Ben Rubenstein ’01 Returns to Hopkins as Inaugural Apuzzo Lecturer

When Ben Rubenstein ’01 stepped to the podium at morning Assembly on December 1, 2025, he carried with him the unmistakable energy of someone who has lived the full arc of an entrepreneurial life—setbacks, reinventions, and hard-won successes. With warmth and humor, Rubenstein encouraged students to view their futures through the lens that has guided his career: the belief that resilience fuels possibility.

One key takeaway from his impactful career captured the heart of his message to Hopkins students.

“Comebacks are real,” he said. “You see them in sports, in business, and in all of life. If you believe comebacks are possible, you may take more risks, make bigger bets, and see higher rewards. You have nothing to lose when you know a comeback is possible.”

Rubenstein’s visit launched the Dr. Michael L. J. Apuzzo ’57 HGS Endowed Lecture, the centerpiece of the School’s expanded speaker series and this year’s Citizens of the World theme—an initiative designed to bring diverse, influential voices to campus. As Head of School Matt Glendinning noted when launching the series, the guiding mission is simple: to bring the world to Hopkins.

A Career Defined by Building, Leading, and Taking Risks

After graduating from Hopkins and later the University of Pennsylvania, Rubenstein launched a career driven by entrepreneurial vision and a willingness to take meaningful risks.

He founded Yodle in 2005, growing it to more than 1,500 employees and 60,000 small business customers before its acquisition by Web.com.

He then co-founded Opcity, a real estate matchmaking platform that expanded to over 500 employees and 100,000 agents. The company was acquired by Realtor.com where Rubenstein went on to serve as Chief Revenue Officer.

In 2021, Rubenstein co-founded Setpoint, which provides capital and technology solutions for asset-backed lending. He has been widely recognized for his leadership—earning distinctions such as Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, INC 30 Under 30, “Austinite of the Year,” and Opportunity Austin’s “C-Suite Executive of the Year.”

His body of work, spanning multiple industries, reflects the same spirit of innovation and possibility that defines the Apuzzo Lecture.

During his remarks, Rubenstein expressed appreciation for returning to Hopkins to speak with the next generation of learners and leaders, especially because teaching entrepreneurship is one of the focuses of the Hopkins strategic plan which was launched in 2024.

“I’d like to thank Head of School Matt Glendinning for inviting me to speak here,” he said. “We spoke about this a few years ago when we first met, and I’m excited that this day came. It means the world to me to share my stories and hear that entrepreneurship is going to be part of the Hopkins curriculum.”

Following assembly, Rubenstein spent time with students interested in business, technology, finance, and start-up culture.

The Apuzzo Lecture is rooted in the life and career of Dr. Michael L. J. Apuzzo ’57 HGS, a New Haven native whose work embodies the spirit of curiosity and creativity Hopkins aims to instill in its students. A pioneering neurosurgeon, nuclear submariner, NASA scientist, and futurist, Dr. Apuzzo helped shape the reinvention of neurosurgery between 1980 and 2010. He is widely regarded as one of the field’s most imaginative and influential leaders.

Created to honor this extraordinary legacy, the Apuzzo Lecture aims to expose students to thinkers and innovators who are shaping the world today—individuals whose paths illustrate the power of ideas, perseverance, and bold thinking. Rubenstein, the inaugural speaker, was a fitting choice.

Watch the full assembly speech below.