Startup and tech CEOs play a pivotal role not just in driving profits but also in shaping the future of industries — and the future of work. There are many exceptional leaders emerging and spearheading a new era of purpose-driven entrepreneurship.
From innovative work models to leading technology helping with early cancer detection, the top CEOs in the startup and tech industry have an impact on more than just the bottom line. And they’re worth knowing about.
Meet 35 top CEOs who lead with purpose, vision, and put their people first. Whether you’ve heard of them, work with them, or are just learning about them for the first time, they’re doing incredible work, making them the top CEOs to watch in 2024.
Full list:
35 Top CEOs in 2024
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Michelle Bacharach
FindMine
Tech startup co-founder and CEO, Michelle Bacharach is developing the content creation engine for the world’s iconic brands, FindMine. Michelle has been named one of Inc Magazine’s Top 200 Female Founders. She leads with empathy, kindness, creativity and intelligence, creating a top workplace culture loved by her teams. In addition, she also makes the time to help other founders find success, especially female founders.
Luke Buchanan
Redi Health
Luke Buchanan is a top CEO to watch based in Columbus. An alumnus of CoverMyMeds and with a proven track record of scaling products in the health and pharmacy industries, Luke is the Co-Founder and CEO of Redi Health, a startup that bridges the gap between consumer technology and clinical health and support. Redi Health has reached millions of patients across the country, becoming a leader in the digital health space, and after its recent $14 million Series B fundraise is eyeing more growth.
Steve Case
Revolution
Steve Case is one of the country’s top tech founders and CEOs. In 1985 he founded America Online (AOL) and under his leadership, AOL became the world’s largest and most valuable internet company, driving the worldwide adoption of the transformative technology. More recently, Steve is Chairman and CEO of Revolution, the D.C.-based investment firm. Revolution Growth has invested nearly $1 billion in growth-stage companies including Sweetgreen, Tempus, Tala, DraftKings, and CLEAR. Revolution Ventures has backed more than two dozen venture-stage companies, including Framebridge, GoodBuy Gear, and SRS Acquiom. Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund has invested in more than 200 startups in over 100 U.S. cities (including many startups in the Purpose Jobs community) in partnership with some of America’s most successful entrepreneurs and investors. Steven is passionate about helping entrepreneurs and shaping government policy on issues related to entrepreneurship. He was the co-chair of the National Advisory Council on Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and a member of President Obama’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, where he chaired the subcommittee on entrepreneurship. Additionally, Steve and his wife, Jean, founded the Case Foundation to invest in hundreds of organizations, initiatives, and partnerships with a focus on leveraging the Internet and entrepreneurial approaches to strengthen the social sector.
Claire Coder
Aunt Flow
After getting her period in public without necessary supplies, Claire Coder began dedicating her life to creating a solution to ensure business and schools could sustainably provide quality period products for free in bathrooms. At eighteen years old, she founded Aunt Flow in 2016 to do just this. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Aunt Flow is leading a menstrual movement. The company has been recognized as the ISSA Show 2021 Choice Award and the Sustainable Company of the Year in 2021 as well as the Best Woman-Owned Brand by NBC. Claire was named Forbes 30 Under 30 and received the Thiel Fellowship by the age of 22, making her one of the top CEOs to watch.
Chantel Cohen
CWC Coaching & Therapy
Chantel Cohen is the Founder and CEO of CWC Coaching & Therapy, assisting clients with self-improvement, career development, negative self-talk, psychological pain, self-sabotaging behavior, past hurts, and finding your purpose. Chantel is on a mission to empower entrepreneurs of color, women business owners, and founding duos. Her commitment to providing mental health support through CWC Coaching & Therapy is not just a business endeavor but a personal calling to improve the lives of those she serves. She operates with incredible communication and transparency. Working with corporate partners like Google, Coca-Cola, and Lenovo, Chantel effectively communicates the importance of mental health in professional success. Chantel's development of the Become One Again™ Method demonstrates her strategic approach to addressing mental health issues among entrepreneurs. As one of only 5% of Black therapists in her field, Chantel brings a level of cultural competency and empathy that resonates deeply with her clients. Her dedication to understanding and addressing the unique challenges faced by minority entrepreneurs reflects her high emotional intelligence and people-first approach.
