Now Available: Innovators Under 35 2013 See The 2013 List »

Ethan Zuckerman, 28
Internet and Web
Geekcorps
When Ethan Zuckerman went to Ghana in 1993 as a Fulbright scholar in percussion, he immediately tried to get online; he was a Usenet junkie and eager to e-mail his girlfriend (now his wife). But in bustling Accra, he found only one temperamental Net connection. Zuckerman later became vice president of R&D at Web-hosting company Tripod, which made him a dot-com millionaire, but he never forgot Ghanas inadequate communications. In July 1999 he left Tripod and in February 2000 cofounded Geekcorps in North Adams, MA. Geekcorps sends volunteers with information technology expertise to underdeveloped countries for four-month stints, where they help businesses-from furniture factories to radio stations-get online, expand sales and thus create jobs.One volunteer even helped launch the Ghanaian parliaments Web sites. Funded by foundations, aid agencies and private donors, Geekcorps has sent 35 tutors to Ghana and several other countries.A recent merger with the International Executive Service Corps gives Zuckerman the support to expand much further. Theres no shortage of volunteers; more than 1,100 people are on Geekcorpss waiting list.
2002 TR35 Winners
Richard Barton
Internet and Web
Sergey Brin
Internet and Web
John Carmack
Entertainment
Josh Coates
Software
Paul Debevec
Entertainment
Shawn Fanning
Internet and Web
Justin Frankel
Internet and Web
Vinay Gidwaney
Software
Robert Guttman
Software
Ramesh Hariharan
Software
Maria Hershenson
Software
Travis Kalanick
Internet and Web
Lydia Kavraki
Software
Reiner Kraft
Internet and Web
Raymond Lau
Software
Max Levchin
Innovator of the Year
Pamela Lipson
Software
Rob Malda
Internet and Web
Steve McCanne
Internet and Web
Lou Montulli
Internet and Web
Kazuho Oku
Internet and Web
Larry Page
Internet and Web
Joseph Reagle
Internet and Web
Tim Tuttle
Internet and Web
Susie Wee
Internet and Web
Ethan Zuckerman
Internet and Web