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{{Short description|American businessman}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Gurbaksh Singh Chahal
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| caption = Chahal in 2019
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|7|17}}
| birth_place = [[Tarn Taran Sahib]], [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]],
| nationality = American
| occupation = Entrepreneur
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| known_for = Founder of ClickAgents, BlueLithium, [[RadiumOne]], Gravity4, Taara Labs, RedLotus, and VendorCloud
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Burleigh |first1=Nina |title=The rise and fall of Silicon Valley's Gurbaksh Chahal |url=https://www.newsweek.com/2016/09/30/gurbaksh-chahal-prison-silicon-valley-domestic-violence-radiumone-bluelithium-490120.html |work=Newsweek |date=12 August 2016 |language=en |access-date=14 July 2021 |archive-date=14 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714113222/https://www.newsweek.com/2016/09/30/gurbaksh-chahal-prison-silicon-valley-domestic-violence-radiumone-bluelithium-490120.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|
| mother = Arjinder Chahal
| father = Avtar Singh
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}}
'''Gurbaksh Singh Chahal''' (born July 17, 1982) is an [[Indian Americans|Indian-American]]
Chahal founded his first advertising network at
In 2010, ''[[Bloomberg Businessweek]]'' named him to its list of the 15 best young entrepreneurs of the year.<ref name=":17" /> In April 2011, ''[[Men's Health]]''
== Early life ==
Chahal was born on July 17, 1982, in [[Tarn Taran Sahib]], a city near [[Amritsar]] in India's [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] state, in a [[Sikhs|Sikh family]]. He was the youngest of four children.<ref name="Indiatoday" /><ref name=":7" /> His father, Avtar Singh, was a police officer and mother, Arjinder Chahal, was a nurse in [[Tarn Taran Sahib]]. In 1985, during the aftermath of the [[Khalistan movement|Khalistani insurgency]], Chahal's parents emigrated to the United States, his father having won a [[green card]] lottery.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|last=Chahal|first=Gurbaksh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jiH8UqXUKvgC|title=The Dream: How I Learned the Risks and Rewards of Entrepreneurship and Made Millions|date=October 23, 2008|publisher=St. Martin's Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-230-62108-4|language=en|access-date=September 14, 2020|archive-date=September 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924121454/https://books.google.com/books?id=jiH8UqXUKvgC|url-status=live}}</ref> Chahal was raised by his grandmother for a short time. He emigrated the following year, at age four. The family lived in a one-bedroom apartment in [[San Jose, California]].<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Carson|first1=Mel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j2EMaVV1pE8C|title=Pioneers of Digital: Success Stories from Leaders in Advertising, Marketing, Search and Social Media|last2=Springer|first2=Paul|date=October 3, 2012|publisher=Kogan Page Publishers|isbn=978-0-7494-6605-3|pages=40|language=en|access-date=September 14, 2020|archive-date=January 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103173255/https://books.google.com/books?id=j2EMaVV1pE8C|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bever |first=Lindsey |date=August 12, 2016 |title=The rise and fall of a Silicon Valley mogul accused of domestic violence |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/08/12/the-rise-and-fall-of-a-silicon-valley-mogul-accused-of-domestic-violence/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812193424/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/08/12/the-rise-and-fall-of-a-silicon-valley-mogul-accused-of-domestic-violence/ |archive-date=August 12, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-03-29 |title='Being Different Is Cool' |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gurbaksh-chahal-radiumone_n_1376013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129002244/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gurbaksh-chahal-radiumone_n_1376013 |archive-date=November 29, 2023 |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref> His father took a job with the Postal Service and his mother worked as an nurse's assistant.<ref name=":3" /> He has two elder sisters — Nirmal and Kamal, and an elder brother Taj Chahal; the latter two had worked with Chahal in his ventures.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Zinko|first=Carolyne|date=October 26, 2008|title=Advice from young millionaire Gurbaksh Chahal|work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|url=https://www.sfgate.com/style/article/Advice-from-young-millionaire-Gurbaksh-Chahal-3264414.php|access-date=January 6, 2010|archive-date=September 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915034957/http://www.sfgate.com/style/article/Advice-from-young-millionaire-Gurbaksh-Chahal-3264414.php|url-status=live}}</ref> His family were devout followers of [[Sikhism]] and Chahal and his brother used to wear a [[turban]], a type of headwear based on cloth winding.