Adrian Rodriguez (Dreamlinks) - A Visually Impaired Founder’s Journey

Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders (ETL)

Stanford eCorner

Journey, Startups, Education, Stanford, Culture, Strategy, Stanford University, Entrepreneurship, Business, Life Lessons, Thought Leadership, Creativity, Etl, Challenges, Leadership, Innovation, Founders

4.4 • 739 Ratings

🗓️ 24 January 2024

⏱️ 48 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Adrian Rodriguez is the co-founder and CEO of Dreamlinks, a startup developing AI-powered building blocks that make creating virtual 3D worlds as fun as playing with LEGO bricks. Prior to founding Dreamlinks, Rodriguez taught game design at StreetCode Academy, created a web design course for blind programmers, and worked as the CTO of AMPAworks, a company that uses computer vision to automate inventory tracking in hospitals. In this presentation, Rodriguez shares his journey as an entrepreneur who is visually impaired, his dreams for helping other blind and visually impaired people with technology, and his lessons for other aspiring innovators.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This is the Entrepreneurals Thought Leaders series.
0:04.0	Brought to you by Stanford E.Corp.
0:07.0	I am so thrilled to introduce to all of you today, Adrian Rodriguez, our first speaker for Winter Quarter 2024.
0:15.0	So quick note, Adrian is the co-founder and CEO of Dream Linksinks, a startup developing AI-powered building blocks
0:21.6	that make creative virtual 3D worlds as fun
0:24.6	as playing with Lego Bricks.
0:26.6	Prior to founding DreamLinks, he taught game design
0:28.6	at Street Code Academy, created a web design course
0:31.6	for blind programmers, and worked as the CTO of AmpaWorks,
0:36.6	a company that uses computer vision to automate inventory tracking in hospitals.
0:41.3	Adrian's entrepreneurial journey follows from his own experiences with technology and creativity.
0:46.3	Born legally blind, he struggled to write legibly, let alone make visual art.
0:52.3	Then rapid advancements in computing made it possible for him to learn graphic design and ultimately work as a UX engineer.
0:59.0	This experience inspired Adrian and he resolved to further unlock the blind community's creative potential
1:05.0	by developing inclusive design tools.
1:08.0	He earned a BS in Computer Science from Stanford. So he was in this class twice, right?
1:12.9	At least. At least. And he is pursuing a PhD and human-centered design and engineering at the University of Washington.
1:18.6	He has shared his work at such venues as the Atlantic Live and TEDx Stanford. So welcome back, Adrian. The floor is yours. Thank you so much for being here today. Thank you, Emily. Like Emily mentioned, oh, thank you everyone.
1:34.3	Like Emily mentioned, I love this class, and this is really a huge honor for me to get to be here today.
1:39.3	So thank you so much. I'm curious. Has anyone here ever heard of the Balmer Peak before?
1:45.0	It's a bit of a joke that the best programming creativity happens and you have exactly one drink.
1:53.0	And I'll admit that I'm totally sober, but my sleep deprivation surely is at the level of a couple drinks,
	...

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