Marc Randolph: Netflix Co-Founder
Entrepreneurship keynote speaker and Netflix co-founder Marc Randolph helps leaders innovate boldly, test ideas rapidly, and build cultures that turn experimentation into scalable success.
Quick Facts:
- Highlights:
- Co-founder and first CEO of Netflix
- Architect of foundational strategies behind a service with 200+ million subscribers
- Founder or co-founder of six additional startups
- Co-founder of Looker Data Sciences, acquired by Google for $2.6 billion
- Formats: Keynote speaker on entrepreneurship, innovation, and business growth
- Audiences: Entrepreneurs, executives, innovators, product teams, and organizations seeking practical strategies for growth, experimentation, and scalable innovation
- Outcomes:
- A clear process for validating ideas quickly and reducing risk through experimentation.
- Strategies to build cultures that encourage creativity, curiosity, and customer-driven innovation.
- Real-world insights from decades of founding, growing, and advising successful ventures.
- Travels from: Santa Cruz, CA
- **Fee range: $100,000 - $250,000
Talent Services
Keynote Topics:
Fireside Chat
In this conversational format, Marc will address questions on the following topics: The birth of Netflix, entrepreneurship, innovation,
Marc’s bestselling book, That Will Never Work; the value of persistence and optimism in business, leadership, company culture, tech ventures, Marc’s successes/failures at Netflix & other companies, Marc’s podcast, environmental advocacy and balance.
THAT WILL NEVER WORK: THE BIRTH OF NETFLIX AND THE AMAZING LIFE OF AN IDEA
Netflix Founder and startup CEO Marc Randolph shares the unlikely story of how a handful of dreamers with no money and a bad idea, created the company that eventually brought down Blockbuster.
Packed with dozens of stories that trace the dramatic ups and downs of those first exciting years, Marc weaves an inspiring story that shows the value of innovation, persistence and optimism.
Along the way he shares some of the many values that he believes made Netflix successful, including a focus on analytics and testing, its novel corporate culture, and its almost fanatical obsession with focus.
Equal parts inspiration, start up story, and practical tips, it’s a message that resonates well with anyone who appreciates a good “overcoming adversity” story.
Talent Short Bio
Marc Randolph is a veteran Silicon Valley entrepreneur, advisor, investor, and the co-founder and first CEO of Netflix. Widely recognized for shaping the early strategy and product vision that propelled Netflix into a global powerhouse with more than 200 million subscribers, Marc has spent more than four decades launching and scaling successful businesses. He served on Netflix’s board until 2003 and has since founded or co-founded six additional startups, mentored hundreds of early-stage founders, and invested in dozens of technology ventures.
In addition to his foundational role at Netflix, Marc most recently co-founded Looker Data Sciences, an analytics software company acquired by Google for $2.6 billion. His board work spans Solo Brands, Augment Technologies, Dishcraft Technologies, and the Truckee Donner Land Trust, reflecting his broad engagement in both tech and mission-driven organizations.
Marc is the author of the internationally bestselling memoir That Will Never Work: The Birth of Netflix and The Amazing Life of an Idea, which offers an insider’s look at the early entrepreneurial journey behind one of the world’s most transformative companies.
Read Full Bio
Marc Randolph is a veteran Silicon Valley entrepreneur, advisor, and investor. As co-founder and first CEO of Netflix, he laid much of the groundwork for a service that’s grown to over 200 million subscribers, and fundamentally altered how the world experiences media.
He also served on the Netflix board of directors until retiring from the company in 2003. Marc’s career as an entrepreneur spans four decades. He’s founded or co-founded six other successful startups, mentored hundreds of early-stage entrepreneurs, and as an investor has helped seed dozens of successful tech ventures (and just as many unsuccessful ones).
Most recently, Marc co-founded analytics software company Looker Data Sciences, which was acquired by Google in 2019 for $2.6 billion. He currently sits on the boards of Solo Brands, Augment Technologies, Dishcraft Technologies and the Truckee Donner Land Trust.
Marc Randolph is also the author of the internationally best-selling memoir, That Will Never Work: The Birth of Netflix and The Amazing Life of an Idea which tells the untold story of Netflix. He is host of the top-10 Apple podcast That Will Never Work, where he works directly with entrepreneurs to provide 1-on-1 mentoring. Marc is also a judge and investor on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Elevator Pitch web series.
View All Speakers and follow us on Twitter
Talent Videos
Marc Randolph — Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Building Netflix
Co-founder and first CEO of Netflix, Marc Randolph delivers pivotal lessons on experimentation, risk-taking, and how scrappy problem-solving shapes the world’s most transformative companies.
Video Summary & Key Moments
In this video, Marc Randolph reflects on how curiosity, experimentation, and relentless validation shaped his entrepreneurial journey, most famously with Netflix. Drawing on decades of startup experience, Marc illustrates that innovation rarely begins with certainty — instead, it emerges from testing ideas, learning quickly from failures, and moving forward guided by real feedback rather than intuition alone.
Marc unpacks the early days of Netflix, where many ideas were tested before arriving at the final model that resembled the business we know today. He highlights the importance of rapid experimentation, low-cost testing, and iteration as core tools of entrepreneurial success. Despite naysayers and skepticism — including the notion that the idea “will never work” — Marc emphasizes that every idea deserves to be tested until it either proves itself or teaches you something valuable. summaries.com
He also discusses the broader mindset of entrepreneurs: approaching uncertainty with curiosity, accepting that there are no guarantees, and leaning into doing — rather than waiting for perfect strategy or crystal-clear answers. These traits, he suggests, are what separate impactful founders from those who stall before they start.
Key Moments
-
00:00-01:15 Introduction to entrepreneurial uncertainty and the value of testing ideas quickly.
