Chris Swain

Chris Swain Email and Phone Number

Associate Professor, Business of Innovation @ USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy
Los Angeles, CA, US
Chris Swain's Location
Los Angeles, California, United States, United States
About Chris Swain

I am a startup founder and USC professor. I have founded or co-founded three venture-backed companies and I have led 50+ products and business initiatives for companies that include Microsoft, Intel, Sony, Disney, Activision, IBM, and many others. I teach disruptive innovation, product validation, venture development, and team leadership. I developed IYA's Venture Pyramid scoring system and co-lead IYA's annual student ventures cycle along with Prof. Tina Sharkey.Prior to IYA, during my time in the game industry, I co-founded/directed the Electronic Arts Game Innovation Lab at USC and was a founding faculty member in the USC Games program. USC Games is the #1 ranked college game program by Princeton Review. While at USC I co-authored the book Game Design Workshop which has become the leading college game text. Prior to USC I was a founding member of the strategic design firm R/GA Interactive in NY. We grew R/GA Interactive from 4-300+ people and $0 - >$50mm in revenue during my time there.I have developed strategy and curricula for multiple colleges including the USC Iovine and Young Academy, USC School of Cinematic Arts, USC Annenberg School for Communications, Art Center College of Design and others.I speak regularly about startups and innovation in the press and at events around the world. Venues include MIT, Harvard, University of Cambridge, Columbia University, DARPA, University of Tokyo, Sorbonne, City U of Hong Kong, SIGGRAPH, Game Developer's Conference, many others. Publications include NY Times, Washington Post, LA Times, Chicago Tribune, CNN, NPR, Forbes, Wired, others.Specialties: strategic design, financial modeling for new ventures, identifying market opportunities, Lean methodology, innovation system design, curriculum design, team leadership.

Chris Swain's Current Company Details
USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy

Usc Jimmy Iovine And Andre Young Academy

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Associate Professor, Business of Innovation
Los Angeles, CA, US
Chris Swain Work Experience Details
  • Usc Jimmy Iovine And Andre Young Academy
    Associate Professor, Business Of Innovation
    Usc Jimmy Iovine And Andre Young Academy
    Los Angeles, Ca, Us
  • Usc Jimmy Iovine And Andre Young Academy
    Assistant Professor, Business Of Innovation
    Usc Jimmy Iovine And Andre Young Academy Aug 2021 - Present
    Los Angeles, California, Us
    I develop and teach innovation, product design, and venture development courses at the Iovine and Young Academy. I co-lead the Academy's student led ventures initiative include our annual Innovation Quest and Venture Showcase cycle. Courses include: ACAD 475 Garage Experience 2, ACAD 406 Purpose-Driven Incubator, ACAD 181 Disruptive Innovation, ACAD 181 Case Studies in Innovation, IDSN 545 Integrative Project.
  • Techstars
    Mentor
    Techstars Jun 2024 - Present
    New York City, New York, Us
    Mentor in the USC & Techstars Digital Economy Program plus accelerator
  • Figma
    Education Advisory Board
    Figma Mar 2022 - Present
    San Francisco, California, Us
    Work with the amazing people building Figma. Offer what help I can in regard to education initiatives.
  • Proofoflearn
    Co-Founder
    Proofoflearn Dec 2021 - Apr 2023
    Proof of Learn (POL), a Web3 education platform backed by New Enterprise Associates and other investors. The company has a mission to unlock accessible, high quality education across the world through blockchain and a learn-to-earn protocol. The vision is to ensure that anyone with an internet connection can gain a world-class online education, as well as direct access to income earning opportunities and employment. With a focus on addressing the skills shortage experienced by the Web3 economy, the platform will facilitate learning in the metaverse with cryptocurrency rewards and collectible NFT credentials earned as on-chain representation of skills advancement.
  • Tallyup
    Advisor
    Tallyup Feb 2019 - Feb 2023
    Santa Monica, California, Us
    TallyUp is a mass audience online game company with innovative prizing.
  • Swain Corp.
    Principal
    Swain Corp. Dec 2013 - Dec 2021
    Product strategy and development, playable system design, game innovation, partnership development, Lean methodology, mobile apps, narrative design, strategic design services. Client list includes Disney Imagineering, DARPA, Intel, SPACES, Inc., Payoff, Viacom, Northrop Grumman, SPB Partners private equity, many others.
  • Usc Annenberg Center For Third Space Thinking
    Research Lead
    Usc Annenberg Center For Third Space Thinking Aug 2016 - Aug 2021
    Los Angeles, Ca, Us
    Developed research initiatives, created curriculum, wrote whitepapers, conducted workshops in personal leadership and communication skill building.
  • University Of Southern California
    Adjunct Professor
    University Of Southern California Aug 2012 - Aug 2021
    Los Angeles, Ca, Us
    I developed and taught courses in design, leadership, and new ventures at: USC Iovine Young Academy, USC Viterbi School of Engineering, USC Annenberg School for Communication. Courses included: Innovation Lab, Decisions and Solutions, Professional Effectiveness, Integrative Project, Graduate Capstone, Design Essentials, and others.
  • Cg Spectrum College Of Digital Art And Animation
    Head Of Academics
    Cg Spectrum College Of Digital Art And Animation Jul 2019 - Jul 2021
    Richmond, Victoria, Au
    Developed education strategy and curriculum for the online game program at CG Spectrum - launched Fall 2019.
  • Artcenter College Of Design
    Adjunct Professor, Design
    Artcenter College Of Design Aug 2019 - May 2021
    Pasadena, Ca, Us
    Developed and taught courses in Immersive Design (VR, AR, location-based) and User Experience for the Art Center Game Design program.
  • Spaces Inc.
    Business Development
    Spaces Inc. Sep 2016 - Jun 2020
    SPACES was spun out of Dreamworks Animation by Jeffrey Katzenberg to purse virtual reality entertainment. Among other things, SPACES operated location-based VR centers in high-foot traffic retail environments and released a number of VR experiences including Terminator Salvation: Fight for the Future. SPACES sold to Apple in 2020.
  • Orcas Healthcare Technology
    Board Of Directors
    Orcas Healthcare Technology Dec 2013 - Jan 2017
    ORCAS is a health innovation and technology company that creates mobile self-management interventions designed to improve physical and emotional well-being. Mobile apps include: MoodHacker, MindSet:The Good Habits App, Love Every Day.
  • Credible Research Corp.
    Founder And Ceo
    Credible Research Corp. May 2011 - Dec 2013
    Credible Research Corp is a private equity-backed online game company. Our Facebook game, Ecotopia, was a social game about saving the planet. It was created in partnership with Conservation International. Our hybrid online game / television project, The Vine, sold as a television pilot to Turner Network Television.Strong experience with Lean Startup Methodology, financial modeling, partnership development, growth hacking, Agile, product strategy.
  • University Of Southern California
    Director, Usc Games Institute And Research Associate Professor
    University Of Southern California Jul 2009 - Jun 2012
    Los Angeles, Ca, Us
    Collaboration between USC School of Cinematic Arts, Annenberg School for Communications, and Viterbi School of Engineering. Research projects with Gates Foundation, ABC News, US State Department, USC Institute for Global Health
  • University Of Southern California
    Co-Founder/Director, Electronic Arts Game Innovation Lab
    University Of Southern California Aug 2004 - Aug 2009
    Los Angeles, Ca, Us
    Co-founded the EA Game Innovation Lab to explore game mechanics and uses of games beyond entertainment. One of my projects, The Redistricting Game is a staple in the US Congressional redistricting reform community. Projects with Rockefeller Foundation, National Science Foundation, National Institutes for Health, US National Counter Terrorism Center, Los Angeles Times.
  • University Of Southern California
    Asst. Professor
    University Of Southern California Aug 2004 - Jul 2009
    Los Angeles, Ca, Us
    Developed curricula and taught all levels of game design - Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced. Also taught Business of Games. Wrote research papers and co-authored the book Game Design Workshop. Was thesis adviser to many star game designers including Jenova Chen (thatgamecompany) and Matt Korba (Odd Gentlemen).
  • City University Of Hong Kong
    Visiting Scholar
    City University Of Hong Kong May 2004 - Jul 2005
    Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hk
    Developed and taught game design and mentored students at City U for two summers.
  • Spiderdance, Inc.
    Vp Programming
    Spiderdance, Inc. Jun 1999 - Apr 2002
    Game and technology company that created a mass audience server technology entitled TruSync that could accommodate millions of simultaneous users and synchronize their activities to television. Developed relationships with all major television networks and advertising agencies for games to leverage television properties and brands. Our games ran on television with synched online game content. Our game, webRIOT, ran in MTV primetime. Our game Weakest Link Interactive had millions of players. Partners included: NBC, MTV, Game Show Network, Turner Network Television, and The WB Network.
  • R/Ga
    Founding Member / Executive Producer
    R/Ga May 1993 - Apr 1999
    New York, Ny, Us
    I was a founding member of R/GA Interactive. It is a premiere NY-based strategic design agency. The company grew from 4 to 300+ people and $0 to $50mm in revenue during my time there. I developed the original IP NetWits with funding from Microsoft. NetWits was the world's first massively multiplayer casual game and was featured by Time Magazine's as one of the Best 10 Sites on the Web. I also led projects for Sony, Disney, Intel, IBM, Ad Council, PBS, Kodak, Ticketmaster, Foote Cone Belding Advertising, and many others.
  • School Of Visual Arts
    Adjunct Professor
    School Of Visual Arts Aug 1996 - May 1998
    New York, Ny, Us
    Developed and taught course in game design for graduate MFA students. Mentored thesis students.
  • Netwits
    Creator
    Netwits Apr 1994 - Jun 1997
    Created an innovative suite of massively multiplayer casual games. Received $3M funding from Microsoft. Built a team of engineers and designers and a studio in Manhattan inside R/GA. Launched by Microsoft.

