Gurbaksh Chahal: Difference between revisions

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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]], [[India]]
| nationality = American
| occupation = Entrepreneur
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'''Gurbaksh Singh Chahal''' (born July 17, 1982) is an [[Indian Americans|Indian-American]] entrepreneur who has founded, managed, and frequently sold several internet advertising companies.
 
Chahal founded his first advertising network at the age of 16 and two years later became a millionaire after selling it to [[ValueClick]] for nearly $40 million.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|last=Sharma|first=Manraj Grewal|date=2018-04-06|title=With an eye on artificial intelligence, NRI looks to replicate Silicon Valley in Punjab|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/with-an-eye-on-artificial-intelligence-nri-looks-to-replicate-silicon-valley-in-punjab/story-E0hsrv78IerQUgjY39VAmK.html|access-date=2021-07-14|website=[[Hindustan Times]]|language=en|archive-date=2021-07-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714114430/https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/with-an-eye-on-artificial-intelligence-nri-looks-to-replicate-silicon-valley-in-punjab/story-E0hsrv78IerQUgjY39VAmK.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2004, he co-founded [[BlueLithium]], which went on to become the fifth-largest internet advertising network in the United States before being sold to Yahoo in a $300 million deal.<ref name="Times online">{{Cite web |last=Blakely |first=Rhys |date=September 5, 2007 |title=Yahoo snaps up BlueLithium in $300m deal |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article2391674.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706001036/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article2391674.ece |archive-date=July 6, 2008 |access-date=March 1, 2015 |website=Times[[The OnlineTimes]]}}</ref><ref name=":7" /> Chahal has since founded other internet-based companies including [[RadiumOne]],<ref name="sfgate4">{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Ellen |date=November 5, 2012 |title=Gurbaksh Chahal turns RadiumOne to gold |url=https://www.sfgate.com/business/ontherecord/article/Gurbaksh-Chahal-turns-RadiumOne-to-gold-4010360.php|access-date=January 31, 2020|website=SFGate|archiveurl-datestatus=Januarylive 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131044403/https://www.sfgate.com/business/ontherecord/article/Gurbaksh-Chahal-turns-RadiumOne-to-gold-4010360.php |urlarchive-statusdate=liveJanuary 31, 2020 |access-date=January 31, 2020 |website=[[SFGate]]}}</ref> [[Gravity4]], and [[BNN Breaking]].<ref name="The New York Times 6 June 2024" /> He is currently the CEO of [[VendorCloud]] and [[RedLotus]].
 