Colleen Costello
Vyv
Colleen Costello is a tech founder, clinical researcher, engineer and more. She is the Co-Founder and CEO of Vyv, a health technology company that has created proprietary continuous-use antimicrobial light technology for public places, consumer products, homes, and industry. Her work as a scientist and a founder have been recognized by major new outlets: she has been named in Goldman Sachs 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs, Forbes Magazine 30 Under 30, Inc. Magazine 30 Under 30 Most Brilliant Young Founders, 50 Emerging Global Entrepreneurs to Watch by Inc. Magazine, and more.
Jasmine Crowe-Houston
GoodrCo
Jasmine Crowe-Houston is the Co-Founder and CEO of GoodrCo, a sustainable food waste management company that leverages technology to combat hunger. Jasmine is a purpose-driven and visionary entrepreneur, an influential speaker and leader, and is dedicated to catalyzing positive change in the world. She’s been recognized for her work in CNBC, Oprah Magazine, The New Your Times, Forbes and Fast Company, as well as Entrepreneur Magazine’s list of the top 100 influential female founders. Not only is she a tech founder, but she’s also a children’s book author, sharing the importance of empathy, compassion, and collective action in young minds. Jasmine is a top CEO to watch and an inspiring leader, dedicated to making the future more equitable for all.
Thor Culverhouse
Submittable
As CEO of Submittable, Thor Culverhouse brings over 20 years of experience in technology and IT in both larger public and growth stage startup environments. He has a strong sales, marketing and product development background, which has contributed to Submittable becoming a top social impact platform that accelerates mission-driven work. The technology empowers corporations, governments, and foundations to widen their reach and advance their work. Thor has led multiple teams at companies including IBM and HP. Submittable is Purpose Certified and a Public Benefit Corporation, putting its purpose, impact and people first every day.
Dipanwita Das
Sorcero
Dipanwita Das is the Co-founder and CEO of Sorcero, the leading provider of advanced, medically-tuned AI solutions. The Sorcero AI Platform is revolutionizing the life sciences industry by quickly bringing insights to the surface so teams can ask - and - answer important medical questions, scale the development of accessible plain language summaries, and accelerate literature reviews. Using AI and NLP, Dipanwita leads a team working at the cutting edge of technology on purpose-driven work. In addition to Sorcero, Dipanwita is a founding member of Chief, a private network built to drive more women into positions of power and keep them there. She is also an Edmund Hilary Global Impact Fellow, which is a program for high-impact entrepreneurs, investors and changemakers, collaboratively building solutions to global challenges. Dipanwita graduated from the leading accelerators for high-growth entrepreneurs, including Plug & Play Ventures, Mindshare, and Y Combinator’s Female Founders program.
Alice Default
Double
Co-founder and CEO of Double, Alice Default has spent the last 10 years helping people spend time on the things that matter most to them. Double is a software platform that connects busy executives with experienced part-time assistants and delegation tools to help them save time and focus on what matters. Alice and Co-Founders Christophe Lamperti and Pierre-Elie Fauché, met while working at Sunrise Calendar, which was acquired by Microsoft. Alice has been recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30 and raised over $14 million.
Nishika de Rosairo
HumanQ
Nishika de Rosairo is a serial entrepreneur, artist, and CEO of HumanQ, a coaching platform on a mission to address the pain points felt by both individuals and organizations in having access to the right development opportunities. Throughout her experience with some of the biggest brands (from Deloitte to Apple, Cisco to Salesfocre and more), Nishika has always focused on people and impact. She has lived on four different continents and is an avid traveler, giving her a unique perspective and a global lens through which she views organizations as well as the future.
Dima Dobrynin
Staxel
CEO Dima Dobrynin is building an emerging hardtech company, Staxel. Working at the intersection of robotics and AI, Staxel is on a mission to create innovative and reliable solutions using robots and AI with ten times the efficiency. Dima’s leadership and hard skills have allowed Staxel to launch a robotic pilot with NewLab Detroit in just six months after company creation. Still in its early stages, Staxel is a small but promising startup with an ambitious vision of becoming an intralogistics automation standard, with Dima at the helm.