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=People {{!}} Gurbaksh Chahal - Entrepreneur Extraordinaire|url=https://darpanmagazine.com/people/businessleaders/gurbaksh-chahal-entrepreneur-extraordinaire/|access-date=February 9, 2020|website=darpanmagazine.com|language=en|archive-date=January 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129195240/https://www.darpanmagazine.com/people/businessleaders/gurbaksh-chahal-entrepreneur-extraordinaire/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> He has said that he was the subject of intense racial bullying from the age of 5 in the local elementary school. At the age of 10, he was forced to remove his [[Dastar|turban]], at knife-point.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |last=King |first=Rachael |date=April 20, 2010 |title=GWallet's Chahal Balances Flashy Lifestyle, Family Commitment |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2010-04-20/gwallets-chahal-balances-flashy-lifestyle-family-commitmentbusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice
Chahal was an average student during schooling, earning B and C grades in his studies. To support his family, he bought second hand printers from the local market for $50 and resold printers on [[eBay]] for $200 at the age of 15.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Chun|first=Janean|date=2012-03-29|title='Being Different Is Cool'|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gurbaksh-chahal-radiumone_n_1376013|access-date=2021-07-26|website=HuffPost|language=en|archive-date=2021-07-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727115922/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gurbaksh-chahal-radiumone_n_1376013|url-status=live}}</ref> Chahal bought the [[Dell|Dell.net]] and [[Hewlett-Packard|HP.net]] domain names in 1997 and sent a letter to the companies offering to sell the names back to them for ten thousand dollars. He started receiving [[Cease and desist|cease-and-desist]] letters and had to give the domains back. All of his family members had to work double shifts after his father incurred losses in stock market trading.<ref name=":4" />
== Education ==
== Career ==
[[File:Gurbaksh_Chahal_receives_E&Y_Entrepreneur_of_the_Year.jpg|thumb|Gurbaksh Chahal accepting the E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year Award for RadiumOne, 2013]]
Chahal started his career buying and reselling printers on [[eBay]], after being turned away from a job at [[McDonald's]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Ferenstein|first=Gregory|date=March 29, 2011|title=RadiumOne CEO on His McDonald's Rejection, Social Ads, and Do-Not-Track Legislation|url=http://www.fastcompany.com/1743178/radiumone-ceo-talks-mcdonalds-rejection-social-ads-and-do-not-track-legislation|access-date=March 1, 2015|website=Fast Company|archive-date=July 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704214623/http://www.fastcompany.com/1743178/radiumone-ceo-talks-mcdonalds-rejection-social-ads-and-do-not-track-legislation|url-status=live}}</ref> His initial forays into the business world were to support his family and largely derived from his father's interests in stock trading.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |last=Ferenstein |first=Gregory |date=March 29, 2011 |title=RadiumOne CEO on His McDonald's Rejection, Social Ads, and Do-Not-Track Legislation |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/1743178/radiumone-ceo-his-mcdonalds-rejection-social-ads-and-do-not-track-legislation
=== ClickAgents ===
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In 2004, Chahal founded BlueLithium, a company that specialized in [[Targeted advertising|behavioral targeting]], a technique whereby web users' online habits are tracked in order to show customized ads.<ref name="Times online" /><ref name=":2" /> The ad-tech industry praised it with ''[[Business 2.0]]'' listing it among the 11 most disruptive innovations of 2006,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Business 2.0...Big Innovations: BlueLithium |date= September 20, 2006|url=https://money.cnn.com/2006/09/15/technology/disruptors_bluelithium.biz2/index.htm|access-date=January 31, 2020|website=money.cnn.com|archive-date=August 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805035838/https://money.cnn.com/2006/09/15/technology/disruptors_bluelithium.biz2/index.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> and by the same year, it had expanded operations to other countries, having purchased AdRevolver.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Carson|first1=Mel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j2EMaVV1pE8C|title=Pioneers of Digital: Success Stories from Leaders in Advertising, Marketing, Search and Social Media|last2=Springer|first2=Paul|date=October 3, 2012|publisher=Kogan Page Publishers|isbn=978-0-7494-6605-3|pages=42|language=en|access-date=September 14, 2020|archive-date=January 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103173302/https://books.google.com/books?id=j2EMaVV1pE8C|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=November 22, 2004|title=BlueLithium to buy AdRevolver|work=[[American City Business Journals#Newspapers|Silicon Valley Business Journal]]|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2004/11/22/daily5.html|access-date=February 9, 2020|archive-date=August 3, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803181656/http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2004/11/22/daily5.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The same year, the company again received the title of Top Innovator of the Year for 2006.<ref name=":23" />