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]]'' called him one of "The World’s Richest and Fittest Guys", reporting his net worth to be $150 million.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sine|first=Richard|date=2011-04-11|title=The World's Richest and Fittest Guys|url=https://www.menshealth.com/trending-news/a19540258/worlds-fittest-richest-guys/|access-date=2021-08-05|website=[[Men's Health]]|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-04-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422143408/https://www.menshealth.com/trending-news/a19540258/worlds-fittest-richest-guys/|url-status=live}}</ref> The next year, Chahal was listed among the 25 richest entrepreneurs under the age of 30 by ''[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]'' magazine, and in 2013 he was one of [[Ernst and Young]]'s [[Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award|entrepreneurs of the year]].<ref name=":18" />
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== 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 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131153511/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2010-04-20/gwallets-chahal-balances-flashy-lifestyle-family-commitmentbusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice |archive-date=January 31, 2020 |access-date=February 3, 2020 |website=[[Bloomberg News]]}}{{subscription required}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Gurbaksh Chahal: Dreaming in Gold|url=http://www.varsity.co.uk/news/2502|access-date=February 10, 2020|website=Varsity Online|language=en|archive-date=January 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103173301/https://www.varsity.co.uk/news/2502|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
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 ==
Although his parents hoped he would become a doctor, 16-year-old Chahal dropped out of [[Independence High School (San Jose, California)|Independence High School]] in 1998 to pursue a career in internet advertising. While still in high school, he had taken college-level computer courses on the campus of what is now [[Evergreen Valley College]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2008-09-06|title=First, $99. Then, Millions.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/jobs/07boss.html|access-date=2021-08-30|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=2021-08-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830123920/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/jobs/07boss.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After leaving high school, Chahal launched a digital advertising company called ClickAgents, which as recently as 2008 he asserted was the riskiest decision he has ever made.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":16">{{Cite web |date=November 4, 2008 |title=Cassidy: Meet G, Silicon Valley's celebrity entrepreneur |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2008/11/04/cassidy-meet-g-silicon-valleys-celebrity-entrepreneur/|access-date=February 9, 2020|website=The Mercury News|language=enurl-US|archive-datestatus=Marchlive 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309151803/https://www.mercurynews.com/2008/11/04/cassidy-meet-g-silicon-valleys-celebrity-entrepreneur/ |urlarchive-statusdate=liveMarch 9, 2021 |access-date=February 9, 2020 |website=[[The Mercury News]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Lagorio-Chafkin|first=Christine|date=March 8, 2011|title=What Really Scares Entrepreneurs?|url=https://www.inc.com/staff-blog/what-really-scares-entrepreneurs.html|access-date=March 5, 2020|website=Inc.com|archive-date=March 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311223859/http://www.inc.com/staff-blog/what-really-scares-entrepreneurs.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
== Career ==
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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/articlehome-and-office/networking/beer-fuels-social-networking-minglenow-clinks-anheuser-busch/|access-date=February 10, 2020|website=ZDNet|language=en|archive-date=January 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103173312/https://www.zdnet.com/article/beer-fuels-social-networking-minglenow-clinks-anheuser-busch/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was named among the top 100 private companies of America by AlwaysOn for three consecutive years<ref name=":4" /> and in 2007, [[Yahoo!]] bought it for $300 million in cash; Chahal remained CEO during interim period.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hof|first=Rob|date=September 4, 2007|title=Targeting You: Yahoo Moves Deeper into {{sic|nolink=y|reason=error in source|Behaviorial}} Targeting with BlueLithium Purchase|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2007-09-03/targeting-you-yahoo-moves-deeper-into-behaviorial-targeting-with-bluelithium-purchase|website=Bloomberg|access-date=2020-02-03|archive-date=2020-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203143101/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2007-09-03/targeting-you-yahoo-moves-deeper-into-behaviorial-targeting-with-bluelithium-purchase|url-status=live}}</ref> It was the fifth largest ad-network in the United States and the second largest in the UK at the time of sale.<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 5, 2007|title=Yahoo buys behavioral ad firm for $300 mln|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0444409120070905|access-date=February 9, 2020|archive-date=September 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915204504/https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0444409120070905|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
=== 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://social.techcrunch.com/2010/03/21/truste-places-privacy-seal-of-approval-on-virtual-currency-platform-gwallet/|access-date=2021-07-26|website=TechCrunch|date=22 March 2010 |language=en-US|archive-date=2022-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103173331/https://techcrunch.com/2010/03/21/truste-places-privacy-seal-of-approval-on-virtual-currency-platform-gwallet/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":21">{{Cite web|title=gWallet Launches New Format For Virtual Currency Offers; Eyes International Expansion|url=https://social.techcrunch.com/2010/02/25/gwallet-launches-new-format-for-virtual-currency-offers-eyes-international-expansion/|access-date=2021-07-27|website=TechCrunch|date=25 February 2010 |language=en-US|archive-date=2022-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103173306/https://techcrunch.com/2010/02/25/gwallet-launches-new-format-for-virtual-currency-offers-eyes-international-expansion/|url-status=live}}</ref> The startup's research showed that only 2-4% of users chose to pause a video game and opt to explore brand engagement and any offers like earning a virtual currency. This meant that the current method of advertisement and engagement by most games was not very effective and lacked the required engagement from its users. gWallet instead introduced its own concept of a brand bar which was supposed to be an ingame concept. The brand bar would act as a top menu bar on the game play screen which would allow the users to view advertisements while playing a game, or access options to earn virtual currency while playing the game.<ref name=":21" /> With this model, in its contrast to existing separate menus for such engagements, gWallet eventually raised $10 million in funding.<ref name=":19" />
 
