Ted Dintersmith

Ted Dintersmith is an education advocate, author, filmmaker, and former venture capitalist who has dedicated more than 15 years to rethinking how American schools prepare students for the future. After earning a doctorate in engineering from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Arts with high honors in physics and English from the College of William and Mary, Dintersmith built a career in technology and finance. He served as a senior executive at Analog Devices before becoming a general partner at Charles River Ventures, where he spent more than two decades and was recognized by Business 2.0 as a top-performing venture capitalist in the United States. Dintersmith also served on the board of the National Venture Capital Association, chairing its public policy committee, and was appointed by the president to represent the United States at the United Nations General Assembly, focusing on global education and entrepreneurship.

Dintersmith's shift to education reform began when he identified a disconnect between what schools teach and what students need to thrive. His first major effort was organizing and funding "Most Likely to Succeed," a feature-length documentary directed by filmmaker Greg Whiteley. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and has been screened by more than 10,000 communities in approximately 35 countries, serving as a catalyst for conversations about transforming education. Dintersmith has also executive produced other films, including "The Hunting Ground," "College Behind Bars," "A Most Beautiful Thing," "The Bad Kids," and the documentary "Multiple Choice," which highlights innovative career and technical education in Winchester, Virginia.

In addition to his work in film, Dintersmith is an author. He co-wrote "Most Likely to Succeed: Preparing Our Kids for the Innovation Era" with Tony Wagner and followed it with "What School Could Be," an account of his journey to all 50 U.S. states during a single school year, visiting approximately 200 schools and holding about 1,000 meetings with governors, legislators, educators, parents, and students. His book "Aftermath: The Life-Changing Math That Schools Won't Teach You" challenges conventional math education and advocates for teaching mathematical thinking relevant in an age of artificial intelligence.

Dintersmith is the founder of What School Could Be, an online platform designed to empower educators and support student-led learning. A frequent keynote speaker at major conferences, including state superintendent meetings and a plenary session of the Finnish parliament, Dintersmith draws on real-world examples to articulate a vision for education that prioritizes purpose, agency, and deep knowledge over standardized testing. His experience in venture capital, technology, public policy, and grassroots education advocacy informs his perspective on education innovation and reform.