MingleNow, a social network was simultaneously launched, which was accorded a partnership deal by [[Anheuser-Busch]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bogatin|first=Donna|title=Beer fuels social networking: MingleNow 'Clinks' Anheuser-Busch|url=https://www.zdnet.com/
=== GWallet to RadiumOne ===
In 2009, Chahal launched gWallet, a venture that partnered with brand and game developers to bring users virtual currency offers.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2010-02-25|title=gWallet launches "brand bar" platform to monetize social games|url=https://venturebeat.com/2010/02/25/gwallet-launches-brand-bar-platform-to-monetize-social-games/|access-date=2021-07-27|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-07-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727143818/https://venturebeat.com/2010/02/25/gwallet-launches-brand-bar-platform-to-monetize-social-games/|url-status=live}}</ref> The startup worked directly with brands instead of using any kind of affiliate model. It used branded video campaigns to engage with consumers. [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]], [[Best Buy]], [[Kmart (United States)|K-Mart]], [[Nestlé|Nestle]], and [[History (American TV network)|The History Channel]] used their video campaigns on the social network.<ref name=":19">{{Cite web|title=TRUSTe Places Privacy Seal Of Approval On Virtual Currency Platform gWallet|url=https://
In 2010, Chahal founded RadiumOne, another online ad company<ref>{{Cite news|last=McMahan|first=Ty|date=October 18, 2010|title=New Ad Network RadiumOne Aims To Tap Social 'Mega Trend'|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=http://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2010/10/18/new-ad-network-radiumone-aims-to-tap-social-mega-trend/|access-date=October 21, 2010|archive-date=August 22, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822070954/http://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2010/10/18/new-ad-network-radiumone-aims-to-tap-social-mega-trend/|url-status=live}}</ref> of a slightly different genre,<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Carson|first1=Mel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j2EMaVV1pE8C|title=Pioneers of Digital: Success Stories from Leaders in Advertising, Marketing, Search and Social Media|last2=Springer|first2=Paul|date=October 3, 2012|publisher=Kogan Page Publishers|isbn=978-0-7494-6605-3|pages=44|language=en|access-date=September 14, 2020|archive-date=January 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103173311/https://books.google.com/books?id=j2EMaVV1pE8C|url-status=live}}</ref> which started as a loyalty and rewards program<ref name="sfgate4" /> but later migrated to the targeted-advertising domain, having acquired multiple social-media-centered startups.<ref>{{Cite web|title=RadiumOne Buys Mobile Photo Sharing App Developer Focal Labs|url=
Chahal was nominated and awarded the E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year Award for RadiumOne in 2013.<ref name=":18" />
=== Gravity4 ===
In July 2014, Chahal launched Gravity4 (since renamed to DaVinci Marketing Cloud).<ref name=":22">{{Cite web|last1=Crowther|first1=Mel|last2=Thomas|first2=Nick|date=January 31, 2018|title=Name Change Marks Renaissance for Gravity4|url=http://www.mrweb.com/drno/news25671.htm|access-date=June 11, 2016|website=MrWeb|archive-date=June 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180607084512/http://www.mrweb.com/drno/news25671.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The company attempted but failed bid to buy back RadiumOne and closed in 2017.<ref name="SFChronicleHuet">{{Cite
In 2015, an employee of Gravity4 sued Chahal, claiming that Gravity4 never paid him and that he was the subject of abuse and harassment by Chahal.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Carson |first1=Biz |title=New lawsuit claims ad tech CEO Gurbaksh Chahal asked employee to lie about alleged domestic violence incident |url=https://www.businessinsider.in/new-lawsuit-claims-ad-tech-ceo-gurbaksh-chahal-asked-employee-to-lie-about-alleged-domestic-violence-incident/articleshow/48964881.cms |access-date=16 January 2023 |work=[[Business Insider]] |date=15 September 2015 |archive-date=16 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230116183004/https://www.businessinsider.in/new-lawsuit-claims-ad-tech-ceo-gurbaksh-chahal-asked-employee-to-lie-about-alleged-domestic-violence-incident/articleshow/48964881.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== TaaraLabs and RedLotus ===
