Developing Information Technology to Meet Social Needs (Innovations Case Narrative: Benetech)

Jim Fruchterman is the founder of Benetech. A technology entrepreneur and engineer, Jim Fruchterman has been a rocket scientist, founded two of the foremost optical character recognition companies, and developed a successful line of reading machines for the blind. He is now a leading social entrepreneur through his deliberately nonprofit technology company, Benetech. Benetech concentrates on applying technology to human rights and literacy for people with disabilities. Fruchterman has won numerous awards for his work, including the 2006 MacArthur Fellowship and the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship in 2004 and 2006. He has also been recognized by the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship as an Outstanding Social Entrepreneur.