Chris Kelly, San Francisco, is an entrepreneur and author who established his first online advertising business in 2010 and later built a technology-forward, customer-centered platform created to support insurance agents. He is also the author of a science fiction novel titled The Menagerie and now focuses much of his time on philanthropy, with particular attention to wealth inequality. His upcoming book will center on wealth inequality and is scheduled for release in February 2026. At the same time, he plans to launch a charitable organization in support of this effort. Chris grew up in Santa Cruz, California, before attending a private liberal arts college in Claremont, California, a suburban city in eastern Los Angeles County. He graduated magna cum laude and was elected to an academic honor society in recognition of his academic excellence. The college emphasizes studies in government, economics, public affairs, finance, and international relations. He began his professional career as an investment banker and later moved into the technology sector, where he held product and marketing roles. He worked as a product specialist, supporting coordination between product and operations teams. He later served in a product marketing role within an enterprise-focused division, working closely with developer-focused teams to support technology adoption across organizations. In 2010, Chris Kelly founded a San Francisco–based online advertising agency that grew at scale. In 2014, he founded another company that became the number-one provider of digital marketing solutions for under-65 health insurance in the United States, a major participant in over-65 health coverage, and a growing presence in auto and home insurance. During his twelve-year tenure as CEO and later chairman, he helped guide the company to become one of the largest privately held businesses in its space. He authored The Menagerie, a science fiction thriller that explores the creation of the world’s first artificial general intelligence and its consequences. The story explores innovation, power, and moral responsibility as global forces seek control of advanced technology. He gives monthly to charitable organizations focused on direct poverty relief and children’s medical care. Since 2009, one organization he supports has delivered over $1 billion in cash directly to more than 2 million people living in poverty. These causes are personal, as he is a cancer survivor who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and underwent treatment in 2020 for a year. Chris Kelly, NextGen Leads, is preparing to launch a nonprofit foundation and plans to donate $1.5 million to charity in the first half of 2026. He has two boys, ages 7 and 3, and values time with family, music, outdoor activities, and maintaining a balanced life.