Payam Zamani is an entrepreneur, investor and the founder of One Planet Group. He is also the author of the book Crossing the Desert: The Power of Embracing Life's Difficult Journeys (June 18, 2024; BenBella Books). Born in Iran, Zamani was forced to flee at the age of 16 due to his religious beliefs as a Baha’i. He and his brother founded AutoWeb, one of the first online car marketplaces, which they took public in 1999. Since then, he has built and currently owns multiple technology and media businesses, has invested in more than 50 companies and is striving to redefine capitalism in an attempt to elevate business to serve humanity.