Meet Cris Cortez

As a first-generation college graduate and co-founder, I learned early that the world was much bigger than what met the eye. For me, that meant staying focused on my goals, continuing to grow, and helping others grow with me.

Born and raised in the Chicagoland area, I spent much of my youth working on personal creative projects, solving problems, and keeping up with technology trends.

With my family’s support, I pursued a business education after high school, which eventually led me to California for college. During my final year of undergraduate study, I experienced the loss of my father at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. That event deepened my worldview, strengthened my resilience, and reminded me of the importance of family, purpose, and maintaining connections.

I later earned my B.S. in Business Management from San Jose State University (SJSU) and went on to complete my MBA, while continuing to build experience across academia, business operations, e-commerce, SaaS, cybersecurity, startups, and venture-building.

Outside of work, I value continuous learning, health, creativity, and time to reflect. I enjoy music, audiobooks, travel, weight training, and projects that push me to keep improving.