Scott Dorsey
High Alpha
Highly influential in the Indianapolis tech ecosystem, Scott Dorsey is an entrepreneur, investor and startup advisor. Along with Chris Baggott and Peter McCormick, Scott co-founded and was CEO of ExactTarget, a provider of digital marketing automation and analytics software and services that was eventually acquired by Salesforce. In 2015, Scott co-founded the venture studio, High Alpha, alongside Kristian Andersen and former ExactTarget executives Mike Fitzgerald and Eric Tobias. High Alpha is a venture studio that helps create and fund B2B SaaS companies. Scott has been widely recognized as a top CEO and entrepreneur, as well as his community work in Indianapolis.
Arlo Gilbert
Osano
Co-founded by Arlo Gilbert, Osano is dedicated to simplifying privacy compliance so companies can stay compliant, increase trust, and do the right thing. Arlo and co-founder Scott Hertel were inspired to create the company after seeing how little top officials understood about how data is stored and shared. As CEO of Osano, Arlo brings over two decades of experience in founding and leading SaaS startups to create value, disrupt the industry, and drive growth. Arlo is a purpose-driven founder, a data privacy pioneer and advocate, and is passionate about shaping the future of data privacy and creating a positive social impact.
Sam Hodges
Vouch
Sam Hodges, Co-Founder and CEO of Vouch Insurance, a new kind of insurance provider for startups, is built by founders for founders. A seasoned entrepreneur, Sam understands the challenges, costs and headaches of the outdated business insurance industry. Since its founding in 2018 and going through Y Combinator in 2019, Vouch has raised $160 million in funding and acquired over 4,000 clients. As CEO, Sam leads the company with a clear vision and purpose: “to empower tech leaders to push the boundaries of innovation and confidently pursue their vision—ultimately creating a better tomorrow.”
Patrick Kelly
Signal Advisors
Co-Founder and CEO of Signal Advisors, Patrick Kelly is a top CEO to watch based in Detroit. Stemming from his own experience (and his family’s) in the financial advisor industry, Patrick co-founded Signal Advisors with Jake Cohen and Kevin O’Hara to innovate in the financial advisor industry and provide software that helps them scale their businesses. Patrick was the Detroit Venture Partners Entrepreneur-in-Residence from 2018 - 2020 and has led Signal Advisors through multiple funding rounds. Patrick, Kevin and Jake have created a progressive workplace culture and are committed to putting their people first.
Scott Kim
RocketReach
CEO of RocketReach, a business info-services platform, Scott Kim is a purpose-driven leader who strikes a rare balance of high IQ and EQ. One of his leading qualities appreciated by the RocketReach team is the way he leads with trust. By trusting the team to do their work well and by not gatekeeping, Scott has created an environment that empowers those around him to take on new challenges and believe they can do it. It encourages everyone to grow and learn. Scott also gives real-time feedback and pushback that inspires healthy and respectful debate. RocketReach is a safe space for all questions and offers a seat at the table for everyone, thanks to Scott’s leadership. Leading with empathy and care for his team, Scott makes sure RocketReach takes care of its people and provides an excellent place to work.
Bhushan Kulkarni
InfoReady
As a fundamental leader in not just one but three tech organizations, Bhushan Kulkarni is known for his strong, caring leadership. One of these companies, InfoReady, has been recognized as among the fastest-growing private firms in the United States specializing in software for universities and medical research centers. Bhushan's forward-thinking leadership style is a main reason why InfoReady is trusted by over 60% of major universities nationwide. He practices open-book management and close collaboration with the team, creating an environment where new ideas flourish. His positivity and high energy make InfoReady a wonderful place to work. Beyond his business ventures, Bhushan is actively involved in community projects, working closely with universities, supporting entrepreneurship, and contributing his leadership to local economic development efforts.
Ben Madick
Matic
As the co-founder and CEO of Matic, Ben Madick leads one of the fastest-growing insurance agencies in the U.S. Ben brings years of entrepreneurial and financial experience from founding Mortgage Quality Management and Research (MQMR), an independent risk management consulting firm to the mortgage industry, as well as HQ Vendor Management. He currently serves on the advisory board of Mortgage Compliance Magazine and as an advisor to numerous U.S. mortgage banks and lenders. As a purpose-driven leader, Ben has set Matic apart from other insurtech companies by delivering an unbiased approach to insurance that combines a powerful digital experience with an agency of trusted advisors — real people with a lot of heart.
