Stephen McConnell Case (born August 21, 1958) is an American entrepreneur, investor, and businessman best known as the former chief executive officer and chairman of America Online (AOL). Case joined AOL's predecessor company, Quantum Computer Services, as a marketing vice-president and became CEO of the company (renamed AOL) in 1991. Since his retirement as chairman of AOL Time Warner in 2003, he has gone on to invest in early and growth-stage startups through his Washington, D.C. based venture capital firm Revolution LLC. Case authored The Third Wave: An Entrepreneur's Vision of the Future which became a New York Times bestselling book in 2016. Case gave a fireside chat at TechCrunch Disrupt NYC, on May 16, 2017, titled "Building Silicon Valley Outside of the Valley."
He supports inclusive entrepreneurship and innovation through the Rise of the Rest road trips and the Case Foundation. Case also served as a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship (PAGE) and was a member of Barack Obama's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. He also served on the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NACIE). Case was chairman of UP Global, a non-profit organization focused on fostering strong entrepreneurial communities, recently acquired by Techstars.
Last Updated: June 9, 2021
