Chris Barton

Experience the infectious positive energy of inventor Chris Barton and be inspired to believe that anything is possible. Known for his unrivaled creativity, relentless pursuit of groundbreaking ideas, and undeniable passion for innovation, Chris Barton is a visionary entrepreneur who has made an indelible mark on the tech industry.

Chris’s best-known creation is Shazam, the app that revolutionized the way the world discovers music. With over 2 billion downloads and as Apple’s sixth-largest acquisition, Shazam continues to mesmerize users, allowing them to identify songs out of thin air from anywhere they are, making it nothing short of pure magic. Today, Shazam is considered one of the world’s most popular apps, an integral part of our everyday lives. The app has even inspired a popular game show hosted by Jamie Foxx called “Beat Shazam,” further solidifying its cultural impact.

Chris has always been driven by audacious goals and a determination to challenge the status quo. Before the inception of Shazam in 2000, the technology to identify music using a mobile phone did not yet exist. Despite being told by professors at prestigious institutions like MIT and Stanford that his idea was impossible, Chris remained undeterred. He embarked on an extraordinary journey, building a search engine supercomputer from scratch, creating the world’s largest music database, and shaping a user experience that worked seamlessly on basic mobile phones. Chris’s unwavering belief in his vision ultimately defied all odds and led to the birth of Shazam, proving that with passion and perseverance, the impossible can indeed become possible.

But Chris’s impact extends beyond Shazam. He holds a total of 12 patents and has played key roles in shaping the trajectory of tech giants. As a founding member of Google’s Android Partnerships team, Chris created the mobile operator partnership framework for Android, a pivotal contribution to the world’s most widely used operating system. He also spent four years at Dropbox, one of the most prominent cloud storage platforms, where he led carrier partnerships and served as one of the first 100 employees at the company.

Chris’s inexhaustible drive for innovation goes hand in hand with his unique perspective as a dyslexic individual. He has learned to embrace his dyslexia as a superpower that enables him to uncover novel solutions and overcome barriers others may not even perceive. Drawing from his personal experiences, Chris shares his Start From Zero thinking method, questioning assumptions and challenging conventional wisdom. His amazing story and captivating storytelling completely captivate audiences, inspiring them to dream big and embrace audacious goals in their own organizations.

Born to a French mother and a British father who were both university professors, Chris grew up in an intellectually stimulating environment. However, academics presented challenges for him due to his undiagnosed dyslexia. Over the years, Chris learned to embrace his dyslexia as a strength, harnessing it to achieve remarkable accomplishments. The combination of his unique perspective and relentless pursuit of innovation sets him apart from others in the industry.

Today, Chris devotes much of his time to building his third startup company, Guard. Utilizing artificial intelligence, Guard is revolutionizing pool safety by detecting drowning incidents. Once again, Chris is at the forefront of driving change by leveraging cutting-edge technology to improve lives.

As a highly sought-after speaker, Chris shares his inspirational journey and the unexpected mindsets that have propelled him to success. He challenges audiences to think outside the box, encouraging them to tackle obstacles head-on and create magic in their organizations. His wisdom and insights offer a new framework for thinking and a roadmap for overcoming challenges in an ever-evolving world.

With a background as a strategy consultant and two master’s degrees from UC Berkeley and Cambridge University, Chris brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his speaking engagements. Whether he is delivering a keynote address at a tech conference or inspiring corporate audiences, Chris Barton leaves a lasting impact by igniting a passion for innovation and encouraging individuals to push boundaries and make their mark on the world.

Witness the power of innovation, resilience, and audacious thinking as Chris Barton takes the stage, leaving you spellbound, inspired, and ready to transform impossibilities into possibilities.