Stephen Hulford
Stephen Hulford | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1971 (age 54–55) |
| Alma mater | University of Toronto (BA) |
| Occupations | Businessperson, entrepreneur |
| Known for | co-founder of Filemobile |
| Notable work | What If, How to Survive |
Stephen Hulford (born 1971) is a Canadian businessperson and swimmer.[1][2] He is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Underknown, a Toronto-based digital producer of science and educational content.[3] Previously, he co-founded Filemobile and served as its chief creative officer until 2015.[4]
Early life and education
Hulford was born in 1971 in Portsmouth, England.[5] He attended the University of Toronto, where he was a member of the varsity swimming team.[5][6] In 1994, his athleticism was recognized with the University of Toronto's T-Holders' Award as the male athlete of the year.[7] He represented Canada at international competitions such as the Pan American Games, FINA Swimming World Cup, and World University Championships. He graduated from the University of Toronto's New College with a degree in arts and sciences.[5]
Career
Early in his career, Hulford worked as a documentarian. In 1995, he produced Real Travel: 60 Days in Indonesia,[8] a travel documentary filmed over two months in Indonesia.[9] The project was completed with the assistance of Catherine McKenna, who was credited as an associate producer.[9] Later, he worked as vice-president of sports products for the Canadian sports broadcasters TSN and RDS.[10]
In 2005, Hulford and Ron Watson acquired PoolExpert, a fantasy sports website established in 1999.[11] PoolExpert was eventually acquired by Rogers Media in 2008.[12] In 2005, Hulford co-founded Filemobile, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform for user-generated content.[13][12] One application of Filemobile's technology was a CTV mobile app for citizen journalism.[12] In January 2015, the Australian company Newzulu acquired Filemobile. As part of the acquisition, Hulford joined Newzulu's executive management team.[14]
In the mid-2010s, Hulford co-founded the digital media company Underknown Inc., which produces educational video content. Underknown's series, including What If and How to Survive, are distributed on social media and streaming platforms.[15]
In May 2020, Hulford led a five-hour global livestream Live Med Aid that raised funds for Médecins Sans Frontières' COVID-19 response; the programme combined conversations with scientists such as Jane Goodall, David Suzuki, Wade_Davis, Katherine Hayhoe, and Neil deGrasse Tyson with performances by Earth, Wind & Fire, Barenaked Ladies, Metric, Bombino, Ed Robertson and others.[16][17]
In January 2021, after COVID-19 restrictions closed local pools, Hulford and his daughter Kate moved their Olympic-focused training to the open waters of Lake Ontario, where they swam year-round despite frigid conditions, often joined in the summer by displaced swimming club members.[5][1]
References
- ^ a b Darrah, Patrick (January 1, 2021). "Father, daughter swimming duo take to the lake due to pool closures". CTVNews.
- ^ Westoll, Nick (July 8, 2023). "Toronto swimmers using real-time sensors to get data on changing lake conditions".
- ^ "These companies show there's still plenty of good news in the Canadian tech sector". December 9, 2022 – via www.theglobeandmail.com.
- ^ "Running an online contest, don't run afoul of the law". September 19, 2011 – via www.theglobeandmail.com.
- ^ a b c d "'REMARKABLE DISTRACTION': Nothing's cooler than wintertime swims in Lake Ontario".
- ^ "Executive Reads: Steve Hulford - Notable Life". March 28, 2012.
- ^ "Major Award Winners". University of Toronto Athletics.
- ^ "60 Days in Indonesia – Full Documentary". YouTube. Underknown. Retrieved 2025-09-03.
- ^ a b "Out of the frying pan … How Catherine McKenna's new gig might prove even more of a powder keg than her last".
- ^ "Digital Media People to Watch in Ontario in 2010". BrainStation®. January 5, 2010.
- ^ "Rogers boosts digital presence with PoolExpert".
- ^ a b c "How gamification could change citizen journalism | Research on Gamification, User Experience (UX), Digital Signage Canadian Companies Can Use".
- ^ "Filemobile capitalizes on active marketing". February 16, 2010 – via www.theglobeandmail.com.
- ^ https://theaustralian.com.au/business/media/newzulu-to-raise-capital-for-5m-deal/news-story/8ebe20adc33eee62e9822e2533f8f004
- ^ Gutelle, Sam (April 7, 2022). "The latest YouTube Kids series asks a lot of 'What If' questions".
- ^ Monroy Yglesias, Ana (6 May 2020). "LIVEMEDAID COVID-19 Research Livestream To Feature Earth, Wind & Fire, Bombino, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Jane Goodall & More". Grammy.com. Recording Academy. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
- ^ Shackleford, Tom (8 May 2020). "Earth, Wind & Fire To Perform On LIVE MED AID Global Science Fundraising Event". Live for Live Music. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
External links
- 60 Days in Indonesia – Full documentary on YouTube