Boardroom Media (CEO News)
At CEO (Boardroom Media) we track over 1,000,000 startups and over 5,000,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top Chicago based CEO’ operating in the Internet of Things space. If you think a CEO’ is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on [email protected].
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Jason Huggins
Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Tapster Robotics, Inc.
Jason Huggins is a co-founder of Sauce Labs. Prior to Sauce, Jason was a testing engineer at Google in Mountain View where he worked on the scaled test automation of Google web applications. Jason’s experience also includes time at ThoughtWorks in Chicago. While at ThoughtWorks, Jason created Selenium, an integrated tool for automated web site testing. When not programming in Python or JavaScript, Jason enjoys hacking on Arduino-based electronics projects.Jason has spent time in New York City, LA, and the Bay Area, but Chicago is his kind of town.
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About Tapster Robotics, Inc.: Robots for testing mobile phones, tablets, and the Internet of Things.
Michael Jansen
Chairman, Founder & CEO of Cityzenith
Michael Jansen is a sought after Smart City industry leader and public speaker with numerous awards and accolades to his credit, and has been featured on CNN, CNBC, and myriads of business, technology, and AEC publications worldwide, including Architectural Record, ENR, Business Week, Domus, Contract Magazine, et. al. In 2007, Michael was awarded Building Design + Construction Magazine’s prestigious “40 Under 40” award honoring top CEOs in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry under the age of 40. An impassioned architect, urbanist, and entrepreneur, Michael founded Satellier in 2004, a CAD and BIM production services company backed by venture capital firm Sequoia Capital. Under his leadership, in just four years Satellier experienced explosive growth from a team size of 10 to over 450 and fundamentally changed the way AEC firms deliver services. In 2010, Michael assumed the helm of Cityzenith to pursue his dream of transforming life in cities all over the world. Michael was educated as an architect at Yale and Cambridge; earned a Fulbright scholarship; studied art and architecture in China and India; speaks four languages and has traveled to more than 80 countries; designs high-end, exotic furniture, and is an avid guitar player.
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About Cityzenith: Cityzenith is a technology startup that provides data visualization platform software and applications for IoT and Smart Cities.
Adam Sobol
Founder & CEO of CareBand
Adam Sobol is the founder and CEO of CareBand, Inc, a wearable technology company dedicated to seniors living with dementia. Adam has been developing web and mobile applications since he was 16. He is a creative innovator focused on social impact projects. In 2017, Adam was named to AARP’s 50+ Innovation Leaders for healthcare. Adam is also active on the Illinois Technology Association’s IoT Council focused in policy and cybersecurity. Adam earned an undergraduate degree in informatics and a graduate degree in information systems and cybersecurity, both from Indiana University. Based in Chicago, IL, Adam is an avid rower, tennis player, and cellist.
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About CareBand, IU Ventures: Wearable technology for seniors living with dementia
Haven Allen
CEO and Co-Founder of mHUB
Haven Allen, chief executive officer and co-founder, is an entrepreneur and technology strategist who most recently concentrated on growing the manufacturing industry and strengthening its community throughout Chicagoland. As an economic development strategist at World Business Chicago, he directed the Advisory Council for Chicagoland Manufacturing through which he established and led the implementation of an economic development agenda to support growth and job creation in the manufacturing sector. During his graduate education, Haven served as a Mayoral Fellow at the City of Chicago. As a fellow he provided research and analysis on policy initiatives dealing with infrastructure, electricity markets and municipal marketing. In order to give back to his country, Haven joined the Peace Corps and served as a community economic development volunteer in Panama where he worked to strengthen the management and leadership capacities of rural cooperatives and local organizations in order to increase economic opportunities. In addition, Haven was a small business owner in the production and publishing industry. Haven has a Master of Public Policy and a Certificate of Graduate Studies in Science, Technology and Public Policy from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from University of Illinois at Chicago.
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About mHUB, mHUB, mHUB, mHUB Accelerator Incubation LLC: mHUB is a hardtech innovation and manufacturing entrepreneurial center.
Wes Shepherd
CEO of Unifyd Insights
Wes Shepherd currently works as the CEO for Unifyd Insights.