In 2019, Chahal founded TaaraLabs, an incubator helping build companies to address problems in the fields of artificial intelligence, IoT, and data sciences. The lab is connected to over 7 billion IoT devices globally.<ref name=":20">{{Cite web|title=Gurbaksh Chahal's Taara Labs is giving a boost to AI start-ups across the world|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/lifestyle/gurbaksh-chahals-taara-labs-is-giving-a-boost-to-ai-start-ups-across-the-world|access-date=2021-07-26|website=www.freepressjournal.in|archive-date=2019-08-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828144547/https://www.freepressjournal.in/lifestyle/gurbaksh-chahals-taara-labs-is-giving-a-boost-to-ai-start-ups-across-the-world|url-status=live}}</ref> In the same year, he founded RedLotus in [[Hong Kong]], which specializes in AI-based targeted advertising. This service was provided mainly in the form of customer engagement through this AI platform. This company went in for its initial funding of $50 million, intending to use this initial capital for R&D and expansion worldwide.<ref name=":15" /><ref name=":13">{{Cite web|last=Dániel|first=Oláh|title=Az érettségizetlen milliárdos|url=https://mandiner.hu/cikk/20191229_az_erettsegizetlen_milliardos|url-access=subscription|access-date=February 11, 2020|website=mandiner.hu|date=29 December 2019 |language=hu|archive-date=February 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213060957/https://mandiner.hu/cikk/20191229_az_erettsegizetlen_milliardos|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== ProcureNet ===
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Chahal has been the Chairman of the Chahal Foundation since August 2012. The Foundation supports the families of [[Hate crime|hate crime victims]], educational scholarship, combat [[child trafficking in India]], and helps in disaster relief efforts in India.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Giving back to society|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/lifestyle/giving-back-to-society-73193|access-date=2021-07-22|website=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)]]|language=en|archive-date=2021-07-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718060014/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/lifestyle/giving-back-to-society-73193|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Vashist|first=Neha|date=30 May 2021|title=#BigInterview: Gurbaksh and my social media presence amplified our reach, says Rubina Bajwa talking about her charitable foundation|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/punjabi/movies/news/thebiginterview-gurbaksh-and-my-social-media-presence-amplified-our-reach-says-rubina-bajwa-talking-about-her-charitable-foundation/articleshow/83087870.cms|access-date=2021-07-22|website=[[The Times of India]]|language=en|archive-date=2021-07-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727121151/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/punjabi/movies/news/thebiginterview-gurbaksh-and-my-social-media-presence-amplified-our-reach-says-rubina-bajwa-talking-about-her-charitable-foundation/articleshow/83087870.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":20" />
=== BNN Breaking and Trimfeed ===
In 2022, Chahal founded the now-defunct news website and aggregator [[BNN Breaking]] in Hong Kong.<ref name="busins">{{cite web |last=Hays |first=Kali |date=June 28, 2022 |title=Twitter permanently suspends scores of 'news' accounts under the company BNN founded by Gurbaksh Chahal, former tech CEO convicted of battery |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/twitter-bans-bnn-accounts-founded-by-former-tech-ceo-gurbaksh-chahal-2022-6?r=US&IR=T |access-date=January 23, 2024 |website=businessinsider.com |publisher=[[Business Insider]] |archive-date=June 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629031532/https://www.businessinsider.com/twitter-bans-bnn-accounts-founded-by-former-tech-ceo-gurbaksh-chahal-2022-6?r=US&IR=T |url-status=live }}</ref> The website was subject to several controversies regarding the accuracy of its reporting,<ref name="sfgate">{{cite web |last=Regimbal |first=Alec |date=October 18, 2023 |title='Fake news' site publishes more false stories about San Francisco Supervisor Dean Preston |url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/bnn-posts-more-false-stories-about-dean-preston-18429261.php |access-date=January 23, 2024 |website=sfgate.com |publisher=[[SFGate]] |archive-date=December 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213204636/https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/bnn-posts-more-false-stories-about-dean-preston-18429261.php |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="thejournal">{{cite web |last=O Faolain |first=Aodhan |date=January 15, 2024 |title=Dave Fanning files defamation case over publication of news story wrongly linking him