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 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.
Stan Chia
CEO of Vivid Seats
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About Creative Destruction Lab (CDL), Vivid Seats: Vivid Seats operates as an online ticket marketplace that connects fans with event ticket sellers.
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.
Kyle Stoner
Founder and CEO of Abode
Kyle is a seasoned entrepreneur with a proven background starting and growing multiple companies. He co-founded Pangea Money Transfer and Alpha Lead. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Kyle worked as an investment banker focused on mergers and acquisitions for JP Morgan and Robert W. Baird. Prior to that, he focused on lean manufacturing as an Industrial Engineer for Delphi Automotive and General Motors. Kyle earned an MBA from Columbia University and is a Purdue Industrial Engineering alum.
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About Abode: Abode is a user-friendly app that eases the home buying process and is especially helpful to first-time buyers.
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.
Linxin Wen
CEO & Co-founder of Chowbus
Linxin Wen is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Chowbus.
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About Chowbus: Chowbus is a delivery platform that provides authentic Asian food sourced from local independent restaurants and stores.
Jason Fried
Co-Founder & CEO of Basecamp
Jason Fried is the Co – Founder & President of 37signals. A privately-held Chicago-based company committed to building the best web-based tools possible with the least number of features necessary. Jason Co – Wrote all of 37signals books, including their latest “Rework”, and is invited to speak on entrepreneurship, design, management, and software all around the globe. Jason believes there’s real value and beauty in the basics.
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About Basecamp, Inc.com: Basecamp is a private, secure space online where people working together can organize and discuss.
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.
Lawrence Griffith
CEO of Samplesaint
Lawrence is the founder of Samplesaint, Inc. Mr. Griffith is a “serial entrepreneur,” having formed two startup companies; both companies were successful and positioned for purchase. He has worked in consumer marketing for fifteen years on the agency and corporate side. Mr. Griffith holds a B.A. in Liberal Arts with a focus in social behavior from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio and an M.B.A. from Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois.
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About Samplesaint: Samplesaint is an interactive mobile media firm providing CPGs and retailers with a mobile and internet platform.
Brian Wilneff
CEO, Founder of GamerzArena
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About Alpha Metaverse Technologies Inc, GamerzArena: GamerzArena provides everyone with the platform to compete in eSports for cash prizes or sponsored product at any time.
John Barnicle
Chief Executive Officer of Peerless Network
John Barnicle has 30 years of leadership experience in the telecommunications industry. Prior to founding Peerless Network, John was President and Chief Executive Officer of Lynch Interactive Corp. where he led the effort to take the company private. Under his leadership the firm grew non-regulated revenue streams on a 20% annual pace and reduced the company’s reliance on USF (Universal Service Fund) financial support. Prior to Lynch Interactive Corp., John served as Co-founder, President and Chief Operating Officer of Neutral Tandem Inc. which he helped grow from inception to an annualized revenue run rate of over $40 million in just 20 months. Under John’s control, Neutral Tandem became EBITDA positive within 12 months of providing service. His leadership established the foundation for the company’s successful Initial Public Offering in November 2007. Prior to Neutral Tandem, John was Co-founder, President and Chief Operating Officer of Focal Communications Corp. With direct responsible for all day-to-day activities of the company, John grew Focal to over $350M in annualized revenue in less than six years, guided the company to an operating profit in its first full year of operations and was involved in raising over $800 million in capital during that period, including a successful IPO in July 1999. John also held executive management roles at MFS Communications, Duff and Phelps Credit Rating Company and Centel Corporation. Mr. Barnicle earned an M.B.A. in Finance from DePaul University and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering with an emphasis on RF communications systems from the University of Illinois at Champaign.
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About Peerless Network: Peerless Network offers carrier and enterprise interconnection services for telecommunication companies, service providers and enterprises.
Matthew Krause
Founder, CEO of Bopdrop
Matthew Krause is the Founder and CEO at Bopdrop.
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About Bopdrop: Bopdrop is an application that makes it easy to share music.
