Peter Thum

Social Impact Entrepreneur & Humanitarian; CEO & Co-Founder of Media Brand Superintelligence;; Founder & CEO of Liberty United & Fonderie 47; Founder of Ethos Water

Manhattan, NY, USA
Live Event: $30,000 - $50,000 Virtual Event: $20,000 - $30,000 More Fee Info
Business, Business Leadership, Climate Change, College, Conservation, Creativity, Economy, Energy, Entrepreneurship, Environment, Environmental Science, Executive Leadership, Finance, Innovation, Leadership, Science, Sustainability, TED
Read More +
REQUEST BOOKING INFORMATION

Peter Thum Biography

Peter Thum is an entrepreneur, business executive, and humanitarian recognized for building innovative businesses that address some of the world's most pressing social challenges. Through his work, he has demonstrated how entrepreneurial thinking, commercial enterprise, and social purpose can come together to create meaningful and measurable impact.

Thum first gained national recognition as the founder and president of Ethos Water, a socially conscious bottled water company he launched after witnessing the lack of access to clean drinking water in communities in South Africa. Founded on the idea that consumer purchases could help fund solutions to global water challenges, Ethos directed a portion of its proceeds toward clean-water initiatives around the world. Starbucks acquired the company in 2005, and the venture ultimately helped bring clean water and sanitation to hundreds of thousands of people.

Following Ethos, Thum founded Giving Water, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene education for children in developing countries. Its programs have helped more than 6,000 schoolchildren in Africa.

His subsequent work turned to the global proliferation of illegal firearms and the impact of gun violence. Thum founded Fonderie 47, a social enterprise that transforms decommissioned AK-47 assault rifles from African conflict zones into luxury jewelry, watches, and works of art. Proceeds support efforts to remove and destroy weapons in regions affected by armed conflict. He also founded Liberty United, which transforms illegal firearms recovered in American communities into jewelry and other objects, with proceeds supporting programs designed to reduce gun violence and create safer opportunities for children and families.

More recently, Thum has moved into digital technology and artificial intelligence. He co-founded Muse, an AI-powered website-building and collaboration platform that seeks to make digital creation more accessible and intuitive. His latest venture is Superintelligence, n AI-focused media and information platform, where he serves as CEO and co-founder.

Before becoming an entrepreneur, Thum worked for McKinsey & Company and Ernest & Julio Gallo Winery. He also served as a vice president of Starbucks, overseeing Ethos and other business operations, and contributed to the company's philanthropic initiatives through the Starbucks Foundation.

A graduate of Claremont McKenna College, where he earned a degree in government, Thum also holds an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. He has served on the boards of several nonprofit and human rights organizations and is a frequent speaker on social entrepreneurship, corporate responsibility, innovation, and the intersection of business and social impact.

Across his ventures, Peter Thum has pursued a distinctive approach to social change: taking seemingly intractable problems and developing creative, market-driven solutions that turn awareness into action.

Read more +

BOOK Peter Thum

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 11/03/2026.

Peter Thum Speaking Topics

  • The Imperative to Reduce Gun Violence

    Peter Thum discusses his work since 2009 to reduce the impact of assault rifles in Africa and to reduce gun violence in the U.S.A. He tells the story of starting the brands Fonderie 47 and Liberty United, which transform illegal guns and bullets into high end jewelry, watches and other accessories. His companies, which have funded the removal and destruction of over 34,000 assault rifles in Africa and fund not for profits working to reduce gun violence in American communities.

  • The Ethos Water Story: The Keys Behind Successful Social Entrepreneurialism

    Countries all over the world are experiencing a water crisis. Millions of people in developing countries lack clean and safe drinking water. As the founder of Ethos™ Water, Peter Thum turned his idea of getting clean water to children into a successful social venture that has changed an industry, generated millions of dollars and changed lives. Thum talks through his eight-year odyssey starting in the townships of South Africa, to brokering an acquisition by Starbucks, and finally running Ethos today as an international brand and social movement. Thum’s story is one of passion, perseverance and success. His story motivates people to dream big and turn thoughts into action. He takes audiences on a tour of the world and shares the importance of addressing the world water crisis, how to build a brand from the ground up and the personal upside of working toward the common good.

Read More +

Peter Thum Videos

How Ethos Turned The Bottled Water Industry On It's Head

How Ethos Turned The Bottled Water Industry On It's Head

Peter Thum: From Startup To Selling To Starbucks

Peter Thum: From Startup To Selling To Starbucks

See All Videos »

Algebraic Multigrid for the Multi-Ion Transport and Reaction Model - A Physics-Aware Approach
Algebraic Multigrid for the Multi-Ion Transport and Reaction Model - A Physics-Aware Approach

  • How do I book Peter Thum to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Peter Thum for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Peter Thum, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Peter Thum or any other speaker of your choice.

  • What are the speaker fees for Peter Thum

    Speaking fees for Peter Thum, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Peter Thum are $30,000 - $50,000 for live events and $20,000 - $30,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Peter Thum, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

  • What topics does Peter Thum speak about?

    Peter Thum is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Business, Business Leadership, Climate Change, College, Conservation, Creativity, Economy, Energy, Entrepreneurship, Environment, Environmental Science, Executive Leadership, Finance, Innovation, Leadership, Science, Sustainability, TED

  • Where does Peter Thum travel from?

    Peter Thum generally travels from Manhattan, NY, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

  • Who is Peter Thum’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Peter Thum for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Peter Thum for your next private or corporate function.

  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Peter Thum or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Peter Thum is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as The Imperative to Reduce Gun Violence , The Ethos Water Story: The Keys Behind Successful Social Entrepreneurialism and Leading Forward: The Role of Social Responsibility in the Corporate World. The estimated speaking fee range to book Peter Thum for your event is $30,000 - $50,000. Peter Thum generally travels from Manhattan, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Robin Chase, Peter Diamandis, Sarah Kauss, Jasmine Crowe-Houston and Peter Guber. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Peter Thum for an upcoming live or virtual event.

BOOK Peter Thum

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.
Please Select Event Budget
Please enter your message
Please Enter Your Name
Please Enter Your Email

  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

Need Quick Answers?

We are happy to help! Call us to speak with a booking agent about your event or specific speaker request.

1.800.698.2536

Our celebrity booking agents can:

  • Gauge interest and check availability for speaking engagements, appearances or corporate events

  • Provide you with the speaking fee to book Peter Thum or other celebrity appearance fees

  • Give you personal recommendations for the best keynote speakers or celebrities

  • Assist you with any questions you have throughout the talent booking process

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

1.800.698.2536
Contact Us

TOP