Christopher Isaac Stone co-founded Twitter in 2006, securing a patent for the invention alongside Jack Dorsey. His career, spanning decades in the technology sector, includes roles as an angel investor, creative director, and software developer. Stone remains an active figure in the startup ecosystem, contributing to multiple nonprofit boards and advocacy organizations throughout the United States.
Early Education and Career Beginnings
Born in 1974 in San Francisco, Stone attended Wellesley High School in Massachusetts. He later enrolled at Northeastern University and the University of Massachusetts Boston but did not complete a degree at either institution. His early professional experience included working at Little, Brown and Company, where he eventually transitioned into a role as a book cover designer.
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Stone served as creative director at Xanga from 1999 to 2001. Following a brief tenure at Wellesley College, he joined the Google team dedicated to Blogger, holding a senior leadership role there between 2003 and 2005. In 2006, he co-founded Twitter, an enterprise he remained with until 2011. He returned to the company for a second stint between 2017 and 2021. In 2014, he launched the visual search engine Jelly, serving as CEO until Pinterest acquired the company in 2017.
Investment and Advisory Portfolio
Beyond his founding roles, Stone maintains an extensive portfolio as an angel investor and advisor. His involvement includes backing companies such as Square, Slack, Medium, Nest, Beyond Meat, Pinterest, Intercom, and Faraday. He also serves as a board director for entities including Medium, Beyond Meat, Polaroid Swing, Workpop, and Jelly Industries, and acts as Chairman of Polaroid Swing. In 2024, he joined the board of directors for the US nonprofit entity associated with the social network Mastodon.
Creative Work and Public Recognition
Stone has authored three books: Blogging: Genius Strategies for Instant Web Content, Who Let The Blogs Out?, and Things A Little Bird Told Me. His creative output extends to film, having directed the 2012 project Evermore with Ron Howard and Canon USA. He served as an executive producer for the documentary Eating Animals. Honors bestowed upon him include the International Center for Journalists Innovation Award, an Innovation Award from The Economist, and recognition as Nerd of the Year by GQ. Babson College awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 2011.
Fast facts
- Born: 1974, San Francisco
- Education: Wellesley High School
- Twitter Tenure: 2006–2011, 2017–2021
- Notable Book: Things A Little Bird Told Me
- Key Role: Chairman of Polaroid Swing
- Professional Recognition: Inc. magazine Entrepreneur of the Decade
Questions readers ask
Did Biz Stone graduate from college?
No, Stone attended Northeastern University and the University of Massachusetts Boston but did not graduate from either institution.
What is the Biz and Livia Stone Foundation?
Founded by Stone and his wife, Livia, this organization supports education and conservation efforts in California.
Achievements
- Educated at Northeastern University, Wellesley High School and University of Massachusetts Boston
- Worked as creative director, businessperson and blogger