to criminal trial |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/dave-fanning-defamation-case-6272630-Jan2024/ |access-date=February 16, 2024 |website=[[TheJournal.ie]] |archive-date=February 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216081027/https://www.thejournal.ie/dave-fanning-defamation-case-6272630-Jan2024/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="sfstandard">{{cite web |last=Sjostedt |first=David |date=October 18, 2023 |title=Only Elected Democratic Socialist in San Francisco Target of Fake News Site |url=https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/18/supervisor-targeted-fake-news-bnn-gubrakash-chahal/ |access-date=January 23, 2024 |website=sfstandard.com |publisher=[[The San Francisco Standard]] |archive-date=January 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240123183349/https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/18/supervisor-targeted-fake-news-bnn-gubrakash-chahal/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and all of its accounts were suspended from Twitter in June 2022 for violations of the site's policy on [[spamming|spam]] and [[platform manipulation]].<ref name="busins"/> As of March 2024, Google appeared to no longer show search results for the website.<ref name="GroundUp 12 March 2024">{{cite news |last1=Geffen |first1=Nathan |title=Google moves against notorious spam news website |url=https://groundup.org.za/article/google-appears-to-stop-showing-notorious-fake-news-website/ |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=[[GroundUp (news agency)|GroundUp News]] |date=12 March 2024 |language=en |archive-date=26 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240326112124/https://groundup.org.za/article/google-appears-to-stop-showing-notorious-fake-news-website/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The BNN website was deleted and moved to the website TrimFeed. Trimfeed was temporarily closed after ''[[The New York Times]]'' informed Chahal they were doing a report on BNN.<ref name="The New York Times 6 June 2024">{{Cite news |last=Hill |first=Kashmir |last2=Hsu |first2=Tiffany |date=2024-06-06 |title=It Looked Like a Reliable News Site. It Was an A.I. Chop Shop. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/06/technology/bnn-breaking-ai-generated-news.html |access-date=2024-06-30 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=2024-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240629025028/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/06/technology/bnn-breaking-ai-generated-news.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Honors and philanthropy ==
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In 2012, after the [[Wisconsin Sikh temple shooting]], he committed US$1 million to found BeProud (since renamed to Chahal Foundation), a [[Foundation (nonprofit)|charitable foundation]] that supports the families of [[hate crime]] victims and combats [[child trafficking in India]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Evans|first=Teri|date=August 21, 2012|title=Serial Entrepreneur Gurbaksh Chahal Commits $1 Million to Stop Hate Crimes|url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/224248|access-date=January 31, 2020|website=Entrepreneur|archive-date=November 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191126082958/https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/224248|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=September 2, 2012|first=Atul|last=Sethi|title=Sikh entrepreneur to launch 'Be Proud' movement to fight hate|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sikh-entrepreneur-to-launch-Be-Proud-movement-to-fight-hate/articleshow/16164261.cms|access-date=February 10, 2020|website=The Times of India|language=en|archive-date=September 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902101505/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sikh-entrepreneur-to-launch-Be-Proud-movement-to-fight-hate/articleshow/16164261.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":13" /> It had liaised with [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] to provide employment scopes for rural women in Maharashtra, India.<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 9, 2018|title=LDS Charities and Feminine Hygiene|url=http://news-in.churchofjesuschrist.org/many-organizations-including-lds-charities-joined-forces-to-create-feminine-hygiene-kits|access-date=March 7, 2020|website=news-in.churchofjesuschrist.org|language=en|archive-date=September 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918211536/https://news-in.churchofjesuschrist.org/many-organizations-including-lds-charities-joined-forces-to-create-feminine-hygiene-kits|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2020, Chahal donated face masks, test kits, [[personal protective equipment]] and ventilators to hospitals across several countries (including Hong Kong and India) during the [[Coronavirus disease 2019|Coronavirus pandemic]], and extended procurement networks to help governments in mitigating the supply-chain chaos.<ref>{{Cite web|title=港台電視 31 早辰。早晨 - 手語直播節目︰廁紙搶劫案；《早辰一件事》：疫境有情；《早辰保抗力》：維他命C|url=https://www.rthk.hk/tv/dtt31/programme/thismorning/episode/617329|access-date=March 14, 2020|website=www.rthk.hk|language=zh-hant|archive-date=January 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103173317/https://www.rthk.hk/tv/dtt31/programme/thismorning|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite
