# Christopher Smith

> Christopher “Chris” Smith is the Minneapolis-based co-founder and CEO of Kipsu, a software company that helps frontline service teams communicate with customers in real time. After work in management consulting and a decade in venture capital, Smith chose a customer-funded path for Kipsu, building from an early Mall of America relationship into a company serving thousands of locations while keeping its focus on human connection, patient growth, and Minnesota talent.

- **Role:** CEO and Co-Founder at Kipsu
- **Organizations:** Kipsu, Coral Group, IBM Venture Capital Group, Accenture, Minnesota Comeback, Great Minnesota Schools, The Blake School, Carolyn Foundation
- **Education:** MBA, University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business, BS, Syracuse University
- **Known for:** Co-founded Kipsu in 2010 and developed it from an early messaging product into a broader satisfaction software company., Built Kipsu primarily through customer revenue rather than early institutional venture capital., Was honored through the EY Entrepreneur of the Year program in 2020.

## Career timeline

- **1997-2002** — Worked at Accenture, progressing to consulting manager.
- **2003** — Worked as an associate with IBM Venture Capital Group during business school.
- **2004-2014** — Worked as a managing director and venture capitalist at Coral Group.
- **2010** — Co-founded Kipsu in Minneapolis.
- **2014** — Joined Kipsu full time as CEO.
- **2015** — Kipsu reported roughly 300 customers and 11 employees and completed a $565,000 convertible-note financing.
- **2019** — Kipsu opened a larger office in Minneapolis’s Warehouse District and reported serving more than 2,000 hotel operators and brands across more than 30 countries.
- **2020** — Recognized in the EY Entrepreneur of the Year program; Twin Cities Business reported Kipsu at $9 million in revenue and 55 employees.
- **2022** — Kipsu marked 12 years and reported more than 3,000 partner locations worldwide.
- **2025** — Kipsu announced its acquisition of hotel operations software company Lodgistics on April 22 and expanded its product suite.
- **2026** — Described Kipsu as a 130-plus-person satisfaction company and published his view that AI should serve business strategy and customer satisfaction.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Kipsu in 2010 and developed it from an early messaging product into a broader satisfaction software company.
- Built Kipsu primarily through customer revenue rather than early institutional venture capital.
- Was honored through the EY Entrepreneur of the Year program in 2020.
- Helped grow Kipsu from one person to more than 130 employees, according to his 2026 interview.
- Served as a founding board member and board chair of Minnesota Comeback and Great Minnesota Schools.
- Served as a trustee and board chair at The Blake School.

## Latest updates

- **2026-06** — Published a Twin Cities Business commentary arguing that companies should begin with business and customer-satisfaction goals, then apply AI where it supports them.
- **2026-04** — Discussed Kipsu’s customer-funded growth, 130-plus-person team, frontline work and long-term operating philosophy in an Authority Magazine interview.
- **2025-09** — Spoke at Destination AI Forum’s Hospitality Summit about technology and human connection in hospitality.
- **2025-05** — Co-chaired The Blake School’s search committee that announced Chris Torino as its next head of school.

## Links

- Website: https://thelongframe.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrstphrcsmth/
- Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/kipsuexperience
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CWSFm-q89A
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kipsuexperience/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kipsuexperience/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/christopher-smith
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-25