Lane Merrifield

Co-Founder, FreshGrade & Club Penguin | “Dragon” on CBC’s Dragons’ Den

Book Lane

About Lane

Lane Merrifield is the creator of Club Penguin, the world’s largest children’s social network. Just 18 months after launch, Lane sold the company for $350 million and accepted his next challenge as one of the youngest executive vice presidents at the Walt Disney Company, where he grew Club Penguin to a billion-dollar brand.

Eager to return to entrepreneurial life, Lane moved home to Kelowna, B.C., in 2012. He launched FreshGrade, a learning assessment tool that connects teachers, parents, and students to help both personalize and improve learning. It is currently being used in 80 percent of districts across Canada. One year later, he founded Wheelhouse, an organization that invests in and supports early-stage tech companies and entrepreneurs. One of their first projects was the creation of a $35 million, 100K square foot state-of-the-art innovation centre in Kelowna.

Lane sits on the board of Spin Master, the University of British Columbia’s board of governors, and the B.C. premier’s technology council. Lane has received an Honorary Fellows Award, a Business Leader of the Year award from the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, and was listed as one of The Hollywood Reporter’s Top 35 Executives under 35.

Get Lane's Availability and rates

Lane's topics

Need help choosing your next event speaker?

Talk with one of our experts.