Wale Mafolasire
Givelify
Wale Mafolasire is the founder and CEO of Givelify, the most loved and trusted online and mobile giving platform used by more than 1.5 million people who have given more than $5 billion to over 66,000 nonprofits and places of worship. Wale’s belief that every individual is innately a good person who wants to do good fuels his work. This notion and his tenacity and desire to increase generosity in the world created the foundation for launching Givelify in 2013. Since then, Wale has worked to propel Givelify’s mission to connect people to the causes that matter most to them so they can change their world with kindness and generosity. He leads his team with heart and transparency while driving innovation to foster connection, deliver value, and create fulfilling experiences for organizations and donors.
Quentin L. Messer, Jr.
Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Quentin L. Messer, Jr. plays an extremely influential role in the growth of Michigan’s economy and innovation community. He serves as the CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and President and Chair of the Michigan Strategic Fund, in addition to a seat in Governor Whitmer’s cabinet and on the boards of the American Center for Mobility, the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and more. As CEO, Quentin is responsible for implementing and executing programs that move forward the MEDC’s core mission of business development and attraction, community development, providing access to capital, and more. As the head of the organization, he’s focused on making Michigan the best place to live and work, with a focus on building a strong and equitable economy for all Michiganders. Quentin has been recognized by many organizations for his influential leadership, including Crain’s Detroit, Financial Times, Biz New Orleans, and Ebony Magazine.
Maleka Momand
Esper
Maleka Momand is the co-founder and CEO of Esper, a policy management platform helping government agencies create, publish, and manage policies. As a purpose-driven founder and CEO, Maleka is pioneering a new era of transparent and data-driven public administration. She and her Co-Founder, Lilli Oetting, have been recognized in Forbes 30 under 30 for social impact and raised $14 million in VC funding. In 2023, Esper was recognized as a top GovTech 100 company, adding to Maleka’s accomplishments and making her a top CEO to watch.
Jenny Nuccio
Imani Collective
Jenny Nuccio is the Founder and CEO of Imani Collective, a company that empowers artisans through dignified work, opportunity, and community. Starting as a small sewing training program, Imani Collective has grown into a thriving social enterprise that has elevated industry standards to more than just fair trade, but to be ethically made. Jenny is a deeply purpose-driven CEO, driven by a genuine desire to empower women and their families, and create sustainable change in their communities. She is also the author of the book, Let It Be Wild, and often shares her story, challenges, and successes in order to help inspire other social entrepreneurs to create their own impact in the world.
Damola Ogundipe
Plural
Plural, a Minneapolis-based tech company, was co-founded by Damola Ogundipe in 2015 (formerly known as Civic Eagle). The software makes it easy to discover public policy data, enabling teams to search, track, and collaborate effectively on the policies that impact us. In addition to being the CEO of Plural, Damola is also heavily involved in the venture capital world, serving as a BBFI Venture Scout at Zeal Capital Partners as well as Managing Partner at NGC Capital. Both firms are committed to helping Black-owned businesses get access to capital, resources and success.
Florian Otto
Cedar
Serial tech entrepreneur Florian Otto currently serves as CEO of Cedar, a technology company at the intersection of fintech and healthcare technology with the mission to enable everyone to easily and affordably pursue the care we need. As a purpose-driven CEO, Florian is passionate about innovation and leaving the world a better place. Cedar has taken the extra steps to become B Corporation Certified, and Florian is committed to work relentlessly to get closer to achieving Cedar’s mission and having as much of a positive impact on society as he can.
Bob Ragusa
GRAIL
Bob Ragusa is the CEO of GRAIL, a healthcare company that is pioneering new technologies to advance early cancer detection. Throughout his experience in clinical health and research, Bob has led with purpose and visionary direction. Recently, Bob was recognized with the 2023 Life Sciences Voice Top Industry Leaders Award.
Alexi Robichaux
BetterUp
As CEO of BetterUp, the human transformation platform, Alexi Robichaux leads BetterUp’s mission to enable all people to live with greater clarity, purpose, and passion. He has been recognized for his visionary leadership in progressive workplaces and was recently named to Forbes Future of Work 50. As an expert in the field of the future of work, Alexi is a regular contributor to publications like Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur, and more. In addition to being the CEO of BetterUp, Alexi is also the Chairman of Youth Leadership America, a non-profit he co-founded in 2003 that helps foster leadership development and civic engagement in high school students through peer-to-peer mentorship and coaching.
