Jim McKelvey is an American businessman, the self-made billionaire Co-founder of Block, Inc. (formerly Square) and Invisibly (micropayments for journalism). His career is defined by serial entrepreneurship and a commitment to solving unsolved problems through technology and design.

McKelvey holds a B.A. in Economics and a B.S. from Washington University in St. Louis. His philosophical approach is defined by his book, The Innovation Stack, which details how to build an unbeatable business one crazy idea at a time. His personal passion is glassblowing; he is a respected master glass artist and authored the definitive text on the subject, The Art of Fire.

• Block, Inc. (Co-founder & Director): The core publicly traded asset, a major mobile payments and financial services platform (formerly Square). He owns nearly 5 percent of the company.
• LaunchCode (Co-founder): The non-profit that provides free job training and apprenticeships in the tech sector for aspiring professionals.
• Invisibly (Founder): A new company that powers micropayments for journalism and publishing (addressing the digital media funding crisis).
• Inspiration: The idea for Square came after he had trouble accepting a credit card payment for a $2,000 art piece from his studio.

Jim McKelvey co-founded Square (now Block, Inc.) in 2009 with Jack Dorsey after realizing the immense structural friction in the payments process for small businesses. Their smartphone device and suite of business management tools revolutionized the way small businesses serve customers.

He later co-founded the non-profit LaunchCode, providing free tech apprenticeships, and the investment firm Cultivation Capital. McKelvey stepped down from his executive role to focus on philanthropy, teaching (at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis), and new ventures (like Invisibly). His wealth is secured by his long-term stake in the multi-billion dollar Block, Inc. and his successful book, The Innovation Stack.

Jim McKelvey's social impact is massive and structural, tied to Square/Block's role in providing essential financial infrastructure for small businesses globally. His founding of LaunchCode provides a massive structural contribution to workforce development, helping thousands of talented people find tech jobs.

His structural contribution to the arts is tied to his mastery of glassblowing and his authorship of The Art of Fire. He sits on the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, providing a unique entrepreneurial perspective to high-level economic policy.

Jim McKelvey maintains the professional, yet creative, style of a technology founder. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects his blend of master glass artistry and Wall Street finance.

Residing in St. Louis, Missouri, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to technology innovation, entrepreneurial mentorship, and social mobility.