David MacMillan
Nobel Prize in Chemistry Laureate | Founder of Asymmetric Organocatalysis | Professor of Chemistry at Princeton University
Patrick Lee
Co-Founder & Founding CEO of Rotten Tomatoes | Co-Founder & CEO of VENN | Serial Entrepreneur & Investor at the Intersection of Tech and Entertainment
Patrick Lee is Co-Founder and founding CEO of Rotten Tomatoes, the review platform that reshaped how the world decides what to watch and whose "Certified Fresh" badge now anchors Hollywood marketing campaigns. Today, as CEO of VENN and an active investor in tech and entertainment, he gives founder audiences candid, hard-won insight on focus, brand building, and the long arc of company building.
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Patrick Lee biography
Patrick Lee is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and operator working at the intersection of technology and entertainment, best known as a Co-Founder and the founding CEO of Rotten Tomatoes, the review-aggregation platform that has reshaped how the world decides what to watch. From a 1998 side project among three UC Berkeley undergraduates to a brand whose “Certified Fresh” and “Tomatometer” badges now anchor movie marketing campaigns from Hollywood studios, Lee helped build one of the most enduring consumer brands in modern entertainment.
Entrepreneurship speaker Patrick Lee led Rotten Tomatoes as CEO from 2000 to 2004, navigating the dot-com era, scaling the site into a category-defining authority, and shepherding it through its acquisition. Today, more than 25 years and several ownership changes later, Rotten Tomatoes remains one of the most trusted names in entertainment, reaching hundreds of millions of fans and shaping the commercial trajectory of films and television series worldwide.
Lee is currently Co-Founder and CEO of VENN, a curated community of leading builders, creators, and talent around fandom. Previously he was Co-Founder and Managing Partner of PKO Investments, a syndicate of notable investors backing the next generation of founders at the intersection of tech and entertainment. He is an active investor and advisor across technology and entertainment, with a portfolio that includes Inworld AI, CASETiFY, Samba TV, and MoviePass, and has mentored or supported founders through programs at 500 Startups, Berkeley SkyDeck, Blue Startups, SOSV, Mozilla Builders, and the Founder Institute.
From Berkeley Side Project to Global Entertainment Brand
Few founders have lived as much of the modern internet story as Lee. He has built a brand that millions of people consult before opening their wallets, sold a company, advised dozens of startups across Asia and the United States, and returned to the founder’s chair more than once. A self-described anime, comic book, and gaming enthusiast, Lee is also a recognized advocate for Asian representation in entertainment and was an early supporter of the #GoldOpen movement around “Crazy Rich Asians.” He holds a B.A. in Cognitive Science from the University of California, Berkeley, where Rotten Tomatoes was first conceived.
As a speaker, Patrick Lee gives audiences a deeply candid founder’s view of what it actually takes to build something that lasts. He speaks with rare clarity on the power of focus, the discipline of saying no, the lessons of selling a company you helped create, and the realities of building consumer brands in entertainment, fandom, and technology. Founders, executives, and investors leave with sharper instincts on positioning, brand, and the long arc of company building, plus a grounded sense of how to keep going when the early excitement is gone and the real work begins.
Patrick Lee Speaking Videos
TechChill 2020: Focus by Patrick Lee, Rotten Tomatoes
Patrick Lee Fireside Chat at Startup Grind
Patrick Lee Keynote Topics
Patrick has spent his career watching brilliant founders fail not for lack of talent but for lack of focus. In this signature talk he unpacks the discipline behind Rotten Tomatoes' decades-long brand consistency, the choices he and his co-founders made about what not to do, and a practical framework any founder, executive, or team can use to cut noise, defend priorities, and ship work that actually compounds.
The full story of how three UC Berkeley undergraduates turned a love of Jackie Chan films into one of the most recognizable brands in entertainment. Patrick walks audiences through the origin moment, the naming, the famously counterintuitive design, the dot-com years, the sale, and the strategic choices that allowed Rotten Tomatoes to outlive its founders' tenure and become a default reference for global film and television.
From Rotten Tomatoes to VENN to PKO Investments, Patrick has spent his entire career at the place where technology and entertainment collide. He shares what he has learned about consumer brand building in fandom-driven categories, how creator and audience behavior has shifted, and where the next generation of opportunities lives for founders, investors, and incumbent media companies.
After seven startups, multiple exits, and decades as an advisor and investor, Patrick speaks with unusual honesty about the parts of founder life nobody puts on LinkedIn: imposter syndrome, knowing when to let go, the emotional cost of selling, and what it takes to step back into the founder's chair after success. A grounded, generous talk for founders, operators, and investors at any stage.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Patrick Lee
Why Patrick Lee?
Booking Patrick Lee is a smart choice for any event focused on entrepreneurship, brand building, the future of entertainment, or the intersection of media and technology. As Co-Founder and founding CEO of Rotten Tomatoes, he helped create one of the most durable consumer brands of the modern internet, a name now referenced in nearly every major film marketing campaign. He has since founded VENN, invested through PKO Investments, and mentored hundreds of founders through accelerators across the U.S. and Asia. Few speakers can match his combination of brand creator, operator, investor, and advisor. Book Patrick Lee through Aurum Speakers Bureau for events focused on founders, entertainment, consumer technology, and the discipline of long-term brand building.
Did Patrick Lee found Rotten Tomatoes?
Yes. Patrick Lee is a Co-Founder of Rotten Tomatoes, alongside Senh Duong and Stephen Wang, and served as the company's founding CEO. The three launched Rotten Tomatoes as undergraduates at the University of California, Berkeley in August 1998. Lee was CEO from 2000 to 2004 and led the platform through its early growth, its rise as a household name, and its first acquisition. Today, more than 25 years and several ownership transitions later, Rotten Tomatoes remains a defining force in entertainment.
What does Patrick Lee do now?
Patrick Lee is currently Co-Founder and CEO of VENN, a curated community of leading builders, creators, and talent around fandom. He was previously Co-Founder and Managing Partner of PKO Investments, a syndicate investing in the next generation of founders at the intersection of tech and entertainment. He is an active advisor to numerous startups and has mentored or supported programs at 500 Startups, Berkeley SkyDeck, Blue Startups, SOSV, and the Founder Institute.
What companies has Patrick Lee invested in or advised?
Patrick Lee is an investor and/or advisor to a wide range of technology and entertainment startups, including 4D Sight, AKA Virtual, CASETiFY, Collective, Inworld AI, MoviePass, NZXT, Oishii, Pixels, Prezent, Refundly, Samba TV, Sudowrite, vFive, VoyceMe, and The House Fund, among others.
What topics does keynote speaker Patrick Lee cover?
Patrick Lee speaks on focus as a founder discipline, the history and brand-building lessons of Rotten Tomatoes, the intersection of technology and entertainment, and the realities of serial entrepreneurship. His talks are designed for founders, executives, investors, and audiences interested in media, fandom, and consumer technology. Book Patrick Lee through Aurum Speakers Bureau to bring his rare combination of brand creator, operator, and investor experience to your event.
How to book Patrick Lee as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Patrick Lee as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Patrick Lee's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Patrick Lee or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Patrick Lee speaking fee?
Patrick Lee speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Patrick Lee to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Patrick Lee.
How can I contact Patrick Lee?
We only work with Patrick Lee on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Patrick Lee and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Patrick Lee speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Patrick Lee for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Patrick Lee for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Patrick Lee is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Patrick Lee for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
