Henk Rogers is a renowned pioneer in the video game industry, best known as the founder of The Tetris Company and the entrepreneur who turned the little-known game Tetris into an international phenomenon. His career is marked by audacious entrepreneurial ventures and a deep commitment to global sustainability, leading him to found over 10 companies and non-profit organizations.
In the 1980s, Rogers' efforts—which included complex negotiations with the Soviet Union—secured the handheld rights for Tetris, a move that was instrumental in establishing the Nintendo Game Boy as a dominant market leader. This legacy in the gaming industry is now celebrated as business folklore, chronicled in the 2023 film Tetris. However, a near-fatal health event in 2005 spurred a major pivot in his life, shifting his focus to pressing global issues.
This new mission led him to establish the Blue Planet Foundation, which has been critical in advocating for and implementing renewable energy policies across Hawaii and 15 other U.S. states. Recognizing the need for global application, he founded the Blue Planet Alliance in 2021, an organization dedicated to helping vulnerable island communities transition away from fossil fuels to achieve energy independence through sustainable models. He also founded Blue Planet Energy, a leader in energy storage systems.
Rogers’ influence extends beyond energy; he is also the founder of the International Moonbase Alliance, an organization focused on building sustainable settlements on the Moon and Mars, positioning Hawaii as a key player in the space industry. An inductee into the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences’ Hall of Fame, his diverse career provides audiences with unparalleled insights into technological innovation, high-stakes negotiation, and the entrepreneurial spirit required to tackle humanity's largest challenges, from climate change to space colonization.
