Michael Skok

Brainstormer, Business leader, Business mentor, Connector, Educator/Teacher, Entrepreneur, Explorer, Foodie, Investor, Marketer, Parent, Photographer, Technologist, World traveler

After 21 years as a software entrepreneur and a further 21 years as a VC, Michael has become a passionate learner from, mentor to and investor in tech entrepreneurs and innovators. His Startup Secrets videos have garnered over 10 million views on YouTube. Since starting his first business as a teen, Michael has founded businesses, as well as initiated ventures with, seeded and invested in many great entrepreneurs who have built billions of dollars of value and created thousands of jobs. He has served on dozens of boards, both private, public and not for profit, serving entrepreneurs and innovators across decades of innovation in several domains. Most recent investments cover AI, Open Source, Cloud, Web 3 and addressing applications such as the future of R&D to the reinvention of commerce. As an investor, he tackled the lack of alignment between investors and entrepreneurs, founding Underscore.VC, based on a "listening tour" to hear from over 300 founders and entrepreneurs what they needed. The result was that Underscore.VC brought together an aligned community of 2,000 entrepreneurs and business builders (The Underscore Core Community), to help founders create enduring companies. Underscore rewards these Core members with 10% of their profits as they provide founders with the experience, skills and domain expertise they need at each stage of their journey. Core members have earned millions of dollars and already helped Underscore founders create billions of dollars of value. Alongside this aligned community Underscore brings funds backed by the world's leading educational, health and philanthropic institutions, foundations and family offices. This is creating a virtuous cycle of rewarding and impactful outcomes. Although Michael retired following a brain tumor, his passion for innovation and entrepreneurship continues to fueling his volunteer work teaching and mentoring and continually learning from the next generation of entrepreneurs. As an Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School, he is currently developing and leading workshops such as the globally popular "Startup Secrets" series with the Harvard innovation Lab and building the Foundry AI platform with Harvard Business School. Michael is married with a daughter and an extended family of seven siblings, 22 nephews and nieces and several more grand nephews and nieces scattered across the world. MIchael loves physical activities such as kite surfing and skiing, as much as hobbies such as photography and amateur film making. Instagram follow https://www.instagram.com/mjskok/

Enabling people to discover their full potential through experiential learning. In my mentorship I love investing in brave innovators who challenge existing problems and bold entrepreneurs who bring impactful solutions to life.

Everything is possible in our future if we learn from the past, shred preconceptions, and reimagine our potential—not as individuals, but as a collective humanity.

Business Building, Entreprendeurship, Mentorship, Venture Capital Investing

TED is a learning journey for me, connecting with new people and opening my mind to new possiblities.

Embracing failure and learning to grow stronger from it. I aim to help others find the confidence to try anything, leveraging their learnings to innovate and achieve breakthroughs. Personally, I'm never convinced I’m good at anything, which is why I have a passion for continuous learning