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Christopher Lien

Founder and CEO, Marin Software
San Francisco, California,United States
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Christopher Lien's Overview

Total Experience49 years
CompanyMarin Software
CountryUnited States

Christopher Lien is a seasoned entrepreneur and executive in the technology sector, best known as the co-founder and former CEO of Marin Software. With a deep expertise in digital advertising, SaaS, and enterprise software, he successfully led Marin Software from its inception in 2006, through its significant growth phase, to its Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the NYSE in 2013. His leadership established the company as a key player in the ad tech industry, providing a leading cross-channel advertising management platform for major brands and agencies worldwide. Prior to Marin Software, Chris honed his skills at Bain & Company, founded a B2B startup called Stara, and served as SVP of Marketing at Adteractive. He holds a BA from Yale University and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Today, he leverages his extensive experience as an investor and advisor to emerging technology companies.

Professional Summary

Christopher Lien's work history includes a series of influential roles in various companies. Here is a detailed list of his professional journey:

Marin Software - Founder and CEO (2006 to Present)
Heron Partners LLC - Managing Member (2004 to Present)
Adteractive - COO (2004 to 2005)
Sugar Media - Founder, Chairman, and CFO (2001 to 2003)
BlueLight.com - Acting CEO, COO, and CFO (2000 to 2001)
Evercore Partners - Managing Director (1996 to 2000)

Notable Achievements

Co-founder & CEO of Marin Software

Co-founded Marin Software in 2006 and served as its Chief Executive Officer for over 15 years, building it into a premier, publicly traded, cloud-based digital advertising management platform used by global brands.

Led Successful IPO

Successfully guided Marin Software through its Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange in March 2013, a landmark achievement that validated the company's position in the competitive ad-tech market.

Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year

Was named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2012 Award winner in the Northern California region, recognizing his excellence and extraordinary success in innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to his business and community.

Investor and Startup Advisor

Actively invests in and advises a portfolio of early-stage technology companies, applying his operational and strategic experience to help the next generation of entrepreneurs build and scale their businesses.

Educational Background

MBA

Stanford University Graduate School of Business - Year 1991

BA, Double major in government and Spanish

Dartmouth College - Year 1984

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Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance

Company Overview

Marin Software
Total employees245
HeadquartersSan Francisco
Founded2006

Marin Software provides a unified, cross-channel advertising platform for digital marketers and agencies. From a user's perspective, it's a powerful tool that simplifies managing and optimizing online ad campaigns across various platforms like Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Instagram all from one central dashboard. This helps advertisers save time, gain clearer insights into their ad performance, and ultimately improve their return on investment through automated bidding, reporting, and analytics.

Marin Software Stock Information
Marin Software, Inc. is listed on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol MRIN. The company went public on March 22, 2013

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