Jim Fruchterman is a leading social entrepreneur and CEO of Benetech, a nonprofit technology company based in Silicon Valley. He is a former rocket scientist who develops technology to address unmet social needs.

Fruchterman founded Benetech in 1989 to produce reading machines for people who are blind. Since then, Benetech's work has grown to include multiple program areas and now develops technology for people with disabilities, as well as the human rights and environmental movements. In recognition of his work, Fruchterman has received numerous awards, including a MacArthur Fellowship and the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship. He believes that technology has the power to improve—even transform—the lives of people all across the world.