Chris Swain Skills

Game Design Video Games User Interface Design Game Development Interaction Design Start Ups Digital Media User Experience Interactive Media Casual Games Social Networking Mobile Applications Entrepreneurship Creative Direction Leadership New Media Team Leadership Story Structure Facebook Actionscript Fundraising Content Strategy User Interface Animation Mobile Games Digital Marketing Artificial Intelligence Online Gaming Programming Community Sites Ios Development Computer Graphics Human Computer Interaction Product Management Interactive Advertising Television Team Building Technology Management Premiere Strategic Partnerships Technical Recruiting User Centered Design Multimedia Seo Technical Management Creative Development Online Communities Sem Lean Startup Strategic Consulting

Chris Swain Education Details

  • University Of Southern California
    University Of Southern California
    Finance + Technology Management (Candidate)
  • University Of Southern California
    University Of Southern California
    Marshall School Of Business
  • Indiana University Bloomington
    Indiana University Bloomington
    Ba

Frequently Asked Questions about Chris Swain

What company does Chris Swain work for?

Chris Swain works for Usc Jimmy Iovine And Andre Young Academy

What is Chris Swain's role at the current company?

Chris Swain's current role is Associate Professor, Business of Innovation.

What is Chris Swain's email address?

Chris Swain's email address is cs****@****usc.edu

What is Chris Swain's direct phone number?

Chris Swain's direct phone number is +131040*****

What schools did Chris Swain attend?

Chris Swain attended University Of Southern California, University Of Southern California, Indiana University Bloomington.

What are some of Chris Swain's interests?

Chris Swain has interest in Mobile App Development, The Wire (Tv Series), Freetoplay Gaming, Balsamiq Studios, Fantasy Sports, Sports, Entertainment Industry, Independent Music, Internet Radio, Environment.

What skills is Chris Swain known for?

Chris Swain has skills like Game Design, Video Games, User Interface Design, Game Development, Interaction Design, Start Ups, Digital Media, User Experience, Interactive Media, Casual Games, Social Networking, Mobile Applications.

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