Mark Coopersmith

Mark Coopersmith is a UC Berkeley Faculty Director, entrepreneur, and investor who turns innovation, failure, and growth into practical leadership tools.

Request price and availability Request price and availability

USA

Top rated!

12 Client reviews

Non-binding request for Mark Coopersmith

Call us

+1 347 223 5128 +44 20 3744 5675

“Just a quick note to say a huge thank you to you for your presentations and contribution to the success of our conference, I am extremely delighted with the feedback I have received from our attendees. We absolutely got the content pitched at the right level and the approach you came up with ensured the engagement was at a level I don’t often see, so a great call. Overall, our attendees were blown away. The one thing that resonated with me (as the person responsible to ensure the business sessions met expectation) was just how well you ”got” our industry and how you "got” what the advisers do - that ensured a great connection. I got heaps of feedback in relation to this. I would love to work with you again soon.”

Mark Frecklington

GM - Asteron Insurance

Read all reviews

Book Mark

Non-binding request for Mark Coopersmith

Call us

+1 347 223 5128 +44 20 3744 5675

Why book Mark Coopersmith for your next event

Mark Coopersmith brings rare experience from startups, Fortune 500 ventures, and UC Berkeley classrooms into clear, practical insights for leaders.
His talks connect innovation, failure, and growth, drawing on real ventures, global corporations, and over 100 startups launched by his students.
Mark delivers engaging keynotes trusted by global organizations seeking sharper decision-making, resilience, and entrepreneurial thinking.

Non-binding request for Mark Coopersmith

UC Berkeley Faculty Director, Silicon Valley entrepreneur, and innovation strategist

Mark Coopersmith is a seasoned educator, Silicon Valley entrepreneur, venture investor, and bestselling author with decades of experience building and guiding high-growth ventures. As Faculty Director and Senior Fellow in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at UC Berkeley, he has shaped the mindset of thousands of founders and executives. From founding startups to leading new ventures inside global corporations, Mark bridges academic rigor with real-world execution. His keynotes translate innovation, failure, and growth into practical strategies leaders can act on immediately.

Mark Coopersmith – Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Growth in Practice

Mark Coopersmith has built a career at the intersection of entrepreneurship, corporate innovation, and education. As Faculty Director and Senior Fellow in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at UC Berkeley, Mark Coopersmith plays a central role in developing future founders, executives, and innovators. His work spans startups, venture capital, and global corporations, giving him a grounded and credible perspective on how ideas move from concept to scale.

Alongside his academic leadership, Mark Coopersmith is a seasoned Silicon Valley entrepreneur. He founded the e-commerce platform WebOrder, which was later acquired by Alphabet, and has led new venture initiatives for major corporations, including Sony. This blend of startup creation and corporate venture leadership allows Mark to speak with authority about innovation across very different organizational contexts.

From Startup Founder to Fortune 500 Executive

Throughout his career, Mark Coopersmith has operated on both sides of the innovation spectrum. He has built companies from the ground up and driven new business units inside established global organizations. This dual experience shapes his ability to explain how entrepreneurial thinking can thrive within complex corporate environments.

As a Fortune 500 executive, Mark has overseen growth initiatives where strategy, execution, and culture must align. As a founder, he understands uncertainty, speed, and the personal stakes involved in building something new. When organizations book Mark Coopersmith for their event, they gain insights that resonate equally with founders, executives, and leadership teams navigating change.

Educating the Next Generation of Innovators at UC Berkeley

For more than two decades, Mark Coopersmith has been a defining voice in innovation education at UC Berkeley. As a lecturer, Faculty Director, and Senior Fellow, he has helped students launch more than 100 ventures across sectors such as artificial intelligence, medical devices, consumer electronics, and digital platforms.

Mark’s teaching focuses on applied entrepreneurship. He emphasizes decision-making under uncertainty, customer discovery, and the realities of scaling ideas into sustainable businesses. This academic depth, combined with lived experience, makes his speaking both credible and highly practical for audiences seeking more than theory.

Failure, Resilience, and the Other “F” Word

Mark Coopersmith is the co-author of the bestselling book The Other “F” Word: How Smart Leaders, Teams, and Entrepreneurs Put Failure to Work. In his talks, Mark reframes failure as a strategic asset rather than a setback. He explores how leaders can build trust, resilience, and learning cultures that support innovation over time.

Drawing from his book and career, Mark shows how failure can strengthen teams, sharpen strategy, and accelerate growth when approached with discipline and intent. His perspective resonates strongly with organizations facing disruption, transformation, or rapid growth.

Venture Investing and Market Insight

Beyond teaching and entrepreneurship, Mark Coopersmith is an active venture investor and limited partner in multiple venture capital funds. This role keeps him closely connected to emerging technologies, market shifts, and startup ecosystems. He brings this market awareness into his speaking, offering audiences a current and grounded view of innovation trends.

