معرفی
Thomas Byers is the Entrepreneurship Professor in the School of Engineering at Stanford University, holding an endowed chair since 2013. As a Professor (Teaching) in Management Science and Engineering, he focuses on principled entrepreneurship and responsible technology innovation. He has been the Faculty Director of the Stanford Technology Ventures Program (STVP) since its inception in 1995, leading initiatives like the Mayfield Fellows Program and the Hacking for Defense & Climate projects. He is a Bass University Fellow in Undergraduate Education and has advised national security and sustainability-focused entrepreneurship. Byers has authored leading textbooks, including the 5th edition of Technology Ventures: From Idea to Enterprise.
Education:
- BS in Industrial Engineering & Operations Research, UC Berkeley (1975)
- MBA and PhD in Business Administration (Management Science), UC Berkeley (1980, 1982)
Research: His work emphasizes applied ethics in technology, global entrepreneurship education, and bridging innovation with societal challenges. Projects include the PEAK initiative for ethical entrepreneurial action and the NSF-funded Epicenter program to promote engineering innovation education. He collaborates with institutions like the Council on Foreign Relations and Menlo College's Board of Trustees.
Publications & Recognition: Byers has received the Gordon Prize (2009) and Stanford’s Gores Award (2005). His articles address themes like entrepreneurship education, tech ethics, and innovation ecosystems. Recent works include Disciplined Entrepreneurship: 24 Steps to a Successful Startup (2024) and studies on lean startup methodologies (2019).
Advising & Leadership: He mentors students through programs like the Hacking for Defense course and advises on Stanford’s ethics-focused initiatives. He has supervised doctoral researchers such as Philipp Reineke and leads master’s advisees including Baani Leen Kaur Jolly. His grants include ONR-funded Hacking for Defense (since 2017) and NSF’s Epicenter (2011–2017).
Labs & Teams: Byers directs the Hacking for Defense project at Stanford’s Precourt Institute for Energy and collaborates with Prof. Sheri Sheppard on applied ethics research. His courses include Leadership of Technology Ventures and Entrepreneurial Leadership, emphasizing ethics and real-world problem-solving.
