Josh Linkner

Joshua M. "Josh" Linkner (born July 28, 1970) is an American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, author, and keynote speaker. He is the founder of several companies, including the interactive promotion agency ePrize, and the author of five books on innovation and creativity in business, including the 2021 release Big Little Breakthroughs.

Early life and education Linkner was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and launched his first business at age 11. He was born to a Jewish family and has spoken about how his heritage shaped his values and resilience, stating that "being Jewish gives you a leg up....As Jews, we have a rich legacy of resiliency, a rich heritage of overcoming odds, We don’t make excuses." He is also an accomplished jazz guitarist, having studied at the Berklee College of Music and performed professionally from his teens. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in advertising from the University of Florida.

Career

Entrepreneurship and Business Ventures Linkner founded several companies, including ePrize, an interactive promotion agency, where he served as CEO and chairman. In 2010, he became CEO and managing partner of Detroit Venture Partners, a venture capital firm focused on revitalizing Detroit through entrepreneurship and technology. Its portfolio has included Rockbot, Detroit Labs, and Are You a Human. Linkner's efforts to foster innovation in Detroit during this time were profiled in a Microsoft feature highlighting entrepreneurs working to revive the city.$1 General partners have included Earvin "Magic" Johnson.

On November 4, 2014, Linkner announced he would step down as CEO of Detroit Venture Partners to focus on writing and speaking. He later became a partner at High Level Marketing, a Michigan-based digital marketing agency.

In 2023, Linkner co-founded Mudita Venture Partners, a Midwest-focused early-stage venture capital firm dedicated to investing in purpose-driven startups in undercapitalized markets. The firm closed its debut fund at $85 million in October 2023 and announced a $125 million Fund II in June 2025 to expand its mission of supporting high-growth startups outside traditional tech hubs.

Linkner is also a co-founder of ImpactEleven, a speaker coaching firm.

Public Speaking and Media Work Linkner has written articles for Forbes, Inc. Magazine, Fast Company, and the Detroit Free Press. He has delivered keynotes to organizations across multiple countries and is a multiple-time TEDx speaker.

He has been featured in:

McKinsey & Company Author Talks – “How everyday people can become everyday innovators” (2021) Forbes – “Driving Innovation In Customer Experience With Josh Linkner,” by Blake Morgan (2019) Microsoft – “Entrepreneurs help revive Detroit with heart and grit” (2014) The Innovator – “Interview Of The Week: Josh Linkner, Innovation Expert” The Recursive – “The best leaders build rituals that support creativity,” Bucharest Tech Week interview Mind Tools – Expert interview on Big Little Breakthroughs

Notable speaking appearances include:

TEDxDetroit (2011) – “How To Overcome Natural Forces”

Publications Linkner is the author of five books on creativity, leadership, and innovation:

Leaning Forward: Surviving/Winning in the Future of Interactive Marketing (2007), ISBN 978-1598584288

Disciplined Dreaming: A Proven System to Drive Breakthrough Creativity (2011), ISBN 978-0470922224 – a New York Times bestseller, translated into multiple languages.

The Road to Reinvention: How to Drive Disruption and Accelerate Transformation (2014), ISBN 978-0470923436 – also a New York Times bestseller.

Hacking Innovation: The New Growth Model from the Sinister World of Hackers (2017), ISBN 978-1499902297

Big Little Breakthroughs: How Small, Everyday Innovations Drive Oversized Results (2021), ISBN 978-1642936773

He is also the co-author of a self-published guide on innovation:

The Find A Way Field Guide: A Practical Workbook for Unlocking Creative Capacity (2026, co-authored with Kaiser Yang)

These works have been featured in major outlets including Forbes, Harvard Business Review, and Fast Company, and have received coverage in major business media.

Recognition Linkner was named a Champion of Change by President Barack Obama in 2011 for his work in fostering youth entrepreneurship.

Additional sources documenting Linkner’s work and public recognition include: