Reed Hastings

Reed Hastings is an American entrepreneur and philanthropist who, along with Marc Randolph, co-founded the media-services provider Netflix. This revolutionary streaming media platform changed the way people consume television and movies, triggering a shift away from traditional television viewership. It has become the preeminent source for streaming visual entertainment, with an unmatched library of content available to subscribers. By providing an easy and convenient way to access movies and TV shows on demand, Hastings has revolutionized the entertainment industry.

Hastings was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1960. After graduating from high school, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he attained the rank of lieutenant before serving three years in the Peace Corps. He studied mathematics and computer science at Stanford University and graduated in 1988.

Hastings first became a successful entrepreneur in the late 1990s when he co-founded the software company Pure Software, which provided debugging tools for software engineers. He then co-founded the online training and education website distributed instruction.com in 1997, which was acquired by competitor SmartForce PLC in 1999.

In 1997, Hastings and Randolph created Netflix with the goal of providing an alternative to traditional rental DVD stores. Their business model involved mail-order DVD rentals and streaming on-demand videos. Netflix revolutionized the entertainment industry by providing subscribers with access to an incredible library of movies and TV shows, which can be accessed on virtually any device with an internet connection.

Since its launch, Netflix has seen tremendous growth and success. It now has millions of subscribers in over 190 countries. Netflix has used its enormous popularity to produce critically acclaimed original content such as the television series “Stranger Things” and the movie “Bird Box”, achieving worldwide success.

Not stopping with Netflix, Hastings has since invested in numerous other businesses, such as the education technology company DreamBox Learning, the cloud computing company OpenStack, and the reading platform shortform. Reed has also served on the board of directors for numerous companies, including Microsoft, Facebook, and DreamWorks Animation.

Reed Hastings’ incredible business acumen and visionary insight have made Netflix an indispensable entertainment platform and a household name. He has received numerous awards, including being named to the TIME 100 most influential people list and receiving the 2017 Entrepreneur of the Year Award from Ernst & Young. He is a passionate philanthropist, having donated millions of dollars to educational institutions such as the California Institute of Technology and the KIPP Foundation.

Considered to be a brilliant business strategist, Hastings will undoubtedly continue to have a major impact on the entertainment industry for years to come. Reed Hastings is a brilliant innovator and thought leader who has revolutionized the way we consume entertainment.