== Personal life ==
Chahal
Chahal has attracted attention for his physique and extravagant lifestyle, including a fleet of luxurious cars and a penthouse apartment.<ref name=":0" /> He was featured in ''[[The Secret Millionaire]]'', where he went undercover in [[San Francisco]] and gave away $110,000 of his wealth.<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 17, 2008|title=BlueLithium founder Gurbaksh Chahal keeps his millions "Secret" for once|url=https://venturebeat.com/2008/12/16/bluelithium-founder-gurbaksh-chahal-keeps-his-millions-secret-for-once/|access-date=February 9, 2020|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US|archive-date=September 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922150725/https://venturebeat.com/2008/12/16/bluelithium-founder-gurbaksh-chahal-keeps-his-millions-secret-for-once/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2011, ''[[Men's Health]]'' awarded him the seventh spot in the list of the world's fittest and richest men.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sine|first=Richard|date=April 11, 2011|title=The World's Richest and Fittest Guys|url=https://www.menshealth.com/trending-news/a19540258/worlds-fittest-richest-guys/|access-date=February 12, 2020|website=Men's Health|language=en-US|archive-date=January 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129195051/https://www.menshealth.com/trending-news/a19540258/worlds-fittest-richest-guys/|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Chahal_with_U.S._President_Barack_Obama.jpg|thumb|Chahal with [[Barack
Chahal professed to be a devout Sikh, and was largely inspired by his grandmother.<ref name=":13" /><ref name="Indiatoday">{{Cite web|last=Chitkara|first=Vanita|title=I take my culture wherever I go|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/supplement/story/20110905-i-take-my-culture-wherever-i-go-747348-2011-08-24|access-date=March 2, 2020|website=India Today|date=24 August 2011 |language=en|archive-date=2019-08-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829184917/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/supplement/story/20110905-i-take-my-culture-wherever-i-go-747348-2011-08-24|url-status=live}}</ref>
Chahal was a regular donor to [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] candidates; he was twice invited to the White House during [[Barack Obama]]'s presidency.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Peterson|first=Andrea|date=April 29, 2014|title=DCCC distances itself from tech CEO fired after domestic violence conviction|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2014/04/29/dccc-distances-itself-from-tech-ceo-fired-after-domestic-violence-conviction/|access-date=February 10, 2020|archive-date=October 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191012191242/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2014/04/29/dccc-distances-itself-from-tech-ceo-fired-after-domestic-violence-conviction/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Avtar Chahal meets Obama, First Lady|url=https://www.indiapost.com/avtar-chahal-meets-obama-first-lady/|access-date=February 10, 2020|website=India Post|date=2 January 2013|language=en-US|archive-date=July 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718051131/https://www.indiapost.com/avtar-chahal-meets-obama-first-lady/|url-status=live}}</ref>
He is also a motivational speaker,<ref name=":13" /> advocates [[one-dollar salary]] for CEOs,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chahal |first=Gurbaksh |date=November 13, 2013 |title=I'm A CEO With A Paycheck Of $0–And You Should Join Me |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3021501/im-a-ceo-with-a-paycheck-of-0-and-you-should-join-me
=== Domestic violence and battery conviction ===
Chahal was arrested in 2013 and charged with 45 felonies following an attack on his then-girlfriend.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Makarechi |first1=Kia |date=April 28, 2014 |title=RadiumOne C.E.O. Finally Fired After Domestic-Violence Case |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/business/2014/04/radiumone-ceo-gurbaksh-chahal-fired |
In August 2013, the [[San Francisco District Attorney's Office]] (SFDA) charged Chahal with committing acts of domestic violence against his girlfriend.<ref>{{Cite
In 2016, after he committed acts of domestic violence against a second woman, the [[San Francisco County Superior Court]] found Chahal guilty of violating the terms of his September 2014 probation.<ref name="sentencing">{{Cite news |last=Rainey |first=Libby |date=August 12, 2016 |title=Tech mogul Gurbaksh Chahal gets 1 year in domestic violence case
== Publications ==
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