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Innovation expert & 5x tech founder

Josh Linkner

Unlock creative potential with Josh Linkner, speaker and innovation expert. Josh helps organizations drive growth through creative problem-solving and entrepreneurial thinking, delivering insights backed by five successful tech exits and the Presidential Champion of Change Award.

Trusted by Detroit Venture Partners

Josh Linkner
Josh Linkner

Josh Linkner

Detroit, United States

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Detroit, United States

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Josh Linkner's biography

At a glance

  • CEO of five technology companies with over $200M in sales
  • NYT Bestselling author of Disciplined Dreaming & The Road to Reinvention
  • Mentor to 100+ startups & founding partner of Detroit Venture Partners

Josh is a highly creative troublemaker. He passionately believes that every individual possesses an incredible capacity for creativity, and he is determined to unleash innovative thinking and foster creative problem-solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities thrive.


With a proven track record, Josh has founded and served as CEO of five technology companies, which collectively sold for over $200 million. He is also an accomplished author, having written four books, including the New York Times bestsellers Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention.


Josh has made significant investments in and provided mentorship to more than 100 startups. As a founding partner of Detroit Venture Partners, he actively contributes to the growth and success of entrepreneurial ventures.


Josh's entrepreneurial prowess has earned him prestigious accolades, including being named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year twice, as well as receiving the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.


If you are seeking to unlock your own creative potential or unravel the secrets of launching a successful business, spending time with Detroit's most entrepreneurial son is a must.

Josh's showreel and videos

Topics, sessions and talks

Disciplined Dreaming: A Proven System To Drive Breakthrough Creativity

In our modern AI-driven world, creativity has become the currency of success. It’s the one thing that can’t be outsourced or automated; the indisputable competitive advantage. We are all hard-wired to be creative, yet most of us have underdeveloped creative skills. And today, more than ever before, creative problem-solving and inventive thinking are crucial to overcoming obstacles and seizing opportunities. — Facing increasing challenges and competitive threats — Craving a new approach to harness their full creative potential — Struggling to keep up with the pace of innovation

Find A Way: Proven Framework to Solve Problems & Drive Growth

As we enter a new era of business, 50% of leaders in the United States have lost confidence in their ability to make decisions in the face of uncertainty. The level of disruption, technology threats, and volatility can be paralyzing. We are in a leadership crisis and must embrace a new model to meet today’s challenges. — Facing uncertainty and volatility. — Seeking better ways to drive the outcomes they crave the most. — Struggling to keep up with the pace of change.

Rethink. Reboot. Reinvent: How To Drive Disruption And Accelerate Transformation

We’re living in a rate of change like none other in history. The hard truth is that we can no longer rely on the models of the past and expect the same results. — Struggling to keep up with the rate of change. — Overwhelmed with competitive threats, technology advancements, and shifting disruptive market forces. — Recognizing the need for reinvention but struggling to gain traction.

Innovative Leadership: Confidently Leading Through Uncertainty and Change

The business you’re running today isn’t the business you’ll be running next year. In this moment of volatility and uncertainty, we are being called to lead in a radically different way… more decisive, creative, and adaptable. So how can we use this defining moment to ensure relevancy, sustainability, and success in the future? — Being Called to lead in a bold, new way — Overwhelmed with the demands of modern leadership — Craving a more innovative approach to drive explosive growth, gain competitive advantage, and get more from their teams

Small daily innovations lead to big results—Big Little Breakthroughs summarized.

The pressure to generate big ideas can feel overwhelming. We know that bold innovations are critical in these disruptive and competitive times, but when it comes to breakthrough thinking, we often freeze up. — Aware of the need to innovate but having a hard time getting started. — Responsible for creating a culture of innovation. — Feeling pressure to generate breakthroughs but struggling to deliver them.

Why we recommend booking Josh

Josh's unparalleled track record of founding and scaling technology companies to over $200 million in sales showcases his deep understanding of innovation and entrepreneurship. As a New York Times bestselling author and a mentor to over 100 startups, he brings a wealth of actionable insights and inspiring stories to ignite your team's creative potential and drive. Booking Josh means tapping into the mind of a proven innovator and entrepreneur who can transform the way you think about challenges and opportunities.

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Trusted by Detroit Venture Partners

Featured Projects

Disciplined Dreaming: A Proven System To Drive Breakthrough Creativity

frequently asked questions

Something we've not covered here?

How do I book Josh Linkner for my next event?

Email josh.linkner@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Josh's availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience.

What is Josh Linkner's speaking style like?

Josh Linkner draws on his experience founding and exiting five technology companies to frame creativity and leadership as learnable, structured disciplines rather than innate traits.

What topics does Josh Linkner specialise in?

Josh Linkner speaks on breakthrough creativity, problem-solving under uncertainty, and leading through disruption and reinvention. He founded and served as CEO of five technology companies that collectively sold for over $200 million, and is a two-time Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.

Does PepTalk charge a booking fee?

No. PepTalk adds no booking fee, so you pay the speaker's fee and nothing beyond it. The service, from shortlist through to contracts and event-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, PepTalk can agree preferential rates with your procurement team.

What happens after I send a brief?

Share your event date, audience, format, objectives and budget, and PepTalk sends a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours. Each suggestion comes with a profile, a fee and a recommendation on the strongest fit. Once you choose, PepTalk handles contracts, travel and logistics through to event day.

What does the typical fee range mean?

The typical fee range is the speaker's standard in-person fee in their home market, shown in their local currency. It moves with format, location, date and session length: virtual sessions and shorter slots usually cost less, while international travel and peak dates cost more. Send your brief to PepTalk and the team will confirm the exact fee in your currency.

Have all the speakers on the website worked with PepTalk before?

Not all of them, and it makes no difference to your booking. PepTalk's network of 15,000+ speakers covers talent the team works with directly alongside speakers represented by agents and agencies worldwide. PepTalk approaches the speaker, negotiates the fee and handles contracting either way.

How far in advance should I book a speaker?

Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.