Baratunde is the co-founder of Cultivated Wit. He's also a comedian, author and former director of digital for The Onion. His responsibilities included producing the “War For The White House” 2008 election coverage, helping the company adapt its storytelling to new digital platforms such as smartphones and social media, and expanding The Onion’s public voice as well as relationships with the technology community. Baratunde is a best-selling New York Times author of How To Be Black. He regularly engages in “digital performance art” including being @The_Swine_Flu, running a real world campaign for his Foursquare mayorship and “live hate-tweeting” all Twilight movies. He’s been a standup comedian for more than 10 years and is a highly sought-after public speaker addressing topics related to the media, politics, technology and marketing. Also black people. He was named one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company magazine and has worked with the White House Office of Public Engagement as a digital advisor.

Mario Lugay is an Impact Advisor/Program Officer helping to build partnerships exploring the intersection of tech and social impact. Prior to his work at the Kapor Foundation, Mario served as the first Program Director of the Funders’ Committee for Civic Participation, where he provided leadership around new philanthropic investments in both integrated voter engagement strategies and for a fair and accurate 2010 census count. He has built significant experience in organizing as the National Coordinator of Racial Justice 911 and at CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities, and currently remains active at the intersection of community organizing and civic engagement as co-founder of the New American Leaders Project, the country's first organization dedicated to training first and second generation immigrants to run for elected office. Mario is a long-time philanthropic and nonprofit consultant, trainer, and speaker, and is a graduate of Columbia University. He is a life long NYer, has found a physical home in Oakland and a political home at Asian Pacific Environmental Network, where he serves as board chair.