# Puthugramam “Harish” Chidambaran

> Puthugramam “Harish” Chidambaran founded iLearningEngines in 2010 and led it through its April 2024 public listing. An electrical engineer with graduate degrees from the University of Idaho and Stanford, he previously worked in technology and executive roles. The company entered bankruptcy in December 2024. A securities class action against him was dismissed in March 2026; federal prosecutors announced separate fraud charges in April 2026. Those criminal charges are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

- **Role:** Founder and former CEO at iLearningEngines
- **Organizations:** iLearningEngines, Sun Microsystems, Goorka, Ninth Sense, Maple Optical Systems
- **Education:** B.T. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, College of Engineering, Trivandrum, M.S. in Electrical Engineering, University of Idaho, M.S. in Management, Stanford Graduate School of Business
- **Known for:** Founded iLearningEngines in 2010., EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2020 Mid-Atlantic award winner., Led iLearningEngines through its April 2024 public listing.

## Career timeline

- **Early career** — Worked in the UltraSPARC microprocessor design group at Sun Microsystems.
- **2004–2007** — President of Goorka.
- **2008–2010** — Senior Vice President of Strategy and Products at Ninth Sense.
- **2010** — Founded the business that became iLearningEngines; began serving as president and CEO in November.
- **2020** — Named an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Mid-Atlantic award winner.
- **2024-04** — iLearningEngines became public through its Arrowroot combination; Chidambaran served as CEO and chairman.
- **2024-05** — Rang the Nasdaq closing bell on May 1.
- **2024-12** — Placed on administrative leave; company entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy; resigned as CEO on or about December 23, according to the indictment.
- **2026-03** — Maryland federal court granted motions to dismiss a proposed securities class action.
- **2026-04** — Arrested April 17 in Potomac as separate federal criminal fraud charges were announced. Charges are allegations.

## Achievements

- Founded iLearningEngines in 2010.
- EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2020 Mid-Atlantic award winner.
- Led iLearningEngines through its April 2024 public listing.

## Latest updates

- **2026-04** — On April 17 federal prosecutors unsealed a ten-count indictment against Chidambaran and former CFO Farhan Naqvi. He was arrested in Potomac, Maryland. The charges remain allegations; defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
- **2026-03** — On March 20 a Maryland federal judge granted motions to dismiss a proposed securities class action. On March 27 his lawyers announced dismissal with prejudice. This was a separate civil proceeding.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harish-chidambaran-2b0216

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/harish-chidambaran
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-23