The Andrew Conru Story
From farm kid to internet pioneer, from depression to redemption through art. A journey of building, breaking, and rebuilding with purpose.
Foundations
Values Forged in the Midwest Heartland
Andrew, age 3, learning the work ethic that would guide his life
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With Star the calf - learning responsibility and care for living things
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Farm life - the values that shaped everything
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The family workshop - hands-on problem-solving and resourcefulness
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- •Indiana farm childhood with union steelworker parents Worth and Reva
- •Mother's motto: 'Never do anything half-assed' becomes life philosophy
- •Learned resourcefulness building with father from scrap materials
- •Early entrepreneurship selling vegetables door-to-door at age 6
The Engineer Emerges
From High School Matchmaker to AI Researcher
Fascinated by the dynamics of complex systems
College freshman Andrew - driven to understand how things work
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Stanford 1992 - pursuing AI research and advanced engineering
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Building control system for exoskeleton robot arm
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PhD thesis: AI optimization of satellite cable routing
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- •1985: Created high school Valentine's Day matchmaking program - early AI for human connection
- •Rose-Hulman: Dual major in Engineering & Economics, fascinated by complex systems
- •Stanford PhD: AI optimization of satellite systems at Center for Design Research
- •Key insight: Technology as tool for understanding and improving human systems
Inventing the Internet Economy
First E-Commerce, First Dating Site, First Ad Network
Building tools to solve real-world problems
World's first online shopping system (broke Amazon 1-click shopping patent)
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WebPersonals.com - the world's first dating website
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- •1993: Launched Internet Media Services - only 'Internet' listing in Yellow Pages
- •Created world's first online shopping cart system (WebALOG)
- •Built first banner ad network, establishing web's business model
- •1994: Launched WebPersonals.com - world's first dating site, built in 2 weeks
Revolutionary Success & Stress
Building an Inclusive Digital World
Bootstrapped, not VC-backed. Inclusive, not exclusive.
FriendFinder grew to be one of the largest social networking sites in the world
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Andrew was in charge of the creative vision and design of the websites
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He was in the office so often, he kept a bed folded up under his desk
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- •1996: Launched FriendFinder, bootstrapped without venture capital
- •Built 20+ inclusive sites including first platforms for LGBTQ+ community
- •Grew to one of world's largest social networks - 700M+ users globally
- •2007: Burnout and depression led to selling company for fraction of worth
Seven Years in the Wilderness
When Success Feels Like Failure
The search for meaning after losing your purpose
'Wherever you go, there you are' - can't escape yourself
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Monastery.com: helping people through personal problems
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StudyOnline.com: helping people find free education
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CityRoof.org: a social network for the homeless
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- •Sale should have been triumph - $140M for company making $90M/year profit
- •Instead triggered seven-year spiral into darkness and depression
- •Identity tied to building community, not wealth
- •Launched non-profit sites but couldn't match FriendFinder's impact
Art Saves a Life
365 Paintings, 365 Days of Healing
When the heart guides the hand, miracles happen
The very first painting in 2015 - beginning the healing journey
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The complete grid of 365 paintings from 2015
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52 paintings from 2016 - continuing the journey weekly
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- •2015 New Year's resolution: 'Learn something worth remembering'
- •Committed to painting once per day despite no formal training
- •Physical act of creating forced brain away from negative rumination
- •365 paintings later: art had fundamentally recreated him
The Great Unfriending
A Systems Analysis of a Divided World
When the system is the problem, you need a new operating system
Friendships lost over trivial differences
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Algorithms profit from outrage
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A new approach is needed
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- •2016: Watched as friendships ended over single social media posts
- •Systems engineer perspective: problem isn't people, it's the system
- •We're programmed by algorithms that profit from anger and division
- •Solution: new cultural OS built on Beauty, Truth, and Love
A Cultural Solution
The Conru Art Foundation in Practice
An engineer's approach to healing culture
From personal healing to a public mission
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The Poll Building 4th floor - CAF headquarters and gallery space
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With Reva and wife Nonie - values come full circle
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- •Applied engineer's systems thinking to cultural healing
- •Created comprehensive ecosystem: education, public art, zero-commission gallery
- •Seattle Atelier passes on master skills to new generation
- •Building cultural platform to inspire, renew, heal, and bring joy
The Parallel Mission
Revolutionizing Business for the Public Good
FriendFinder's second act
The team running the new mission
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- •2021: Re-acquired FriendFinder after father's passing gave courage
- •Returned not for profit but for redemption and proof of concept
- •Transforming from extraction system to public good platform
- •No ads, no manipulation, profits recycled to support creators
The Story Continues
Today, Andrew's dual mission—cultural healing through art and business transformation— represents a new model for how wealth and technology can serve humanity.