Sean Chou
CEO of Catalytic
Sean Chou is the CEO and Co-founder of Catalytic, a company he founded in 2015 built on his lifelong obsession with working smarter. The company’s people-friendly automation platform frees up people to do more meaningful work, increases the speed of doing business, and improves the quality of outcomes. Prior to Catalytic, he was the founding CTO and EVP of Services at Fieldglass, a software-as-a-service pioneer acquired in 2014 by SAP for approximately $1 billion.
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About Catalytic: Catalytic offers the easiest platform for digital transformation and the automation of knowledge work.
Jake Lumetta
Founder and CEO of ButterCMS
Jake Lumetta serves as a Founder and CEO at ButterCMS.
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About ButterCMS: Add a blog or CMS to your website in minutes. ButterCMS is a headless CMS and blogging platform built for developers.
Kurt Hanson
CEO of Accuradio
Kurt Hanson is the founder and CEO of AccuRadio, a radio and music streaming application. He is also the publisher of RAIN: Radio And Internet Newsletter, a web-based newsletter for the fast-growing field of internet radio. As a popular keynote speaker, he has given his “State of the Industry Address” speech on the future of radio at conferences around the world, and is quoted regularly by top news sources including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, The Globe and Mail, and cable channels CNN, and CNBC. Hanson developed his reputation and expertise within the radio industry as the founder and CEO of Strategic Media Research (1980-2000), a market research firm respected throughout the radio industry for its music research program and its ratings product, which he built into a $10 million business. In high school, college, and throughout graduate school, Hanson worked at various major radio stations, including WOKY, WLS, WDAI, and WLUP. He holds a B.A. and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.
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About Accuradio: Accuradio is a multichannel internet radio station that caters to audiences with varied tastes.
Charles Kwon
Co-Founder & CEO of OmniSparx
Charles Kwon has over 30 years of experience in transforming companies by leveraging disruptive technologies. He has built and sold multiple startups and helped companies such as Microsoft, Dell, HP, and Dropbox.
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About OmniSparx: OmniSparx is a premier collaboration platform for crypto organizations to create and share value within their communities.
David Gomel
Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Finom
David Gomel is co-founder and co-CEO of Finom, responsible for product development and strategy. David holds an MBA with Honors from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, with concentrations in Analytic Finance, Econometrics and Statistics, and Strategic Management. Prior to business school, David worked at CBS Corp. in “intrapraneurial” corporate strategy and product management roles. David holds a BA in International Relations from Brown University. David is a lifelong skier and wishes Chicago was a little less flat.
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About Finom: Finom is an online platform.
Robert Yoskowitz
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nullafi
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About Nullafi: Nullafi Shield is a zero-code add-on to any endpoint that gives admins one-click control over what data that endpoint receives
Jimmy Chamberlin
CEO of Blue J Strategies
Jimmy Chamberlin is a CEO at Blue J Strategies.
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About Blue J Strategies: Blue J Strategies provides access, connectivity and strategic direction to companies across media.
Kwaku Owusu
Co-Founder & CEO of Drugviu
Kwaku Owusu is a co-founder at Ilerasoft.
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About Drugviu: Drugviu is a population health platform that is expanding the data set in health and medication outcomes for non-white populations.
Kwaku Owusu
Co-Founder & CEO of Drugviu
Kwaku Owusu is a co-founder at Ilerasoft.
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About Drugviu: Drugviu is a population health platform that is expanding the data set in health and medication outcomes for non-white populations.
