# Chris Brown

> Chris Brown founded Austin-based auto refinancing company RateGenius in 1999 after more than nineteen years in dealership management. He served as its CEO, helped incubate the lending software business FinanceGenius, and later worked with Refraction AI.

- **Role:** Entrepreneur and business executive
- **Organizations:** RateGenius, FinanceGenius, Refraction AI
- **Known for:** Founded RateGenius in 1999., Led RateGenius during the development of FinanceGenius., RateGenius reported 628 percent three-year growth in its 2014 Inc. 5000 announcement.

## Career timeline

- **Before 1999** — More than nineteen years in auto dealership sales and general management.
- **1999** — Founded RateGenius in Austin.
- **2003** — Took the CEO role, according to the April 2012 company-hosted account.
- **2008** — Financial crisis nearly ended the company, as described in his 2021 interview.
- **2011** — RateGenius began selling FinanceGenius subscriptions.
- **2017** — FinanceGenius launched independently; Brown was founder, former CEO and a board member.
- **2018** — Announced recapitalization and growth investment with Tritium Partners as RateGenius founder and CEO.
- **2023-04** — Presented with Refraction AI CEO Luke Schneider to Rollingwood City Council.

## Achievements

- Founded RateGenius in 1999.
- Led RateGenius during the development of FinanceGenius.
- RateGenius reported 628 percent three-year growth in its 2014 Inc. 5000 announcement.
- Served on the board of independently launched FinanceGenius in 2017.

## Latest updates

- **2023-04** — Joined Luke Schneider in presenting Refraction AI’s proposed residential delivery pilot to Rollingwood City Council.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-brown-678136b

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/chris-brown-rategenius
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-27