Dennis Crowley

Date of Birth: June 19, 1976

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Biography

Dennis Crowley is an influential American businessman and entrepreneur, best known for co-founding the location-based social networking services Dodgeball and Foursquare. Born in Medway, Massachusetts, Crowley developed an early interest in technology and innovation. He attended Syracuse University, where he earned a B.A. in Communications, and later went on to receive a Master’s degree from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in Interactive Telecommunications. Crowley’s first major entrepreneurial venture was Dodgeball, a social networking service that he co-founded with Alex Rainert in 2003. Dodgeball was acquired by Google in 2005, marking Crowley’s entry into the tech industry’s big leagues. However, it was his next venture, Foursquare, that truly catapulted him to fame. Launched in 2009 with co-founder Naveen Selvadurai, Foursquare revolutionized the way people interacted with their physical environments by allowing users to “check-in” at various locations, share tips, and earn rewards. Under Crowley’s leadership, Foursquare grew rapidly, attracting millions of users and securing significant venture capital funding. In 2014, the company split into two distinct apps: Foursquare for location discovery and Swarm for check-ins. Crowley served as the CEO until 2016 and continues to be actively involved in the company’s strategic direction as Executive Chairman. In addition to his entrepreneurial ventures, Crowley is also a sought-after speaker and has been featured in numerous publications and conferences discussing technology, innovation, and the future of social networking.