Speaker

Ben Casnocha

Co-founder & General Partner, Village Global

Ben Casnocha is a Silicon Valley–based entrepreneur, investor, and New York Times bestselling author. He is the Co-Founder and General Partner of Village Global, a $500 million early-stage venture capital firm backed by leading founders including Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Bill Gates. Chaired by Reid Hoffman, Village Global pioneered a network-native approach to discovering and supporting early-stage founders.

Ben is the co-author of two New York Times bestsellers with Reid Hoffman. The Start-Up of You and The Alliance , which have become playbooks for entrepreneurial leadership and modern career building. He has appeared on CNN, CNBC, The CBS Early Show, and other outlets sharing insights on startups, networks, and talent.

At BRIDGE Summit, Ben Casnocha will share practical insights for building companies and careers that adapt fast, from leveraging relationships and scaling culture to applying AI and global networks to accelerate growth.

USA

Creator Economy

Tech

Ben Casnochaat BRIDGE

Media Panel 8 December 2:30 - 3:00PM

Are Investment Cycles Too Reactive?

As the media and information ecosystem evolves, funding patterns still swing sharply in response to elections, crises, and short-term shocks. Media often see capital surges around major events, followed by contractions once attention moves on. These cycles mirror the broader volatility of venture investment, where long-horizon innovation can be constrained by short-term sentiment. This session explores how public, private, philanthropic, and venture capital stakeholders can stabilize investment flows, build resilient institutions, and support long-term innovation across the media landscape instead of reacting only when disruption is already at the door.

Central Stage
Speakers
Moderator
- Suzanne Kianpour
  
  Founder, Helmet to Heels