Mark’s investment experience strengthens his ability to discuss what investors look for, how ventures are evaluated, and why some ideas scale while others stall. These insights are especially valuable for founders, innovation teams, and corporate leaders seeking to align vision with execution.

Trusted Speaker for Global Organizations

Mark Coopersmith is a highly experienced and impactful speaker who has delivered programs and keynotes for global organizations including Google, Wells Fargo Bank, Daimler Benz, Salesforce, Genentech, Disney, and Samsung. His sessions are known for clarity, energy, and relevance, grounded in real examples rather than abstract models.

When organizations book Mark Coopersmith for their event, they engage a speaker who connects strategy, innovation, and leadership in a way that is direct, engaging, and actionable. His ability to adapt his message to different audiences makes him a strong fit for executive events, leadership programs, innovation summits, and academic conferences.

Media Recognition and Academic Foundation

Mark Coopersmith’s work and insights have been featured in major media outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Economist, and he has appeared on national news programs. This recognition reflects the relevance of his ideas across business, education, and innovation communities.

He holds both BA and MBA degrees from UC Berkeley, reinforcing his long-standing connection to one of the world’s most respected innovation ecosystems. This foundation supports his role as a trusted voice on entrepreneurship, leadership, and growth.

Book Mark Coopersmith for Your Event

Booking Mark Coopersmith for your event means bringing together Silicon Valley entrepreneurship, UC Berkeley academic depth, and real-world leadership experience. His talks equip audiences with practical tools to navigate innovation, embrace learning from failure, and drive sustainable growth in uncertain environments.

Mark Coopersmith delivers clarity where complexity dominates and inspiration grounded in experience rather than hype.

Customer Reviews

Mark Frecklington GM - Asteron Insurance

“Just wanted to tell you that your speech the other day at the French consul Residence was superb, full of energy, enthusiasm and wit. Just perfect for that occasion. I could tell that our group loved it. I already have inquiries about other topics you talk on, especially to promote an innovation culture and expertise.”

Philippe Perez Attaché for Science and Technology, Consulate General of France in San Francisco

"I have been flooded this morning with compliments on the event. People were so engaged, and I honestly think we could have fielded questions and discussions for another hour!!! The discussion was fantastic. It had real examples, humor, and a personal touch.

Michele McConomy VP and GM RocketX, Head of Corporate Innovation, RocketSpace

“We thoroughly enjoyed your presentation, the delivery, and the enthusiasm that you brought to the program. I heard nothing but glowing feedback on your keynote, and I personally got a lot out of it.”

Andy Barrons SVP Marketing, Navis

Feedback on your talk and session has been fantastic. One person talked about the value of the stakeholder management tool you shared, in that he’s challenged with a project and is realizing he doesn’t have alignment with them and hasn’t talked to the WIIFM. Others loved the discussion of risk-taking. You were spot-on with what we wanted.

David Hooper Director of HR, Genentech

Word is already spreading about your talk and, in fact I just got a call from Jaesoo Han, who is President of Samsung Semiconductor here in the US, to ask if you might be in town and available to meet with the Vice Chairman and CEO of Samsung Electronics, OH Kwon, who will be in the Bay Area for a couple of days to meet with a number of companies and partners. He is very interested in the whole topic of how to embed failure in the thinking of a large organization and would love to sit down with you for an hour to discuss.

Alexander A. G. Driskill-Smith Ph.D., Head of Strategy and Business Development, Samsung Electronics

"That was a great day yesterday and I can't wait for our next event!"

Danag Baskoro CEO, Indonesia Shipping

Thanks again for the great session with our leadership team. There was quite a bit of buzz after your talk, especially in the areas of how to accelerate innovation and change, and think about our approach differently.

John Keneally Head of Operations, Genentech

“Thank you for such a valuable keynote and breakout session. I received such positive feedback from our participants who appreciated the combination of strategic thinking and pragmatic call to action. This is exactly what we need to accelerate the pace of the change in our conservative industry.”

Benoit de la Tour CEO, Navis

“Thank you very much for your time with our EU Parliament delegation! Your ideas, energy and interactive approach were very inspiring for us all! I particularly love your "Let's go break some other stuff" challenge to all of us, and so many other concepts and challenges you shared! “

Marion B. EU Parliament Delegation Leader

A quick note to thank you so much for the great talk yesterday. It really was exceptional: you engaged the audience so well, you had so many relevant examples of companies that did or didn’t put failure to work, and above all the topic resonated so well with us all at Samsung as we – especially here in the US – try to lead the company into taking more risks and moving into more unfamiliar territory. It was the perfect combination of fun and entertaining stories, great examples, and actionable content!