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About Unifyd Insights: Unifyd is a pre-integrated data & analytics marketplace. Connect your data to expand and enrich it.
Mehdi Bentanfous
CEO North America and CRO Industries of KINEXON
Mehdi Bentanfous is the CEO North America and CRO Industries at KINEXON.
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About KINEXON: Real-time location intelligence for the Internet of Things.
Igor Fedulov
CEO of Intersog
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About Intersog: We build software and help other companies attack their business goals, solve IT skills shortage issues and embrace innovation.
Carl Nerup
CEO of Cog
Mr. Nerup is the Founder and Chairman at Cog Systems, a private company focused on delivering high assurance ARM based virtualization solutions to the mobile, server, and IoT markets. Prior to this role, Mr. Nerup was the CMO at Cog Systems. Previously, Mr. Nerup was Vice President in Samsung’s Global Enterprise Business, where he had sole accountability for all direct and indirect sales for the industry leading Samsung Knox Secure Mobility platform. Prior to that, he was a member of the Executive Team at General Dynamics Broadband, where he was the Vice President in charge of global business development for their new line of business in the secure mobility industry – GD Protect. He also served as an Executive in Residence at Carnegie Mellon University, where he worked with the Quality of Life Technology Foundry; a National Science Foundation Engineering Resource Center. He was also a vice president in AT&T’ Strategic Business Development organization, where he had responsibility for identifying new business opportunities across all AT&T business units. He also evaluated all Venture opportunities and managed the full Minority Investment Portfolio for AT&T. Prior to AT&T, Mr. Nerup was a Managing Director at Digital Island, a Cable & Wireless Company, a start-up provider of global hosting and content delivery services. Previous to that, Mr. Nerup was on the launch team for Aerial Communications, a start-up provider of GSM services in seven markets across the U.S., where he was the Head of Sales Operations and Distribution Strategy. Additionally, Mr. Nerup continues in his role as a Partner at Skyline Partners, a private equity firm based in Denver that specializes in select investments and specialized management consulting. Mr. Nerup is a frequent speaker at industry forums and conferences. He also provides advisory services to numerous companies in the emerging high technology and telecommunications industries as well as select non-profit organizations and graduate schools. As a fun fact, Mr. Nerup has been part of six ‘exits’ in his career through either acquisitions or mergers. He is also an avid backpacker and lover of the outdoors.
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About Aegis Secure, Cog: We virtualize IoT. Cyber security focused on the connected device marketplace.
Eric Sheinkop
CEO of The Desire Company
Entrepreneur, acclaimed author and tech innovator, Eric Sheinkop builds 21st century solutions for antiquated industries ripe for change, as evidenced in his latest tech startup, desirelist. desirelist continues his trend of creating disruptive tech-based platforms, as he’s done since he was 25-years-old. After spending years advising Fortune 100 companies on sourcing the perfect music for their advertising campaigns, in 2008 Eric Sheinkop created Music Dealers to help brands create meaningful connections with their target audiences while providing a new route for emerging artists to gain the exposure, funding, and distribution necessary to take their careers to the next level. In 2011, under Sheinkop’s leadership, Music Dealers cemented a groundbreaking partnership with The Coca-Cola Company, securing Music Dealers’ position as the organization’s global music partner. Sheinkop’s accolades with Music Dealers include features in Billboard Magazine’s “30 Under 30” list and in Crain’s Chicago Business Magazine’s “Tech 50” list. Further, Sheinkop represented Entrepreneurs Building Companies that Unite the World when he ran with the Olympic Torch at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Before leaving Music Dealers in 2015, the company was awarded”Fastest Growing Private Companies in America” by Inc. Magazine. Sheinkop’s written works, Hit Brands: How Music Builds Value for the World’s Smartest Brands, released in 2013, and Return of the Hustle: The Art of Marketing with Music, released in 2016 are included in college curriculums across the world. As such, Return of the Hustle became the #1 New Release in Music and #1 New Release in Business Communications on Amazon. A destination for shoppers to discover products recommended by experts and influencers, Sheinkop’s latest venture, desirelist, is the millennial solution to trusted recommendations. With desirelist, Sheinkop aims to revolutionize the retail industry transforming the way people view items and purchase.
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About The Desire Company: Bite-sized, shoppable Masterclass
Lisa Carrel
CEO & Co-Founder of Proxfinity
Lisa is CEO/Co-Founder at Proxfinity, a Chicago-based tech startup. Lisa is an optimistic, driven and enthusiastic leader. She focuses on developing a strategic path, implementing growth strategies and leading her team toward successful, measurable results. She has helped her company create a market category in the meetings and events industry and successfully grow its pipeline. She is also a motivating speaker particularly at industry events and focuses on the importance of networking, helping people understand why it’s hard and teaching how technology can aid in unlocking potential and to overcome bias.
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About Proxfinity: Inspire Conversations. Measure Results.
Ilya Preston
Co-Founder & CEO of PAXAFE
Ilya Preston is the CEO and Co-Founder of PAXAFE,
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About PAXAFE: PAXAFE builds smart packaging IoT that aggregates critical supply chain data and enables intelligent shipping insurance.
Daniel Roberts
Founder & CEO of Scout
Daniel Roberts is the Founder & CEO at Scout
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About Scout: Scout is a home security system that combines hardware designs and easy-to-use controls.
Don DeLoach
CEO of Rocket Wagon Venture Studios
Don DeLoach is the Chief Executive Officer and President of Infobright since May 2010. Don has more than 30 years of software industry experience, with demonstrated success building software companies with extensive sales, marketing, and international experience. Don joined Infobright after serving as Chief Executive Officer of Aleri, the complex event processing company, which was acquired by Sybase in February 2010. Prior to Aleri, Don served as President and Chief Executive Officer of YOUcentric, a CRM software company, where he led the growth of the company before being acquired by JD Edwards in 2001. Prior to YOUcentric, Don spent five years in senior roles at Sybase. Don has also served as a Director at Broadbeam Corporation and Chairman of the Board at Apropos Inc. Don currently also serves on the Board of the Illinois Technology Association as well as the Board of the Juvenile Protective Association. Don has a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
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About Rocket Wagon Venture Studios: Rocket Wagon Venture helps new entrepreneurs build products, teams and go to market strategies based on laser focus & ongoing assessment.
José Luis Pérez
Founder & CEO of Hooks
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About Hooks: Hooks is an iOS app that enables its users to stay updated with alerts on various topics they are interested in.
Adam Justice
Founder & CEO of ConnectSense
Adam Justice is the Chief Executive Officer at Grid Connect.
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About ConnectSense, Grid Connect Inc.: ConnectSense is a technology company that develops IoT solutions for home and office environments.
Andre Gieniec
Chief Executive Officer of Hyperlocal
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About Hyperlocal: Event Intelligence Platform
Patrick O’Brien
Founder & CEO of LakeView Labs
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About LakeView Labs: LakeviewLabs is a web and mobile app development agency located in Chicago.
Donovan Morrison
CEO & Co-Founder of Luna Lights
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About Luna Lights, Main Event Digital: Luna Lights has developed an automated lighting system that utilizes behavioral analysis to help older adults stay safer at night.
Jennifer Gary
Co-Founder/CEO of FLIG, LLC
Jennifer loves the synergy that happens when great people and unique ideas generate momentum. Wanting to create a niche brand within the Chicago music industry, she hopes to initiate a massive shift in the status quo. As co-founder, she paints the broad vision and forms critical partnerships to iterate into the future. Her greatest desire is to give individuals the opportunity and the means to pursue their life’s purpose.
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About FLIG, LLC: FLIG, LLC is a platform for an industry-curated community, where talented people come together to create memorable experiences..
Ruben Garcia
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Certiverse
Ruben Arturo Garcia is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Certiverse.
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About Certiverse: Certiverse leverages proprietary technology and proven, economic-based crowdsourcing models to develop high-quality certification exams.
Liz Salcedo
Head of Product, Founder & CEO of Everpurse
Liz Salcedo is the Founder and CEO at Everpurse.
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About Everpurse: Everpurse offers a special charging pocket that enables users to charge their smartphones when they are outside.
Dave Krawczyk
CEO of Glance Displays, Inc.
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About Glance Displays, Inc.: Glance is an internet connected mirror that seamlessly displays contextual, pertinent information.
