Ashlee Vance

Ashlee Vance is an American author and journalist, best known for his work covering technology and entrepreneurship. He is the author of books such as Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future and The New New Thing: A Silicon Valley Story. He is credited for popularizing the work of entrepreneurs Elon Musk and others to the wider public.

Vance was born in Texas and grew up in California. He attended San Jose State University, and then later Pepperdine University where he studied Theater Arts and Communication. In later years, Vance worked various jobs in marketing and sales as well as a technical author and copywriter. As a side-gig, he wrote articles for newspapers, magazines and websites on the side.

Vance's work as a journalist and author was inspired by an ever increasing interest in the explosive advances in technology and the business of technology. He was particularly drawn to entrepreneurs like Elon Musk who were disrupting traditional businesses with new ideas and unconventional methods. In 2004, Vance got a career break when he was commissioned to write an article on Musk's SpaceX venture into space exploration. From this, he developed a book covering the life and work of the Silicon Valley entrepreneur.

Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future was published in 2015 and became an instant success. The book provides an in-depth look at the work and life of one of the most important and influential figures in technology of the 21st century. Vance worked closely with Musk over an 18-month period to produce the book, and as a result was able to provide insight into a range of areas such as Musk's childhood and schooling, his ambitious projects, and his personal relationships.

Vance has since gone on to write other books, such as The New New Thing: A Silicon Valley Story, which profiles Netscape co-founder Jim Clark and his journey to becoming one of the richest people in the world. He has also published biographies on prominent figures such as venture capitalist Richard Branson, and Hiroshi Yamauchi, former president of Nintendo.

In addition to books, Vance also writes for publications such as Bloomberg Businessweek and The New York Times. He is also a popular speaker on topics such as business, technology and innovation, and has spoken at conferences including TechCrunch Disrupt and South by Southwest.

As well as his work as a writer and speaker, Vance has also been active in other areas, including founding the blog LLC Journal, serving as an advisor for various startups, and launching the Ashlee Vance Enterprise Fellowship Program.

Ashlee Vance is one of the most influential authors and journalists of the 21st century. His books have provided an interesting and in-depth look at the people and businesses that are revolutionising the tech industry. He has provided invaluable insight into the fascinating world of technology and entrepreneurship, inspiring countless readers with his work.