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TED talks leader seeks new owner for conference group

Updated Feb 7, 2025, 11:38am EST
UK
Chris Anderson.
Wikimedia Commons
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The News

The long-time leader of TED wants to give the nonprofit away.

British entrepreneur Chris Anderson began leading the technology, entertainment and design conference in 2000. Since then it has become a “renowned, if sometimes mocked,” global behemoth, WIRED reported, with more than 250,000 talks in its archive, many with tens of millions of views: TED has inspired podcasts, an NPR show, and other spinoffs.

Anderson said he wanted to hand the nonprofit over to whoever has the most interesting vision for TED’s future: It has to be nonpartisan, and the talks should remain free to watch online, but otherwise the new owner can take it where they will. Anderson’s ideal buyer would be a university or a philanthropic organization.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said Anderson founded TED. He took it over in 2000.

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