Three Indian American leaders have earned spots on the prestigious 2024 list of Top 25 Tech CEOs in Chicago, a city that has grown into one of the top tech hubs in the United States over the past decade.
Shaily Baranwal, Loukeek Bornare, and Vishal Shah were recognized for their strategic leadership and commitment to excellence in their respective fields. The list, published by a corporate affairs publication formerly known as C-Suite Spotlight, celebrates the achievements of influential executives shaping Chicago’s tech-driven economy.
“These leaders are making significant contributions to a workforce of over 100,000 tech professionals in Chicago, driving hundreds of millions in revenue,” the publication said. "From innovation in technology to advancements in education and supply chain management, these CEOs highlight the diverse strengths of Chicago’s tech sector."
Shaily Baranwal: Innovator in Education
Shaily Baranwal, founder and CEO of Elevate K-12, is transforming how K-12 schools deliver education. The Chicago-based company partners with schools to tackle teacher shortages by offering high-quality live teaching in classrooms. Baranwal’s earlier ventures include founding two companies, including a chain of preschools in rural India for low-income students. She has also worked as a classroom teacher.
Before starting Elevate K-12, Baranwal served as the founder and CEO of Urban Foods and Jr Einsteins Pre-Schools. She also worked as a management consultant with AT Kearney. Baranwal holds degrees in industrial engineering, early childhood education, and an MBA from the University of Michigan, where she is an active board member of the Zell Lurie Institute and Ross School of Business.
Loukeek Bornare: E-Commerce Pioneer
Loukeek Bornare is the CEO of Tulfa Inc., a company that develops cutting-edge e-commerce solutions for brands, retailers, and manufacturers. Under his leadership, Tulfa has helped major Fortune 500 companies enhance their online shopping experiences using augmented and extended reality.
Bornare has a strong track record in business growth, having previously worked as a director at Iksula and Infinite Computing Systems. He also held a senior manager position at Intelliswift Software, Inc. He holds a master’s degree in information technology from DG Ruparel College and an undergraduate degree from St. Andrew’s College.
Vishal Shah: Leader in Ed-Tech Innovation
Vishal Shah, CEO of Screencastify, a leading video communication and learning platform, is making waves in the education technology sector. A seasoned entrepreneur, Shah previously founded LearnCore, a sales training company, which he successfully led to a profitable exit.
Shah co-founded Catapult Chicago, which later merged with 1871, to help foster tech innovation in the city. With Screencastify, he is guiding the company to new heights, serving over 12 million users globally and helping to shape the future of video-based learning and communication. Under his leadership, Screencastify has become an essential tool for educators, students, and professionals, with over 500 million videos created on the platform.
These leaders are a testament to the growing impact of Indian Americans in Chicago’s tech landscape, shaping the future of technology, education, and e-commerce.
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