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=httphttps://social.techcrunch.com/2011/12/14/radiumone-buys-mobile-photo-sharing-app-developer-focal-labs/|access-date=February 10, 2020|website=TechCrunch|date=14 December 2011 |language=en-US|archive-date=January 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103173313/https://techcrunch.com/2011/12/14/radiumone-buys-mobile-photo-sharing-app-developer-focal-labs/|url-status=live}}</ref> It garnered reputation<ref>{{Cite web|title=RadiumOne About To Corner The Market On Social Data Before Competitors Even Know What's Happening|url=httphttps://social.techcrunch.com/2011/05/20/radiumone-about-to-corner-the-market-on-social-data-before-competitors-even-know-whats-happening/|access-date=March 5, 2020|website=TechCrunch|date=21 May 2011 |language=en-US|archive-date=January 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103173313/https://techcrunch.com/2011/05/20/radiumone-about-to-corner-the-market-on-social-data-before-competitors-even-know-whats-happening/|url-status=live}}</ref> for its patented ad-technology<ref>{{Cite web|last=McMahan|first=Ty|date=October 18, 2010|title=New Ad Network RadiumOne Aims To Tap Social 'Mega Trend'|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2010/10/18/new-ad-network-radiumone-aims-to-tap-social-mega-trend/|access-date=March 7, 2020|website=WSJ|language=en-US|archive-date=March 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302161819/https://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2010/10/18/new-ad-network-radiumone-aims-to-tap-social-mega-trend/|url-status=live}}</ref> with Chahal being poised to be a billionaire,<ref name=":10" /> and was valued at about US$500 million at its peak. In 2017 it was purchased by [[RhythmOne]], a public company on the London Stock exchange, for US$22 million.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web|last=Ganguly|first=Payal|date=November 12, 2019|title=Post RadiumOne, Gurbaksh Chahal seeks success again with RedLotus; in talks to raise $50 mn|url=https://www.techcircle.in/2019/11/12/post-radiumone-gurbaksh-chahal-seeks-success-again-with-redlotus-in-talks-to-raise-50-mn|access-date=November 13, 2019|website=TechCircle|language=en-US|archive-date=November 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113042040/https://www.techcircle.in/2019/11/12/post-radiumone-gurbaksh-chahal-seeks-success-again-with-redlotus-in-talks-to-raise-50-mn|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
Chahal was nominated and awarded the E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year Award for RadiumOne in 2013.<ref name=":18" />
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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 news|title=Rubina Bajwa and beau Gurbaksh Chahal team up to help Hong Kong charity prevent spread of Coronavirus - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/punjabi/movies/news/rubina-bajwa-and-beau-gurbaksh-chahal-team-up-to-help-hong-kong-charity-prevent-spread-of-coronavirus/articleshow/74084543.cms|access-date=March 14, 2020|website=The Times of India|date=11 February 2020 |language=en|archive-date=January 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104043823/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/punjabi/movies/news/rubina-bajwa-and-beau-gurbaksh-chahal-team-up-to-help-hong-kong-charity-prevent-spread-of-coronavirus/articleshow/74084543.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=「政府做咗啲咩?」——民間收集口罩助基層 {{!}} 讀者來論|url=https://www.hkcnews.com/article/27053/口罩短缺-27053/「政府做咗啲咩?」——民間收集口罩助基層-|access-date=March 14, 2020|website=眾新聞|language=zh|archive-date=June 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630220620/https://www.hkcnews.com/article/27053/%E5%8F%A3%E7%BD%A9%E7%9F%AD%E7%BC%BA-27053/%E3%80%8C%E6%94%BF%E5%BA%9C%E5%81%9A%E5%92%97%E5%95%B2%E5%92%A9%EF%BC%9F%E3%80%8D%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E6%B0%91%E9%96%93%E6%94%B6%E9%9B%86%E5%8F%A3%E7%BD%A9%E5%8A%A9%E5%9F%BA%E5%B1%A4-|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title="We are working on delivering test kits, ventilators, and respirators"; Rubina Bajwa and Gurbaksh Chahal's initiative for Covid-19 patients - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/punjabi/movies/news/we-are-working-on-delivering-test-kits-ventilators-and-respirators-rubina-bajwa-and-gurbaksh-chahals-initiative-for-covid-19-patients/articleshow/74844533.cms|access-date=March 29, 2020|website=The Times of India|language=en|archive-date=April 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405030600/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/punjabi/movies/news/we-are-working-on-delivering-test-kits-ventilators-and-respirators-rubina-bajwa-and-gurbaksh-chahals-initiative-for-covid-19-patients/articleshow/74844533.cms|url-status=live|last1=Vashist |first1=Neha }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title="The world needs as much help it can get at this time", says Rubina Bajwa as beau Gurbaksh Chahal extends help for Covid-19 relief - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/punjabi/movies/news/the-world-needs-as-much-help-it-can-get-at-this-time-says-rubina-bajwa-as-beau-gurbaksh-chahal-extends-help-for-covid-19-relief/articleshow/75025243.cms|access-date=April 8, 2020|website=The Times of India|language=en|archive-date=April 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412061217/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/punjabi/movies/news/the-world-needs-as-much-help-it-can-get-at-this-time-says-rubina-bajwa-as-beau-gurbaksh-chahal-extends-help-for-covid-19-relief/articleshow/75025243.cms|url-status=live|last1=Vashist |first1=Neha }}</ref>{{Excessive citations inline|date=July 2024}}
 
== Personal life ==
 
Chahal previouslyonce resided in [[San Francisco Bay Area]] but is currently{{as of|2019|lc=yes}} based in [[Hong Kong]].<ref name=":15" />
 