-
01:16-02:30 Early Netflix experimentation: testing assumptions, learning from small failures, and iterating toward viable product-market fit.
-
02:31-03:45 The role of curiosity and resilience in founder success — embracing doubt, skepticism, and iteration as tools, not obstacles.
Interest to Book? Send us your enquiry
No reviews available for this post.
Talent FAQ's
Do speakers charge a flat fee or by the hour?
Speaker fees can vary depending on factors such as expertise, demand, and event specifics. While some speakers may charge a flat fee for their services, others may have hourly rates. It’s best to discuss fee structures directly with the speaker or their representative to understand the pricing model.
What is the typical duration of a keynote speech and what is included?
Keynote speeches typically range from 30 to 90 minutes, with the duration determined by the speaker’s expertise, the event’s agenda, and audience preferences. Keynote speeches often include a combination of inspirational stories, practical insights, and actionable advice tailored to the event’s theme or objectives.
Does the scale of the event and audience size affect a speaker’s fee?
The scale of the event and audience size can indeed impact a speaker’s fee. Larger events with a broader reach or higher attendance may command higher fees due to increased exposure and demand. Conversely, smaller events or niche audiences may offer opportunities for more flexible pricing arrangements.
Travel expenses and other costs
Travel expenses such as transportation, accommodation, and meals are typically negotiated separately from the speaker’s fee. These costs vary depending on the speaker’s location, travel distance, and event duration. It’s important to clarify travel arrangements and expenses during the booking process to avoid misunderstandings.
Deposits and securing a booking
Many speakers require a deposit to secure a booking, with the remaining balance due closer to the event date. Deposits are often non-refundable and serve as a commitment from both parties. It’s advisable to discuss deposit requirements and payment terms with the speaker or their representative when finalizing the booking.
Additional tips and takeaways
- Virtual speaking appearances are a cost-effective alternative to high speaking fees, often 10-50% cheaper than in-person rates.
- There is typically no difference in fee for a 15-minute speech versus a 60-minute speech.
- Some motivational speakers are open to discounting their fee if hired for more than one event by the same organization.
- When browsing speakers, consider their location to keep travel costs down.
- Personal connections to your organization or event location can increase your chances of securing a renowned speaker.
- Be upfront about your needs and expectations to ensure a successful partnership.
- Speaker bureaus like Speakers Inc help guide you through the booking process to negotiate the best deal with favorable terms.
Ready to find the perfect speaker for your event? Use our advanced search feature or contact us to get started today!
You may be interested in...
- (23)
- (7)
Sterling Hawkins is a transformative figure in the realm of organizational culture and business innovation. Known for his groundbreaking work on creating cultures of innovation and resilience, Hawkins has emerged as a preeminent speaker and thought leader. His signature speech, “No Matter What,” encapsulates his philosophy of overcoming challenges and fostering an environment where innovation […]
- Travels from: Denver, CO
- Leadership Speakers
- (19)
Ilya Sutskever is a world-renowned thought leader in artificial intelligence, respected for his pioneering contributions to computer vision, machine translation, and robotics. As Co-founder and Chief Scientist at OpenAI, he has been instrumental in the development of transformative technologies including ChatGPT, GPT-4, and DALL·E 2. Ilya’s early breakthroughs — notably co-inventing DeepMind’s AlphaGo and Google Brain’s TensorFlow — have […]
- Travels from: San Francisco, CA
- Artificial Intelligence
- (73)
Adam Braun is a distinguished figure renowned for his multifaceted expertise in professional upskilling, the future of work, and sustainability. As a New York Times bestselling author and prominent leader, he navigates the realms of entrepreneurship and philanthropy with unparalleled vision and impact. Currently serving as the CEO of Climate Club, Braun spearheads initiatives that […]
- Travels from: Westport, CT
- Inspirational Speakers
- (10)
Abigail Posner is a multi-talented professional, combining creativity, intellect, and innovation into her work. With a rich background in various fields and a passion for exploring the intersection of technology and creativity, she has become a recognized figure at Google, consistently pushing the boundaries of brand marketing. Posner’s journey began with a solid academic foundation. […]
- Travels from: New York, NY
- Marketing Speakers
- (15)
Crystal Washington is a dynamic professional speaker renowned for her expertise in leveraging technology to drive profitability and enhance productivity for organizations worldwide. With a passion for empowering businesses to harness the full potential of emerging digital tools, Crystal has carved a niche for herself as a leading authority on the intersection of technology and […]
- Travels from: Houston, TX
- Artificial Intelligence
- (57)
Srinivas Rao is a visionary in the realm of creativity and AI. As the host of the acclaimed podcast, The Unmistakable Creative, he’s interviewed over a thousand thought leaders, gleaning profound insights on creativity, innovation, and the transformative power of AI. His bestselling book, The Art of Being Unmistakable, has inspired thousands of readers to […]
- Travels from: Los Angeles, CA
- Artificial Intelligence
- (54)
One of the science world’s most successful and influential CEOs, Tan Le started her incredible life journey as a refugee facing a high probability of death on a treacherous trip across the pirate infested China South Sea. Today, Tan Le is the founder and CEO of the bioinformatics firm, EMOTIV, where her groundbreaking work in […]
- Travels from: San Francisco, CA
- Digital Speakers
- (22)
She’s founded multiple ventures, creating over 10,000 jobs and raising $200 million in capital. Her influence extends from boardrooms to NASDAQ spotlights, where she’s been honored globally for her impact with awards for her work, and recognized by major media outlets ranging from Fortune, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Newsweek, TIME, and CNBC, for her innovation. As the […]
- Travels from: San Francisco, CA
- Innovation Speakers
Disclaimer
These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by Speakers Inc.
Fee Range Information
All talent fees exclude VAT, travel and accommodation where required.
