Maëlle Gavet SPEAKER BIO: Maëlle Gavet is a dynamic and influential figure in the tech industry, known for her visionary leadership and ability to fast scale businesses. Born in France, Gavet’s career began with a flair for entrepreneurship and a passion for technology. An entrepreneur at heart she founded her first startup at the age of 16, then went on to launch 2 more. 

She quickly rose to prominence, holding CEO/COO roles at major companies such as Priceline Group (largest travel group worldwide including Booking, Kayak, Open Table), Compass (largest US residential brokerage and prop tech), Ozon (Russia’s largest e-commerce platform). As the CEO of Techstars (most active pre-seed investor worldwide), she was instrumental in investing in and empowering thousands of entrepreneurs around the globe, providing them with the resources and mentorship needed to succeed. 

In addition to her corporate achievements, she authored the WSJ bestseller book “Trampled by Unicorns: Big Tech’s Empathy Problem and How to Fix It,” highlighting her commitment to ethical tech practices. Gavet is celebrated for her strategic acumen and ability to drive innovation. 

She has been named one of the 100 Most Influential Women in US Finance by Barron’s, a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, one of Fortune’s 40 Under 40, one of the Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company and was fifth among Time Magazine’s List of the Top 25 ‘Female Techpreneurs’. With a career marked by relentless drive, visionary leadership, and a dedication to ethical innovation, Maëlle Gavet continues to shape the future of technology and inspire the next generation of leaders.