Benjamin Shestakofsky

Benjamin Shestakofsky is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Cornell University, affiliated with the Department of Information Science. He previously held an Assistant Professor position at the University of Pennsylvania’s Sociology Department. His research examines the intersection of work, technology, organizations, and political economy in the AI era, with a focus on venture capital’s influence on innovation and inequality. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from UC Berkeley.

His book Behind the Startup: How Venture Capital Shapes Work, Innovation, and Inequality (University of California Press) investigates how venture capital’s demand for rapid growth reshapes labor practices and distributes benefits/costs unevenly. His work has been published in journals like Socio-Economic Review, Theory and Society, and Work and Occupations, and has been featured in media outlets such as the New York Times and National Public Radio.

Awarded three major ASA prizes, Shestakakofsky’s research is supported by institutions including the Russell Sage Foundation and the W.E. Upjohn Institute. His grants focus on labor dynamics in tech-driven economies and financialization of innovation.