CEO and Founder · August 2001 to presentCurrently working on a new SAAS startup in EdTech, Music Brain Training, with a much more scalable business model and products from the ashes of his first startup.​ This company was inspired by the impact Piano Wizard Academy had on this boy (http://bit.ly/JedPWStory) and dozens of other special needs families (www.pianocommando.com/SelectPWASpecialNeedsTestimonials.pdf) We have figured out a way to extrapolate that impact by hundreds of millions of children, both neurotypical and not. If that possibility moves or inspires you, please connect. I have a deep background in linguistics and music, and have studied the potential crossover applications for decades. In 2001 we created the original Piano Wizard concept, started the company, and raised capital to fund it, and launched products in 2005 to critical acclaim, secured licensing deals with Fisher-Price, Mattel, US Music Corp, Suzuki Keyboard, Hal Leonard Corp and more. 2008 hit, most of those deals collapsed, and the company fell back to earth, having to close offices and let go of team, move back into the basement, barely surviving. We still launched a home school educational version (www.PianoWizardAcademy.com) that changed lives and pushed us to pivot and explore the profound cognitive impact and benefits of Music Brain Training.Mentoring BackgroundChris joined a startup mentoring and entrepreneur club called IBI Global in 2001, that was built on a cooperative model, later changed to CEO Space, where he learned to raise capital, build software and build a company. Over those years, he also mentored thousands of fellow entrepreneurs (and was mentored by hundreds) and later taught some of the concepts to new members in break out classes or workshops. He raised millions of dollars before 2008, and survived (albeit on life support) for several years after that due to the powerful network and accessible mentorship in the network. Later, he realized that he had learned a lot and began sharing that as a Startup Longmont Board member for about 4 years, giving over a hundred or more weekly presentations over that time on a variety of topics for local entrepreneurs. He has consulted for startups as well, focusing on helping them with planning, branding, and especially how to structure their pitch deck and business on the prerequisites of capital, to better attract investors, team members, and strategic partners. His unique value is helping entrepreneurs see where the pitfalls are. and how to win by having a 360 degree understanding of what it actually takes.