Amanda Lannert
CEO of Jellyvision
Amanda Lannert is the Chief Executive Officer of The Jellyvision Lab, 8Inc. and has been a key figure in driving the company’s direction since its founding in 2001. Her focus at The Jellyvision Lab is on furthering the company’s digital strategy, improving processes to better scale operations, and customer acquisition to continue fueling the company’s growth. Under Amanda’s leadership, Jellyvision has doubled its revenue three out of the last four years and has grown to serve hundreds of mostly Fortune 1000 clients with interactive communication solutions for desktop, mobile, and emerging platforms via the company’s digital agency work and ALEX, the Jellyvision Benefits Counselor (www.meetalex.com). Prior to joining The Jellyvision Lab, Amanda managed global brands for Kellogg’s while at Leo Burnett, where she developed strategies and implemented campaigns for Pop-Tarts and Nutri-Grain bars, in addition to spending two years in a new business and new brand development think tank. Amanda was recently named CEO of the Year at the Moxie Awards and has been profiled in the Chicago Tribune. She is also active in Chicago’s startup community, serving on the advisory boards of 1871 and The Starter League, where she also teaches, as well as mentoring at TechStars, where she was named 2013 Mentor of the Year, and Healthbox Industries. Mrs. Lannert also enjoys a good cupcake.
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About Jellyvision: We make learning and decision making delightful. ALEX, our benefits expert, helps millions of employees understand their benefit options.
Craig Ulliott
CEO of Codeverse
Specialties:software development, scalable web architectures, social business models, viral marketing
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About Codeverse: Codeverse is the world’s first interactive coding studio & edtech platform,, founded on the mission to teach a billion kids to code.
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.
Joel Birch
CEO & Co-Founder of Stacked
Joel Birch is the CoFounder & CEO @Stacked – previously he helped lead restaurant growth @GrubHub.
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About Stacked: Stacked is a smart automated crypto investing platform.
Patrick Shutt
CEO of Unitas Global
Patrick Shutt is the CEO of Durham & Black, a strategic advisory firm in the telecom and technology market. Prior to founding Durham & Black, Patrick served as CEO of Global Capacity. He joined following the 2006 acquisition of 20/20 Technologies and its subsidiary Magenta net-Logic, where he served as CEO. Patrick has over two decades experience in the information services and telecommunications industry, and has a strong record of entrepreneurial achievement in both the US and Europe. In 1997, Patrick co-founded Universal Access and lead the company to a run rate of $144M in four years. In 2002 Deloitte and Touche awarded Universal Access the Fast 500 Award, recognizing the company as the fifth fastest growing company in the US. In 2000 he lead the company in its Goldman Sachs IPO, which an initial market capitalization of over $3B. Patrick holds a B.A. and M.B.A. from Wagner College and lives in Chicago.
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About Durham & Black, Unitas Global: Unitas Global is a platform=based managed network service provider connecting edge to cloud everywhere.
Ablorde Ashigbi
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of 4Degrees
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About 4Degrees, The World Economic Forum: AI-enabled relationship management platform, built for relationship driven industries.
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
Ned Bennett
Founder , CEO , President & Director of Bravo Mic Communications
Ned W. Bennett is a Co-Founder of Bravo Mic Communications, LLC and serves as its President and CEO, and as a Director. Mr. Bennett was Co-Founder and was the Chief Executive Officer of optionsXpress Inc., a subsidiary of optionsXpress Holdings Inc. from August, 2000 to January, 2012. Mr. Bennett Co-Founded optionsXpress Holdings Inc. in February, 2000, and served as its Chief Operating Officer from February, 2000 to March, 2007 and Executive Vice Chairman from March, 2007 to January, 2012. He founded and served as the Chairman of brokersXpress, LLC, an independent broker-dealer and subsidiary of optionsXpress Holdings Inc. He, with his co-founders, took optionsXpress Holdings public in January, 2005 (ticker: OXPS). From July, 1997 to May, 1999, Mr. Bennett served in various positions at Dreyfus Brokerage Services Inc. (Pacific Brokerage Services), including Chief Operating Officer. Prior to that, he served as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of publicly-traded ED&F Man International Securities Inc. from December, 1994 to July, 1997. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Geldermann Securities, a ConAgra company that he developed into a major clearing firm, from November, 1987 to December, 1994.
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About Bravo Mic Communications: Bravo Mic Communications is the fastest growing media company in Southern New Mexico offering a variety of Radio Production, Multimedia.
Andrew Gluck
Founder & CEO of Ox&Pen
Andrew Gluck is a Founder & CEO at Ox&Pen.
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About Ox&Pen: Ox&Pen is a mobile-based loyalty and rewards program, supporting local businesses to attract and retain customers.
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.
Eliad Inbar
Co-Founder & CEO of Tangiblee
Eliad Inbar is a Founder of Tangiblee.
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About Tangiblee, Triple Next: Tangiblee is an eCommerce visualization service that transforms retailers’ online catalogs into powerful, interactive shopping experiences.
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.
Phil Hammer
Founder & CEO of ProcureApp
Phil is the fearless leader here at ProcureApp with over 10 years of corporate travel and technology experience. As an early employee at Orbitz, Phil developed a passion for intuitive technologies that help clients reach cost saving goals. Phil volunteers with Future Founders to give motivated high school students in Chicago’s underserved neighborhoods the opportunity to learn about and experience entrepreneurship from the city’s top entrepreneurs.
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About ProcureApp: ProcureApp is a Chicago-based travel technology firm, providing a continuum of managed procurement and compliance solutions to companies.
Dmitry Kochman
CEO, Founder of Strimm
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About Strimm: Strimm is SaaS TV platform, which allows anyone create their own linear TV network online out of virtually any video content.
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.
Claire Lew
CEO of Know Your Team
Claire Lew is the CEO of Know Your Company, a software tool that helps business owners overcome company growing pains. Her company, Know Your Company, has helped over 15,000 people in 25 countries at companies like Airbnb and Kickstarter. Claire’s mission in life is to help people become happier at work. She speaks internationally on how to create more open, honest workplace environments, and has been published in Harvard Business Review, Fortune, Inc, Forbes, among others.
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About Know Your Team: Know Your Team is software that helps managers become a better leader.
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.
John Schewe
Founder & CEO of Fricket
John Schewe is Founder & CEO at Fricket.
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About Fricket: Fricket is a ticket search engine that enables users to find and purchase tickets for live sports, concert, and theater events.
Marcus Cobb
Co-Founder, CEO of Jammber
Marcus Cobb is Founder and CEO @ 8TH STAGE.
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About 8TH STAGE, Jammber: Jammber provides music technologies, simplifying paperwork and payment processes without encroaching on the creative process.
Michael Small
Co-Founder and CEO of K4 Mobility
Michael Small is a co-founder and CEO of K4 Mobility. He is a wireless industry veteran, most recently serving from 2010 to 2018 as President and CEO of Gogo Inc, an inflight wireless company that went public in 2013 at a valuation of $1.4 billion. Prior to that, Michael served as CEO of Centennial Communication Corp from 1999 until it was sold to AT&T for $3 billion in 2009. He has twice received the E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2005 and 2012, and the Illinois Technology Association CEO of the year award in 2013.
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About Hyde Park Angels, K4 Mobility: K4 Mobility is a digital platform that harnesses the power of the Internet to provide services for maritime ships.
Oakleigh Thorne
President & CEO of Gogo
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About Gogo: Gogo is an inflight internet company that provides aviation broadband connectivity products and services.
James Wang
Founder & CEO of CoAlpha
Ph.D., in Computer Science from New York University B.S. from Peking University 10 years US Finance & Technology industry experience Formerly Senior Quantitative Researcher in Citadel LLC (a world famous hedge fund) Achieved over US$100 million in revenue Worked for Barclays Capital, Bloomberg Tradebook and Ask.com Graduated from Draper University 1st Executive Blockchain Program
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About CoAlpha: Blockchain Protocol, Investment Fund Issuing and Investment Platform
Alexander Cato
CEO and Founder of Privacy One
Serial/parallel entrepreneur passionate about building technology with a social mission.
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About Privacy One: Privacy One is an innovative cyber privacy company shaping the future of the internet.
Karl Zimmerman
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Steadfast Networks
Karl is the founder of Steadfast, having been with the company since its beginning as a small web hosting company back in 1998. Karl started his company at 14 years old, in his bedroom, during a time when the internet was still young and developing. While attending Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, he grew the company into a high quality multi-million dollar Data Center Services Company utilizing its own network infrastructure and data center facilities. Karl has served as the CEO of Steadfast since it was incorporated in October of 2000.
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About Steadfast Networks: Steadfast Networks is an IT data center services company that provides web services and solutions.
Dieter Marlovics
CEO of ReallyColor
Dieter Marlovics is a technology entrepreneur who started his first business when he was 14 years old and, in 1997, co-founded his first technology startup called Hypermeals.com. Prior to founding ReallyColor, Dieter was a Partner and Chief Information Officer for Gelber Group, LLC, an algorithmic global proprietary trading firm. Under his leadership, Gelber Group successfully reinvented itself a number of times and evolved to become a multi-national technology powerhouse in the high frequency trading space. He has published various book chapters and articles touching on his experiences and vision of technology management and leadership. In addition to Dieter’s various business interests, he is also a singer-songwriter managing production and global digital distribution for his band O.I.S. Dieter holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Northwestern University and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
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About ReallyColor: ReallyColor is a Chicago-based company that allows users to convert real world photos into printable and electronic coloring book pages.
Sarah Hatter
Founder & CEO of CoSupport
Sarah Hatter is the Founder and CEO of CoSupport LLC. Resident wine snob and grilled cheese maker. Survived working at 37signals, currently speaking all over the world on customer support.
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About CoSupport: CoSupport provides customer support coaching, hiring, user experience, technical writing, and many other services.
Rahul Dhawan
CEO of StaffUpMed
Founder of StaffUpMed
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About StaffUpMed: The Job Board for the Healthcare Industry
Javaid Iqbal
Co-Founder & CEO of Transformx.io
Javaid is a Digital Futurist, an advisor and an educator, who for the past two decades has been helping businesses, governments, and academic institutions across the Americas, EMEA and APAC transform and achieve objectives through the use of disruptive and innovative technologies. He recently cofounded transformx.io, a global consultancy focusing on advisory and education in the Digital Customer Innovation space. He is also a graduate level technology professor at DePaul University, works with multiple organizations to develop and execute C and Advisory Boards level learning workshops on all things Digital and advises and keynotes multiple futuristic technology conferences globally. Previously, Javaid served as a Customer Engagement and Success Leader at Salesforce and held leadership positions at multiple consultancies including EY and PwC. Javaid attended Purdue University for his undergraduate studies in Computer Information Systems Technology and holds a Master’s degree in Communication Systems Strategy and Management from Northwestern University where the focus of his academic research was bridging the business, technology and communication gap to find growth opportunities across global enterprises.
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About Transformx.io: Transformx.io is a transformation firm with a very strong focus on creating Digital Journeys for the next generation of customers
Mike Fisher
CEO of Storymix Media
Mike Fisher is the Co-Founder, Co-Owner & Chief Executive Officer of Storymix Media.
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About Storymix Media: Storymix Media is a crowdsourced automated video creation platform for digital agencies and content marketers.
Piotr Bieszk
Founder & CEO of click5 Interactive LLC
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About click5 Interactive LLC: We’re a team of creative technologists headquartered in downtown Chicago. We spend our days building cutting-edge websites and applications.
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.
Julio Guzmán
CEO & cofounder of AgendaPro
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About AgendaPro: AgendaPro allows business owners to charge their customers online and easily schedule appointments.
Roger Stanton
President & CEO of Digi-Me
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About Digi-Me: Digi-Me operates in the staffing and recruiting, also termed talent acquisition, segment of the human resources technology market.
Jason Perry
President & Chief Executive Officer of Azavar Technology Group
Jason Perry leads Azavar in delivering competitive advantage for our clients’ online business. From cultivating customer relationships to blazing innovative paths through internet technology, Mr. Perry guides the Azavar team to double-digit growth every year. Even before establishing Azavar, Mr. Perry used cutting-edge internet tools to develop applications that evolved into modern-day websites. While working on his studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he also worked as a developer and manager of a large technology initiative. Mr. Perry’s interest and experience grew as he prepared to launch Azavar in 1996, seeing the enormous business potential of the internet and the opportunity to help companies increase their competitive advantage. Since then, Mr. Perry has grown Azavar into a million-dollar company based on solid value and customer service, headquartered in Chicago’s downtown loop.
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About Azavar Technology Group: Azavar Technology Group designs, develops, and delivers websites as well as web and mobile applications.
John O’Connor
CEO of StrongBox eSolutions LLC
John is a serial financial entrepreneur with significant expertise in corporate finance, equity and debt capital raises, private equity, fixed income and risk management. John has established five very successful start-up initiatives throughout his career and excels at growing and operating businesses by implementing and executing on strategic objectives. John is currently CEO of StrongBox eSolutions LLC, a leading healthcare revenue cycle management and patient finance platform. StrongBox’s cloud based application offers patient payment convenience and provider profitability, efficiency and security.
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About StrongBox eSolutions LLC: Healthcare provider focused revenue cycle managment & patient finance platform
Malik Karadsheh
CEO of MANOR Software
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About MANOR Software: MANOR Software provides every cleaning company with the tools to be its own Uber.
Penny Green
President and CEO of Briefing.com
With over 20 years of hands-on managerial experience, Penny has stepped into the President & CEO positions of her family-owned business. Previous managerial experience includes VP, Administration, North America Division for MMS International, City Prosecutor’s Office in Omaha, NE, and as a Communication Specialist in the US Army.
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About Briefing.com: Briefing.com provides independent, live market analysis of the U.S. and international equity markets.
Dick Green
Founder and CEO of Briefing.com
With over 25 years of experience in market analysis and management within the financial services industry, Dick founded Briefing.com in 1993 and has since grown the company to over 60 employees with offices in Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area.Prior to Briefing.com, Dick was President of MMS International. He joined the company after graduating from Harvard in 1979 and over the next 13 years he grew the company to $45 million in revenue with 160 employees in 23 offices worldwide.In 2005, Smart Money Magazine named Dick Green a top market mover on its annual Power 30 list.
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About Briefing.com: Briefing.com provides independent, live market analysis of the U.S. and international equity markets.
Kyle Joseph
Founder & CEO of ShopGab
Kyle Joseph is a Founder & CEO at ShopGab.
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About ShopGab: ShopGab provides personal shoppers a simple web-based platform to manage their clients, shop online, and grow their business.
Michael Taylor
CEO of ktMINE
Michael Taylor is the President and CEO at ktMINE.
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About ktMINE, ktMINE, MemoryWeb, LLC: ktMINE, an intellectual property information firm, organizes the world’s IP information in order to provide transparency to the market.
Dave O’Connor
Chief Executive Officer of Move Matcher
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About Move Matcher: Move Matcher is the smartest, fastest and easiest way to book a trusted mover, and we want to hear from you.
Andre Gieniec
Chief Executive Officer of Hyperlocal
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About Hyperlocal: Event Intelligence Platform
Brian Curcio
Chief Executive Officer of Rapunzl – Invest. Share. Win.
I am the co-founder of Rapunzl and a passionate supporter of any and all things related to financial education. At a young age, I was incredibly fortunate to receive broad exposure to entrepreneurship and the stock market through my family. That’s why, during my senior year at Amherst College, I developed Rapunzl. I partnered with my highschool friend, Myles Gage, and together we designed a developed an app that could solve the three roadblocks that prohibit many from understanding the stock market: fear, exposure, and accessibility. We decided to provide users with a risk-free, $10,000 simulated portfolio in order to eliminate the fear we all first feel when we look at the stock market. We then increased exposure by working with high schools and colleges and providing weekly, monthly, and (soon) annual competitions for cash prizes! Finally we made the stock market accessible by integrating social media into our simulator. Users can connect with their friends, share how they trade, and discuss their investment strategies. People need game-based learning tools which simulate the real world and contexualize their learning if they are ever to learn how to properly invest. Rapunzl provides an incentive to learn, a place to share findings, and a risk-free community to make mistakes along the way. Rapunzl is my career, passion, and best effort to combat our nation’s financial illiteracy crisis. Let’s connect and talk about it.
