Who We Are

About TED

TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design.

It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from these three worlds. Since then its scope has become ever broader. The annual conference now brings together the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in eighteen minutes). TED.com makes the best talks and performances from TED, the ideas worth spreading, available to the public for free.

The TED Prize is designed to leverage the TED Community's exceptional array of talent and resources. It is awarded annually to three remarkable individuals who each receive $100,000 and, more importantly, the granting of "One Wish to Change the World." After several months of preparation, they unveil their wish at an awards ceremony held during the TED Conference. The TED community then steps up to participate in the granting of the wish. These wishes have led to collaborative initiatives with far-reaching impact.

About Hot Studio

We make the complex beautifully clear.

Hot Studio is an award-winning design firm with offices in San Francisco and New York City that offers research, strategy, design, and editorial services. Whether creating an intuitive website, an enlightening book, or a stunning logo, we're driven by a passion for producing intelligent and thought-provoking work. With more than a decade in business, we've worked with clients from dozens of industries, such as eBay, Cisco, Charles Schwab, Architecture for Humanity and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. We were happy to help Dave Eggers realize his TED wish by collaborating with him to create Once Upon a School.

About Carbon Five

We're serious about software and psyched about 826 Valencia.

Carbon Five is a company of skilled developers using great tools and techniques to create high quality software. We provide heavy lifting software development services for numerous startups in addition to companies and organizations like Charles Schwab, Electronic Arts, National Geographic and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

At Carbon Five we are excited about 826 Valencia's efforts to help students, teachers, parents and schools. We are proud to support Dave Eggers and 826 Valencia by creating OnceUponASchool.org in collaboration with 826 Valencia, TED and Hot Studio.

About VolunteerMatch

We're strengthening communities by making it easier for good people and good causes to connect.

Most of us want to give back, we just don't know how. VolunteerMatch is trying to change this. By removing the barriers that stand between passion and action, we're transforming the way individuals volunteer. Since 1998, our Web service at www.volunteermatch.org has generated more than 3.8 million matches between talented individuals of all ages and nonprofit organizations that are working in critical areas like the environment, education, senior services, and more. And we're helping some of the nation's leading businesses energize and inspire their employees and their customers, too.

About Engine Yard

Ruby on Rails Hosting and Deployment

Engine Yard provides expert Ruby and Rails application deployment to the cloud for businesses of all sizes. Through its managed service and cluster computing platform, the company takes the pain out of deploying and maintaining Ruby and Rails applications.

Without the need to shoulder the tasks of deploying and managing Ruby and Rails applications on their own, businesses can now take advantage of Rails' superior agility and ease of development to build robust, Ruby applications.

Engine Yard's deep roots in the Ruby and Rails community and its commitment to driving the next generation of Ruby technologies - as evidenced by its support of the Rails, Merb and Rubinius projects - give customers the added peace of mind that their applications are managed by a team of true technical experts.