Michael Krasny, founder of CDW, built one of America’s largest and most enduring technology solutions providers from a small Chicago basement startup into a multibillion-dollar enterprise. Beginning in 1984 by selling IBM personal computers to local businesses, Krasny expanded CDW into a leading distributor of hardware, software, and integrated IT solutions for corporations, government agencies, and educational institutions nationwide. Under his disciplined leadership and customer-centric philosophy, CDW went public and sustained decades of growth through strategic acquisitions and deep vendor partnerships. Krasny’s journey from entrepreneur to tech industry titan exemplifies long-term execution and operational excellence in enterprise technology services.

Matthew Prince, cofounder and CEO of Cloudflare, is one of the most influential figures in modern internet infrastructure, building a company that now protects and accelerates a significant share of global web traffic. After cofounding Cloudflare in 2009, Prince led its transformation from a security startup into a critical platform providing content delivery, DDoS mitigation, zero-trust security, and edge computing services to millions of websites worldwide. Under his leadership, Cloudflare has become a publicly traded company trusted by governments, enterprises, and developers alike, known for its principled stance on internet resilience, free expression, and cybersecurity. Prince’s blend of technical insight, public advocacy, and long-term vision has positioned him as a central architect of the modern, secure internet.

Leo KoGuan, billionaire entrepreneur and founder of SHI International, built one of America’s largest privately held IT services companies, supplying software, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise solutions to Fortune 500 clients. A bold technology investor, he is also known as one of the biggest individual shareholders of Tesla, publicly advocating for the company’s mission and long-term strategy. Born in Indonesia and educated in the United States, KoGuan combines global business reach with significant philanthropy, supporting universities, research, and cultural institutions across Asia and the U.S. His career reflects scale, conviction, and a relentless focus on technological progress.

James Scapa, founder, chairman, and CEO of Altair, has spent four decades building the company into a global leader in simulation, high-performance computing, and data analytics. Starting Altair in 1985 with a small engineering team, Scapa helped pioneer computer-aided engineering tools that transformed product design across automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, and technology industries. Under his leadership, Altair expanded into cloud computing, AI, and enterprise analytics, evolving into a multibillion-dollar publicly traded company. Known for his long-term vision and engineering-driven culture, Scapa remains one of the most respected leaders in applied simulation and computational science.

David Steward is an American billionaire tech entrepreneur who founded World Wide Technology (WWT) in 1990 with minimal capital. A Central Missouri alumnus, he transformed WWT into one of the largest African-American–owned companies in the U.S., generating over $11 billion in annual revenues. Known for his faith-driven leadership and civic engagement, Steward also founded Telcobuy and chairs major nonprofit boards.

Darwin Deason is an American billionaire entrepreneur and founder of Affiliated Computer Services (ACS). Under his leadership, ACS became a global outsourcing powerhouse before being sold to Xerox for $6.4 billion in 2010. After the sale, Deason emerged as Xerox’s largest individual shareholder (~12%). He is also a high-profile Republican political donor and owner of the mega-yacht Apogee and an opulent La Jolla estate called “The Sand Castle.” 

Bharat Desai is an Indian‑American billionaire and co‑founder of Syntel, the IT services and outsourcing firm he launched with his wife, Neerja Sethi, from a Michigan apartment in 1980. An IIT Bombay and University of Michigan alumnus, Desai grew the company to nearly $1 billion in revenue before selling it to Atos for $3.4 billion in 2018. Today, he serves as Syntel’s chairman and supports educational and civic causes.  

Shiv Nadar is an Indian billionaire industrialist and philanthropist, best known as the founder of HCL Technologies, a global IT services company. He has made significant contributions to the technology industry and has a strong focus on education and philanthropy.