Chris Gladwin

Chris Gladwin is a prominent technology entrepreneur and innovator based in Chicago. He currently serves as the Chairperson of the Board at P33 Chicago, a nonprofit organization aimed at transforming Chicago into a top-tier technology and innovation hub.34

Professional Background

Gladwin is the CEO and Co-Founder of Ocient, a company that develops high-performance database and analytics platforms for large datasets.1 His entrepreneurial journey includes founding several successful tech companies:

1. Cleversafe: Founded in 2004, Cleversafe became a leading provider of object storage systems. IBM acquired the company for over $1.3 billion in 2015.12

2. MusicNow: Founded in 1999, this was one of the first internet music subscription businesses with licenses from major music labels.2

3. Cruise Technologies: Co-founded in 1996, this company developed wireless tablet computers and was later acquired by NEC Corporation.2

Achievements and Contributions

• Inventions: Gladwin is the inventor of more than 280 issued patents.2
• Philanthropy: In 2015, he donated $7.6 million to the Illinois Institute of Technology to develop a computer science program in Chicago.2
• Education: He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an Honorary Doctor of Science in Computer Science from the Illinois Institute of Technology.12

Role at P33 Chicago

Gladwin co-founded P33 Chicago and became its Board Chair in September 2023, succeeding Penny Pritzker.456 In this role, he aims to:

1. Elevate Chicago's profile as a technology hub
2. Foster inclusive economic growth in the city's tech sector
3. Attract and retain top tech talent and companies to Chicago7

His leadership at P33 Chicago is part of a broader effort to strengthen the city's position in the global technology landscape.