CO-FOUNDER OF FACEBOOK / FOUNDER OF MY.BARACKOBAMA.COM

After co-founding Facebook in 2004, Hughes worked first as the site’s spokesperson and later as a product manager specializing in user experience. In 2006, he graduated magna cum laude from Harvard with a degree in History and Literature.

In 2007, Hughes left Facebook to work on Barack Obama’s presidential campaign as the Director of Online Organizing, where he was charged with developing web technologies to engage and empower supporters. Hughes oversaw the development of the on-site network My.BarackObama.com along with the campaign’s presence on other networks like Facebook and MySpace. The campaign’s new media strategy revolutionized the use of the Web as a political tool, helping the candidate raise more than $500 million by generating more than two million donations of less than $200 each. Swiftly mobilizing hundreds of thousands of supporters, this use of social networking has changed the face of campaigns forever.
In 2010, Hughes founded and became Executive Director of the nonprofit Jumo, an organization with the goal of “connecting people who want to change the world.”

Hughes is now an Entrepreneur in Residence at General Catalyst Partners, a venture capital firm that invests in entrepreneurs who are building the technology-based companies that will lead innovation and transform industries. He is working closely with young entrepreneurs to help guide them through the steps of building a business. Hughes focuses on identifying new investment opportunities and supporting strategic business development initiatives in the areas of consumer services, Internet and new media, and disruptive technology.