# Bill Ottman

> Bill Ottman is the co-founder and CEO of Minds, an open-source social networking company founded in 2011. Based in Norwalk, Connecticut, he advocates for privacy, free expression and user control, and has also worked on Fishtank’s interactive streaming technology. His earlier work includes festival marketing, with advisory affiliations in coding education and open-source collaboration.

- **Role:** Co-founder and CEO at Minds
- **Organizations:** Minds, Fishtank, Boston Global Forum, Code to Inspire, Open Building Institute, Gathering of the Vibes
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** BA in English, University of Vermont
- **Known for:** Co-founded and led Minds through community crowdfunding and institutional financing., Helped develop Minds’ open-source social networking business and Minds Networks community-app offering., Worked on Fishtank’s interactive video infrastructure; reported roughly 50% streaming-cost savings after a 2024 provider migration.

## Career timeline

- **Before 2011** — Worked as marketing director at Gathering of the Vibes music and arts festival.
- **2011** — Co-founded Minds.
- **2015** — Minds launched its web and mobile apps.
- **2017** — Minds raised approximately $1 million from more than 1,500 community investors.
- **2018** — Minds raised a $6 million Series A from Medici Ventures.
- **2019** — Minds began working with adviser Daryl Davis.
- **2020** — Welcomed a surge of Thai users and discussed localization work.
- **2021** — Minds raised a $10 million Series B from FUTO.
- **2024** — Minds introduced Minds Networks; Ottman publicly discussed Fishtank’s move to Livepeer Studio.

## Achievements

- Co-founded and led Minds through community crowdfunding and institutional financing.
- Helped develop Minds’ open-source social networking business and Minds Networks community-app offering.
- Worked on Fishtank’s interactive video infrastructure; reported roughly 50% streaming-cost savings after a 2024 provider migration.

## Latest updates

- **2025-12** — His Wefunder profile lists a Minds Q&A Megathread posted on December 23.
- **2025-06** — Appeared on The Curious Introvert to discuss digital privacy.
- **2025-03** — Appeared on Nothing Left Unsaid to discuss privacy, free speech and decentralized platforms.

## Links

- Website: https://www.minds.com/ottman
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billottman
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/billottman

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/bill-ottman
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-23