Alexander A. G. Driskill-Smith Ph.D. , Head of Strategy and Business Development, Samsung Electronics

"I've received awesome comments about your presentation. It was perfect- great examples, manageable content, and fun delivery!! Very impactful and memorable"

Jamie Moldafsky Chief Marketing Officer, Wells Fargo Bank

Keynotes

Keynote by Mark Coopersmith:

The Other “F” Word: Turning Failure Into Strategic Advantage

This engaging session demystifies failure, reframing it as a powerful resource for innovation, growth, and resilience. Based on the Amazon best-selling book written by Mark Coopersmith and John Danner*, participants will examine iconic stories of entrepreneurial setbacks and learn structured approaches to harnessing failure, personally and organizationally, through the seven-stage "Failure Value Cycle." Real-world examples from tech giants and startups show how smart leaders build failure-savvy cultures and transform setbacks into competitive advantage. (* The Other “F” Word: How Smart Leaders, Teams, and Entrepreneurs Put Failure To Work, Wiley)

Key Takeaways:

Shift your perspective: view failure as a learning tool, not an endpoint.
Explore the “Failure Value Cycle” to systematically limit, process and rebound from failure.
Examine company case studies (Amazon, 3M, Google) and extract best practices.
Identify organizational cultures that support risk-taking and productive recovery.
Learn how to cultivate resilience, innovation, and trust after inevitable setbacks.

Request a quote

Keynote by Mark Coopersmith:

Unlocking the Secrets of Silicon Valley Innovators and Entrepreneurs

This session explores the unique combination of toolset, skillset, and mindset that powers Silicon Valley’s most innovative entrepreneurs and companies. You’ll journey through the strategies, cultures, and ecosystem factors that enable rapid growth and disruptive success, using real-world examples from top firms like Google, Apple, and Nvidia. The discussion also focuses on entrepreneurial education, the value of failure, and the practical principles behind scaling breakthroughs globally.

Key Takeaways:

Understand what differentiates entrepreneurial mindsets from the corporate status quo.
Discover why innovation is both an execution and cultural challenge.
Learn ten practical traits of entrepreneurial thinking and leadership.
Explore frameworks that foster resilient, high-growth cultures.
Receive actionable resources for newsletters, blogs, and continued learning.

Request a quote

Keynote by Mark Coopersmith:

Corporate Entrepreneurship - Driving Innovation Inside Large Enterprises

How can large organizations operate like startups when launching new products and services, moving quickly, and consuming fewer resources? This session equips participants to use entrepreneurial tools within established organizations to launch innovative products, services, or processes. It distinguishes between startup and enterprise goals, explores internal conflicts, and presents frameworks for aligning new initiatives with strategy, stakeholder buy-in, resource acquisition, and measurable milestones. Attendees learn to balance execution, strategic alignment, and stakeholder engagement for maximum impact.

This corporate entrepreneurship topic can be expanded into a half-day or full-day session, including hands-on workshops where participants apply the topics and frameworks introduced in the keynote to projects and initiatives within their own organization. Workshops include a “corporate entrepreneurship workbook“ with tools and activities.

This session pairs well with “Unlocking the Secrets of Silicon Valley Innovators and Entrepreneurs,” especially as part of a corporate innovation retreat or inspiration day.

Key Takeaways:

Gain actionable tools for idea generation, stakeholder mapping, and resource requests.
Master the conflict between incremental efficiency and disruptive innovation.
Understand the unique hurdles and opportunities for corporate entrepreneurs.
Learn to create and communicate short-term wins and SMART milestones.
Discover how to scale successful internal ventures and foster a culture of innovation.

Request a quote

Keynote by Mark Coopersmith:

Reinventing Business Models for Competitive Advantage

Innovative business models can create fundamental benefits in competitiveness, profitability, and customer relationships, in some cases even greater than the underlying products and services themselves. This session provides a comprehensive overview of modern business models and frameworks for innovation, along with numerous examples. I review tools such as the Business Model Canvas and Business Model Navigator, investigate a range of distinctive models (platforms, freemium, subscription, etc.), and dissect famous company case studies. We conclude with a focus on how each organization has the potential to create, deliver, and capture value in new and sustainable ways.

Key Takeaways:

Understand the fundamentals and evolution of business models.
Utilize the Business Model Canvas and Business Model Navigator tools.
Identify and design revenue and value propositions for startups and enterprises.
Compare and learn from industry-shaking business model innovations.
Develop the mindset and toolkit to continuously iterate and improve business models.

Request a quote

Keynote by Mark Coopersmith:

Storytelling for Startups and Corporate Reinvention

This dynamic session dives into the art and science of storytelling as a critical tool for startup success, it is equally relevant for larger organizations seeking to launch new initiatives and change how they communicate to their stakeholders . You’ll learn how to structure a powerful narrative for pitches, product launches, and customer communications using classic story elements, Pixar techniques, and investor expectations. In this session Mark also lays out a minute-by-minute guide to a persuasive new-business pitch to investors.

Key Takeaways:

Master the six classic storytelling elements for startup pitches (character, setting, motivation, conflict, plot, resolution).
Use stories to drive listener recall, emotional connection, and investor FOMO.
Develop effective, memorable pitch decks that combine narrative, demo, and numbers.
Anticipate and answer audience and investor questions with confidence.
Improve persuasive communication and team alignment.