Ken Bautista, 32, has over 10 years experience in the interactive industry as an entrepreneur and creative director.

He founded his first interactive development company, Hotrocket, in 2001 after graduating from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. In 2008, the company’s interactive services division was acquired by RED The Agency, one of the fastest growing independent marketing agencies in Western Canada.

Ken is currently working on his second start-up seekyourownproof.com, an online community for kids ages 8-12 where they’re challenged to investigate science and history as agents of a fictional agency called the “Central Institute for Exploration”. Seek Your Own Proof has been recognized with several awards including: Grand Prize Winner at the TEC VenturePrize competition in Alberta, Best in Show at the Fusion Digital Media Venture Forum in Vancouver, Pitch It! Winner at KidScreen Summit in New York, and Most Promising Company at the Canadian New Media Awards.

Ken is also an active social entrepreneur, founding and leading non-profit organizations focused on growing the creative and technology community in Edmonton and Alberta. He recently served as President of Digital Alberta, the provincial industry association for digital media. He was appointed to the Alberta Film Advisory Council and served on the Canadian Interactive Alliance, Canadian Heritage Trade Team, and the nextMEDIA Industry Advisory Board. He currently is the founding chair of artsScene Edmonton, a nonprofit organization focused on engaging young professionals in Edmonton to grow the creative community, and Startup Edmonton, a nonprofit organization focused on growing the technology and startup community in Edmonton. He is also organizing the upcoming TEDx Edmonton event in March 2010.

In 2009, Ken was recognized in Avenue Edmonton Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 issue, and was featured in Alberta Venture Magazine’s “Next Up” series. He has been invited to speak at international events including the Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum in Hong Kong, Banff World Television Festival and Canadian Arts Summit.