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About Rapunzl – Invest. Share. Win.: Rapunzl is an award-winning app that allows you to earn cash & scholarship prizes while you learn how to invest.
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.
John MacLeod
Founder & CEO of Rivet
John MacLeod is Founder & CEO at Rivet News Radio.
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About Rivet: Rivet is an internet radio news application that provides local, national, and international news.
Mawi Asgedom
CEO of Mawi
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About Mawi: Mawi Learning unlocks student and educator potential through research-based online courses.
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.
Jeffrey Conlon
CEO & Co-Founder of Everspring
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About Everspring: Everspring develops online and hybrid courses that deliver engagement free from traditional constraints.
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..
Michael DiBenedetto
Co-Founder and CEO of FoodBoss
Michael DiBenedetto is the Co-Founder and CEO at FoodBoss.
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About FoodBoss: FoodBoss is an all in one online food and alcohol delivery search engine that comprises data from food services companies.
Phil LaColla
Founder & CEO of Alocito, Inc.
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About Alocito, Inc.: Dine-In Mobile Ordering platform that allows you to enjoy your favorite restaurants in under 30-minutes.
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.
Bradley Arlen
CEO & Founder of OneMe PBC
Arlen has worked worldwide as a consultant in the technology space for 25 years across multiple industries from early-stage startups to Fortune 500 organizations. After completing his CS Engineering degree at The Ohio State University, Brad began his career as a software developer for a Japanese electronics company, spent several years as a Big 4 systems consultant, and formed his own consulting company providing product management and web-based business application development services. With our lives becoming more digital every day, copies of our personal data propagating everywhere, and no safe and secure way for business services to access our personal data, Brad felt the urgency to focus on personal data privacy. Founded in 2016, OneMe is based on the belief that providing individuals control and transparency into the use of their personal data will empower, not stifle, businesses and organizations, leading to incredibly powerful, trustful, services and ultimately positive global impacts. Simply stated, trust is transparency.
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About OneMe PBC: OneMe is a public benefit corporation that promotes individual personal data privacy and empowers organizations through our trust-platform.
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.
Katie Armour
Founder, CEO of Buddy Editions
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About Buddy Editions: Buddy Editions is an online art gallery that introduces enthusiastic collectors to emerging artists around the globe.
Bruce Fogelson
CEO of Lets Sponsor
Bruce Fogelson is an entrepreneur and inventor based out of Chicago. He is founder and CEO of LetsSponsor.com, an online platform that revolutionizes the way that charities engage with and attract sponsors and donors by recognizing them in ad-like free websites that LetsSponsor.com provides for free to its primarily non-profit/charity groups. Founder and lead sponsor for The Chicago Innovation Challenge through Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) that is a pitch competition for local university and chicago high school applicants. Bruce Fogelson is also the owner of the real estate company Paramount Homes, which has won the Chicago Realtors “Good Neighbor Award” over 13 times since 1993. Inventor of 2 patents on charity ad books and 4 on builder on-line assistant. The intellectual property with several patients include “Method And System For Creating Advertising (Ad) Books” that is the subject of the Lets Sponsor business.. Another interest of Bruce Fogelson’s is his love of giving to charity. A frequent supporter of the American Theatre Company, IIT (Illinois Institute of Technology University), Chicago Student Science Fair, Trust For Public Lands, etc. He’s also a supporter of Chicago public schools. Bruce donates to the education programs and donates books to schools in Chicago and China.
