How a simple idea became the largest social network for kids. Lane Merrifield shares some amazing insights that his group learned from those kids along the way.

Lane Merrifield has a passion for the convergence of creativity and technology, which has fueled his life long journey of entrepreneurship.

Currently Lane is a co-founder and CEO of FreshGrade, a learning collaboration and portfolio tool focused on the challenges facing teachers, parents, and students in the 21st century classroom. FreshGrade is Lane’s second startup to focus on his children, with his first being Club Penguin; the largest online virtual world for kids, which was acquired by The Walt Disney Company in 2007 for $350M. Lane served as Executive Vice President at Disney for five years before returning to his entrepreneurial roots.

In 2013 Lane founded Wheelhouse, an organization that supports early stage technology companies and entrepreneurs through mentorship, access to early stage investment capital, and connections to global business networks and executive expertise.

His teams have won dozens of awards including a BAFTA Award and a Webby Award. Lane has received an Honorary Fellows Award, several leadership awards, and was listed as one of The Hollywood Reporters Top 35 Executives under 35.

Lane has served on several technology boards, the University of British Columbia’s Board of Governors, and was most recently appointed to the Premier’s Technology Council

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx