Neal Jean

Neal Jean is the co-founder and CEO of Beacons, a platform designed to support content creators in managing their businesses more effectively. Under his leadership since June 2019, Beacons has developed tools that cater to the needs of over 4 million creators, including notable figures like Green Day and Sia. The company has received backing from prominent investors such as Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and Y Combinator, positioning it as a significant player in the creator economy.134

Educational Background

Neal has a strong academic background, having earned multiple degrees:

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Economics and Mathematics from Duke University (2006-2010, Summa Cum Laude)
• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology (2012-2014)
• Master of Science (M.S.) in Electrical Engineering (2014-2016) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Electrical Engineering (2014-2019) from Stanford University, where he focused on machine learning and applied deep learning research.12

Career Path

Before founding Beacons, Neal worked as a research intern at MIT Lincoln Laboratory and was involved in significant research projects during his Ph.D., including using satellite imagery to map poverty in Africa. His transition from academia to entrepreneurship was driven by a desire to create impactful tools for online entrepreneurs, particularly in the rapidly evolving creator economy.23

Neal's journey reflects a blend of technical expertise and entrepreneurial spirit, making him a notable figure in the tech and creator communities.