always kept this one artist in mind and thought about how he was solving this one artist’s problem.
Go Build Something
Getting out there and trying to build is one of the best ways to get started on learning technology skills. You don’t have to quit your job. See if your employer has time set aside for personal learning. Join a hack-a-thon and start tinkering. Just try building something.
People also viewed these speakers.
FAQs
How do I book Jim McKelvey for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Jim McKelvey to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
Quick booking process- Email CAA Speakers with event details
- Get availability confirmation within 24 hours
- Review speaking fee and contract terms
- Sign agreement and finalize logistics
As one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, CAA handles all speaking engagements from contract to event day coordination.
Who is Jim McKelvey's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Jim McKelvey’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Jim McKelvey in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact Jim McKelvey's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check Jim McKelvey's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Jim McKelvey, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is Jim McKelvey's speaking fee?
Jim McKelvey's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Jim McKelvey's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
- Travel distance and logistics
- Presentation length and customization
- Virtual vs. in-person delivery
Additional costs: Travel, accommodation, A/V requirements, and optional meet-and-greets.
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for Jim McKelvey's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book Jim McKelvey as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book Jim McKelvey as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- Jim McKelvey's keynote speaking fee
- Travel and accommodation
- Technical requirements and A/V setup
- Optional add-ons like book signing and meet & greets
- Virtual presentations
- Local/regional events
- Off-peak booking periods
- Flexible event dates
Email speakers@caa.com for Jim McKelvey's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.
How to contact Jim McKelvey for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Jim McKelvey speaking engagements.
Official contact for Jim McKelvey bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/jim-mckelvey
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Jim McKelvey.
Is Jim McKelvey available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, Jim McKelvey speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
Jim McKelvey's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
- Interactive workshops and breakouts
- Hybrid events (in-person + virtual)
- Pre-recorded presentations
Virtual events offer global reach, flexible scheduling, and reduced travel costs while maintaining Jim McKelvey's engaging presentation quality.
Contact CAA Speakers for Jim McKelvey's virtual event availability and technical specifications.
What events can I book Jim McKelvey for?
Book Jim McKelvey for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. Jim McKelvey customizes content for any audience size or event type.
Event types:- Corporate meetings and conferences
- Industry summits and trade shows
- Private executive retreats
- Educational institution events
- Virtual and hybrid conferences
Jim McKelvey engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how Jim McKelvey can customize their presentation for your specific event.
Jim McKelvey booking information and availability
Check Jim McKelvey's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure Jim McKelvey for your preferred event date.
Book Jim McKelvey keynote speaker through CAA
Book Jim McKelvey through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for Jim McKelvey, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
CAA booking advantages:- Direct access to Jim McKelvey's calendar
- 24-hour availability confirmations
- Professional contract negotiation
- Full logistics coordination
- Industry-leading client service
Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for their most important speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com to book Jim McKelvey for your next event.
Will Jim McKelvey speak at private events?
Yes, Jim McKelvey speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
Private event types:- Executive retreats and board presentations
- Client entertainment and VIP gatherings
- Corporate celebrations and award ceremonies
- Private dinners and exclusive functions
Private event benefits: Customized content, enhanced interaction, complete confidentiality, and flexible scheduling.
Contact CAA Speakers for Jim McKelvey's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking Jim McKelvey?
CAA Speakers responds to Jim McKelvey booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book Jim McKelvey?
Book Jim McKelvey 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get Jim McKelvey pricing information?
Get Jim McKelvey pricing information by contacting CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com with your event details. Receive detailed cost breakdown within 24-48 hours with no obligation to book.
For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
- Audience size and type
- Event format and duration
- Budget parameters
CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.