Chicago tech veteran Brad Keywell just became the third U.S. founder to win the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year award.
Keywell took home the prestigious honor in Monaco on Saturday, beating out hundreds of participants from nearly 50 countries. Keywell is the CEO and founder of Uptake, a Chicago AI software startup that helps large companies with predictive machine maintenance.
Uptake has raised more than $200 million in venture funding and is valued at more than $2 billion.
Keywell also co-founded Groupon, Echo Global Lostistics, Mediaocean, Chicago Ideas Week and other businesses.
"Entrepreneurship is not just about being a mold-breaker — it's also about being a mold-maker and finding a more intuitive and direct path to where you want to be," Keywell said in a statement. "The revolution in data collection and predictive insight to disrupt global industries is only just beginning."
Keywell joins Hamdi Ulukaya of Chobani and Wayne Huizenga of Huizenga Holdings as the only U.S. founders to win the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year award in the program's 19-year history.
Uptake, which in 2017 was the fastest startup to hit a $2 billion valuation, hasn't been immune to growing pains. The startup cut 150 jobs last December, dropping Uptake's headcount to around 550 employees. It had more than 800 workers at its height.