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About AdbookAssistant.com, Lets Sponsor, Paramount Homes: Lets Sponsor is a peer-to-peer fundraising platform for (charity/non-profit) groups to raise money while recognizing donors/sponsors online
Karen Seda
Founder & CEO of Bespoke BizDev LLC
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About Bespoke BizDev LLC: A Business Development Agency for Startups. Helping Startups Scale.
Matthew Kornblatt
CEO & Owner Principal of RightFit Personal Training
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About RightFit Personal Training: RightFit Personal Training is an online marketplace connecting consumers with independent personal trainers throughout the country
David Soderna
Founder and CEO of Gameday Radio
Mr. Soderna is a proven information technology and business leader with 30 years of experience delivering high value outcomes within complex corporate IT, consulting, and software development environments.
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About Gameday Radio: Gameday Radio is an internet radio broadcasting company that delivers play-by-play of baseball games and other sporting events.
Asif Rehmani
Founder & CEO of VisualSP
Asif has been training, consulting, writing and speaking on SharePoint technologies since 2002. He is a SharePoint Server MVP and MCT. Asif is the Founder and CEO of VisualSP (formerly known as SharePoint-Videos) which provides 100s of SharePoint video tutorials and is the home of VisualSP Help System : the in-context, on-demand Help for SharePoint users. Asif also provides in-person and online SharePoint training publicly and in private workshops throughCritical Path Training. Asif is the author of the books “SharePoint 2013 – First Look for Power Users”. He is also the co-author of the books “Professional SharePoint Designer 2007”, “Beginning SharePoint Designer 2010” and “Real World SharePoint 2010” by Wrox publications.
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About VisualSP: VisualSP provides Just In Time Help and Support to all SharePoint users.
Doug Youmans
Founder & CEO of Cash Points
Doug Youmans is Founder & CEO at Cash Points.
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About Cash Points, Pass82: Cash Points is a Community Marketing System along with an interactive website and membership card.
Doug Youmans
Founder & CEO of Cash Points
Doug Youmans is Founder & CEO at Cash Points.
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About Cash Points, Pass82: Cash Points is a Community Marketing System along with an interactive website and membership card.
Austin Rothbard
Founder and CEO of Twisted Road
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About Twisted Road: Twisted Road allows motorcycle enthusiasts to rent other people’s bikes and explore the world around them.
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.
Byron Udell
President/CEO of AccuQuote Insurance
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About AccuQuote Insurance: AccuQuote is independent life insurance quoting and brokerage firm.
David N. Campbell
CEO of Xpedior
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About Xpedior: Xpedior provides innovative and comprehensive eBusiness solutions to Global 2000 companies and emerging Internet businesses.
David N. Campbell
CEO of Xpedior
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About Xpedior: Xpedior provides innovative and comprehensive eBusiness solutions to Global 2000 companies and emerging Internet businesses.
Avi Levine
Co-Founder & CEO of PhilterIt
Avi Levine is Co-Founder & CEO at PhilterIt.
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About PhilterIt: PhilterIt is a browser extension for Chrome that automatically filters email messages into brand and personal visual icons within Gmail.
Jim Lichtenstein
Founder & CEO of Assignment Editor
Jim Lichtenstein is a Founder & CEO at Assignment Editor.
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About Assignment Editor: Assignment Editor enables reporters, writers, producers, and assignment editors to find stories and do research on the internet.
Manoj Kumar
CEO of Ardor Medicos India Private Limited (amedicos)
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About Ardor Medicos India Private Limited (amedicos): Ardor Medicos India is an online portal that helps individuals find and review doctors and make appointments.
Cary Pearlman
President & CEO of E Click Peformance
Cary Pearlman is President & CEO at E Click Peformance.
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About E Click Peformance: eClick Peformance is an internet marketing and design firm that focuses on web and user interface development, and SEO.
Tiffany Mikell
CEO of AerialSpaces
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About AerialSpaces: AerialSpaces is a full-service virtual event SaaS platform.
