Riley Crane

Riley Crane is a distinguished professional known for his inclusive, visionary, and inspirational leadership style, with a profound understanding of the convergence of science, technology, and society. Currently leading the Automation Engineering group at Square, he is instrumental in developing cutting-edge communication and data platforms driving automation, personalization, and machine learning across all Square products.

With a solid background in physics, Riley's expertise encompasses the exploration of large-scale datasets, human behavior patterns, and communication dynamics. His noteworthy achievements include winning the 2009 DARPA Network Challenge and conducting groundbreaking research on virality in online networks as an early data scientist.

Prior to his role at Square, Riley made significant contributions as a startup founder and CTO of TalkTo, a DARPA & VC-backed venture acquired by Path. Subsequently, he served as an Engineering Director at Path, leveraging his expertise at the nexus of Commerce, Messaging, and Automation. His academic journey includes a PhD in physics from UCLA and a B.S. in physics from The University of Texas at Austin.

An accomplished public speaker and consultant, Riley's influence extends beyond the tech realm, having collaborated with startups, businesses, government entities like the FBI, and even testified before the US Senate. His work has garnered recognition in esteemed publications such as The New York Times and New Scientist, as well as appearances on major media platforms like CNN and The Colbert Report.