History of TEDxAkron
Originally founded and organized in 2011 by local businessmen and legends, Sam Falletta and Ned Parks, TEDxAkron presented an opportunity to bring members of the Akron community together to discuss big ideas and issues that could inspire and impact the greater Summit County community and maybe even bring a positive change to the world.
After running 5 amazing TEDxAkron events, Sam and Ned encouraged two new local troublemakers, Alexis “Xposyur” Boyd and Ben Bisbee to consider attaining a TEDx license to lead TEDxAkron with a refreshed approach. They received the license from TED and took over in late 2019, with the vision to redesign the platform as an increasingly diverse and eclectic platform and continue the TEDxAkron legacy for the community. Complete with a new spirit and attitude, but the same inclusive passion for showcasing Akron’s diverse voice and spirit, this new TEDxAkron leadership team held on during the pandemic before leading 2 fantastic Akron Speakers events in 2024 and 2025, before choosing to end their run as owners and leaders in early 2026.
While no one knows what the future may hold for TEDxAkron, there is pride in celebrating over 60 Akronites who have taken the stage in 15 years, bringing members of the Akron community together to discuss big ideas and philosophies that have inspired and impacted the greater Akron community and the wider world. Please visit the “Watch Our Past Events” link above to view any of these amazing talks.
What is TED?
TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment, and Design topics converged. Yet today, it spans a multitude of worldwide communities and initiatives exploring everything from science and business to education, arts, and global issues as a platform allowing everyone and anyone an opportunity to present in front of a community of witnesses and talk openly about big ideas. Today, TED is a nonprofit dedicated to discovering and spreading ideas that spark conversation, deepen understanding, and drive meaningful change. The organization is devoted to curiosity, reason, wonder, and the pursuit of knowledge — without an agenda. TED welcomes people from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world and connection with others and invites everyone to engage with ideas and activate them in their community. To learn more about TED visit their website here.
What is TEDx?
The rambunctious baby sibling of TED, TEDx is a localized, grassroots initiative, created in the spirit of TED’s overall mission to research and discover “ideas worth spreading.” TEDx programs bring the spirit of TED to local communities around the globe through their own TEDx events. These events are organized by passionate individuals who seek to uncover new ideas and share the latest research in their local areas that spark conversations in their communities. TEDx events include live speakers and recorded TED Talks, and are organized independently under a free license granted by TED. TED does not control these events, but local event organizers agree to abide by the required format and are offered guidelines for curation, speaker coaching, event organizing, and more. More than 3000 events are now held annually across the globe and around the block.