TheBridge profile: Sawyer Thompson, Fighting Cancer with IBM World Community Grid
An honorary member of TheBridge leaders directory, Sawyer Thompson is an ambitious two-time CEO, he builds and sells computers, and...he’s a Middle Schooler! Sawyer's Dad, Brett, has brain cancer and his treatment is ongoing. Determined to help, Sawyer's most recent conquest is working to advance cancer research by donating spare computer power to help find treatments and cures.
We are inspired by the way Sawyer is tackling this challenge. Cancer researchers need to analyze billions of cancer markers using computers. Without enough computer power, research can often take decades. Sawyer is using the IBM World Community Grid to access spare computer power to reach 100 years of cancer research before his Dad’s next birthday in September 2020. We asked Sawyer a few questions and loved hearing more about his story (including building and selling cryptominers at age 11). Read more about Sawyer's Cancer Fighting Network, breakthroughs that can be made and how you can donate your computer power:
Name: Sawyer Thompson
Current city: Alexandria, VA
Current job: CEO of ZOYA, Founder of Sawyer's Cancer Fighting Network and a Middle Schooler
Q. Living Person You Most Admire? Tim Cook
Q. Favorite App? Google App – I like the way it serves a news feed based upon your interests.
Q. How did you get interested in technology? In September 2015, when I was 9 years old, I saw a video about how to build a computer. I found a kit online and asked my parents to buy the kit for me. The kit arrived in the mail and I built it! I had so much fun building the computer that I decided to start my own computer company, ZOYA, LLC. I built about 20 computers and sold them locally and on eBay before I saw a video about cryptomining. I then decided I wanted to build and sell cryptominers at age 11 (see a pattern here?).
Q. Looking back, what advice would you give to yourself in the beginning of your career? Ha – I’m only 13! Be brave. Quality over quantity. You don’t get what you don’t ask for.
Q. Last time you were unplugged? A few weeks ago when I lost my electronics privileges for sneaking electronics when I was supposed to be doing something else.
Q. What got you focused on using computers to conduct cancer research? Right around the time I started building and selling cryptominers, my dad was diagnosed with brain cancer. My dad was lucky. He had emergency brain surgery, a second awake brain surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Treatment is ongoing.
I realized I had these powerful cryptominers in my basement and could run IBM's World Community Grid on them to help people with cancer, like my dad. The miners were able to crank out some good research hours.
Q. How can spare computer power help find cancer treatments and cures? The IBM World Community Grid allows you donate your device’s spare computing power to help scientists solve the world’s biggest problems like finding treatments and cures for cancer.
Cancer researchers need to analyze billions of cancer markers using computers. With access to your spare computer power as part of Sawyer's Cancer Fighting Network, breakthroughs can be made in months, not years.
Q. What’s the goal of Sawyer’s Cancer Fighting Network? My goal is to do 100 years of cancer research before my Dad’s next birthday in September 2020. Your spare computing power can help me do this. I really hope you join and get your friends and family to join too. Learn more and sign-up at HelpSawyerFightCancer.com.
Do you know, or have you heard a story about a young tech entrepreneur creatively working on to further a social cause, we'd love to hear about them!