Mendel Rosenberg
Gearsupply
The CEO of Gearsupply, Mendel Rosenberg, is a driven and passionate leader. He single handedly closed a $4 million investment round for the company from one of the top names in their industry. In addition, Mendel works hard to get work done and put the needs of the company and his team before his own. The team is very important to Mendel and he takes the time to get to know everyone on an individual level. He’s the first to congratulate you on reaching a personal or professional goal. Mendel also is a community-driven CEO and generously gives back to the community. As a company Gearsupply has donated over half a million dollars to charity and counting. The team can always trust Mendel as a person who stays true to his word.
Jake Seaton
Column
Jake Seaton, Founder and CEO of Column, is on a mission to build a better public information ecosystem. Stemming from his experience with his family-owned local newspaper in Manhattan, Kansas, Jake became a technologist to help bring his family’s business into the 21st century. After his first venture, Quorum Analytics, Jake combined his background in Computer Science and Journalism to start Column to make public information systems more valuable. He’s recruited a top team of purpose-driven, civic-minded people, raised $30 million in Series A funding, and it’s just the beginning.
Jeremy Smith
Civitech
Co-Founder and CEO of Civitech, a tech company that helps progressive political candidates better serve their community to create a more equitable democracy, Jeremy Smith has been a leader in public service and civic initiatives for over 14 years. His experience as an Army veteran gives him a unique perspective on United States politics and international affairs. He is passionate about making democracy accessible to all, founding the nonprofit Register2Vote and also working to provide operational guidance and planning for several Voter Protection initiatives.
Alex Timm
Root
Alex Timm founded Root in 2015 on the principle that rates should be based primarily on driving behaviors, not demographics. As co-founder and CEO, Alex leads the company in revolutionizing an outdated industry using mobile technology and data science to offer personalized car insurance rates to good drivers. Today, Root Insurance is the largest property casualty InsurTech in the country. Alex is a fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.
Evan Walden
Getro
Evan Walden is a serial founder passionate about helping accelerate work that matters. Now, as the CEO of Getro (formerly Monday.vc), Evan is leading the way in helping companies hire faster through their networks by powering job platforms for the world's top VC/PE Funds, Accelerators, and Membership Organizations (as well as job boards like Purpose Jobs’). Evan is passionate about creating value for people by making intuitive connections, encouraging self-awareness, and remembering to smile often.
Geng Wang
Civic Champs
Based in Indianapolis, Geng Wang is the CEO of Civic Champs, leading a team that’s creating a seamless and rewarding volunteering experience for both volunteers and service organizations. Geng is a serial entrepreneur and two-time exited founder. Across all his work, he applies his passion for his team and the people he works with to lead with purpose. He’s committed to creating a collaborative and open culture that fosters learning and personal growth, creating a great place to work for people who want to make a positive change in the world.
Cindy Warner
360ofme
Cindy Warner is the founder and CEO of 360ofme, an ethical data exchange platform that transforms the paradigm of personal data ownership by rebuilding trust between ethical enterprises and individuals. At the core, 360ofme empowers a scalable and profitable ecosystem anchored in assured identities and user consent. This Traverse City-based CEO is highly driven by purpose, a part of organizations that give back to the community, like Michigan Founders Fund. Prior to joining MFF and taking their 1% pledge, Cindy had already put 500,000 shares of the company into a foundation. 360ofme was recently featured on Viewpoint Project with Dennis Quaid, Fox Business, and was on the cover of the CIO Times as part of "The Most Admired Business Leader in 2023". Cindy has also advised founders of 8 startups and currently sits on the board of the Michigan Strategic Fund of the MEDC.
Isa Watson
Squad
Isa Watson is a sports tech entrepreneur, author, musician, scientist, and much more. She is the founder and CEO of Squad, a next-gen sports fan engagement tool. Shifting from work in a college to data science to business, Isa has worked for some of the biggest companies like Pfizer and JP Morgan Chase. As the founder and CEO of Squad, Isa is committed to her vision and to helping make the world a better place by using tech and sports to strengthen the connective tissue of humanity. She’s been named a top 100 MIT Alumni in Tech in 2021, an Inc 30 Under 30 winner, and has published the book Life Beyond Likes: Logging Off Your Screen and Into Your Life.
