Lyel Resner is an impact-driven founder, operator, and educator in New York City. He has over a decade of experience at the intersection of technology, education, and social impact. He is committed to fostering innovation that creates shared prosperity and prioritizes responsible technology.
His current work challenges traditional venture capital models and aims to drive capital towards startups prioritizing long-term societal value over exploitative growth. This initiative aims to create a new center of gravity in tech, where innovation aligns with equity, sustainability, and shared prosperity.
As Head of the Public Interest Technology Studio at Cornell Tech and a Visiting Faculty Fellow at MIT’s Civic Data Lab, Lyel has mentored thousands of students, championing ethical technology and sustainable innovation. Previously, as a co-founder of Swayable, he leveraged data science to advance advocacy and civic engagement, supporting campaigns for organizations like the Airbnb, the ACLU and the Biden-Harris campaign. His leadership at Flatiron School set the standard for socially responsible scaling in education, achieving national expansion and impactful partnerships with the White House and the City of New York to drive economic mobility.
As a recognized thought leader in responsible innovation, Lyel has convened global stakeholders through initiatives like the Responsible Innovation Founders Summit and co-founded the Startups & Society Initiative. He has published extensively on ethical technology practices, equipping founders with strategies to build sustainable, mission-aligned ventures.
Lyel holds degrees in Physics and Political Science from MIT and an advanced degree in Business, Media & Technology, and Education from NYU, where he was a Reynolds Fellow in Social Entrepreneurship. In 2013, he was named a World Economic Forum Global Shaper.
Outside of work, Lyel enjoys surfing, LGBTQ+ literature, and exploring the underwater world as a certified scuba and freediver.