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>
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=== 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 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803140739/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/business/2014/04/radiumone-ceo-gurbaksh-chahal-fired |archive-date=August 3, 2021 |access-date=September 24, 2022 |magazine=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]}}</ref> Video footage of the assault, taken by a camera in Chahal's bedroom ceiling, showed Chahal smothering the woman with a pillow and hitting and kicking her 117 times over a half hour period.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hoge |first1=Patrick |date=April 17, 2014 |title=Ad mogul Gurbaksh "G" Chahal pleads guilty to two misdemeanors, all others dismissed in domestic violence case |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/2014/04/ad-mogul-gurbaksh-g-chahal-pleads-guilty-to-two.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708064802/https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/2014/04/ad-mogul-gurbaksh-g-chahal-pleads-guilty-to-two.html |archive-date=July 8, 2022 |access-date=July 31, 2022 |work=[[San Francisco Business Times]]}}</ref><ref name="The Cut">{{cite news |last1=Landsbaum |first1=Claire |date=August 8, 2016 |title=Gurbaksh Chahal, a Silicon Valley Mogul Videotaped Kicking His Girlfriend 117 Times, Could Finally Go to Jail |url=https://www.thecut.com/2016/08/domestic-abuser-gurbaksh-chahal-could-go-to-jail.html |work=The Cut |date=August 8, 2016 |language=enurl-us |access-datestatus=September 24, 2022 |archive-date=July 15, 2022live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715035630/https://www.thecut.com/2016/08/domestic-abuser-gurbaksh-chahal-could-go-to-jail.html |urlarchive-statusdate=liveJuly 15, 2022 |access-date=September 24, 2022 |work=[[The Cut (New York)|The Cut]] |language=en-us}}</ref>
 
In August 2013, the [[San Francisco District Attorney's Office]] (SFDA) charged Chahal with committing acts of domestic violence against his girlfriend.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Lee|first=Newton|title=Facebook Nation |chapter=Personal Total Information Awareness |date=2014|editor-last=Lee|editor-first=Newton|language=en|publisher=Springer|pages=305–345|doi=10.1007/978-1-4939-1740-2_15|isbn=978-1-4939-1740-2}}</ref> The video of the incident was ruled inadmissible in the case as there had been no warrant for its seizure.<ref name="The Cut"/> Chahal proclaimed his innocence<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last1=Alexander |first1=Kurtis |last2=Ho |first2=Vivian |date=August 8, 2013 |title=Internet mogul pleads not guilty to assault |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/Internet-mogul-pleads-not-guilty-to-assault-4719376.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318143501/https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/Internet-mogul-pleads-not-guilty-to-assault-4719376.php |archive-date=March 18, 2020 |access-date=January 23, 2020 |website=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |language=en-US}}</ref> but nevertheless entered into a [[Nolo contendere|no contest]] plea to one charge of domestic violence battery and one charge of [[Battery (crime)|battery]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=April 18, 2014 |title=Internet mogul accused of domestic violence pleads guilty to two misdemeanors |url=https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/internet-mogul-accused-of-domestic-violence-pleads-guilty-to-two-misdemeanors/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131100802/https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/internet-mogul-accused-of-domestic-violence-pleads-guilty-to-two-misdemeanors/ |archive-date=January 31, 2020 |access-date=January 31, 2020 |website=[[The San Francisco Examiner]] |language=en-US}}</ref> He was sentenced to three years' [[probation]], ordered to pay a fine, and compelled to undergo a 52-week domestic violence training course along with 25 hours of [[community service]].<ref name=":1" /> Subsequently, he was fired from his position as CEO of RadiumOne<ref name="Fortune2014">{{Cite web|last=Primack|first=Dan|date=April 25, 2014|title=It's time for RadiumOne's abusive CEO to go|url=http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2014/04/25/its-time-for-radiumone-to-fire-its-abusive-ceo/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140601064812/http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2014/04/25/its-time-for-radiumone-to-fire-its-abusive-ceo/|archive-date=June 1, 2014|access-date=March 1, 2015|website=Fortune|publisher=CNN Money}}</ref><ref name="Nagle">{{Cite news |last=Elder |first=Jeff |date=September 10, 2015 |title=Tech Firm Tried to Save IPO Amid CEO Scandal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/radiumone-worked-to-save-ipo-amid-scandal-1441837667 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |issn=0099-9660 |id={{ProQuest|1710603396}} |access-date=March 2, 2024 |archive-date=March 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324125359/https://www.wsj.com/articles/radiumone-worked-to-save-ipo-amid-scandal-1441837667 |url-status=live }}</ref> (Chahal alleged that his guilty plea was coerced by the board of RadiumOne).<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |date=July 21, 2014 |title=Gurbaksh Chahal, former CEO fired after domestic violence plea, settles dispute with RadiumOne |url=https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/gurbaksh-chahal-former-ceo-fired-after-domestic-violence-plea-settles-dispute-with-radiumone/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318143458/https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/gurbaksh-chahal-former-ceo-fired-after-domestic-violence-plea-settles-dispute-with-radiumone/ |archive-date=March 18, 2020 |access-date=January 23, 2020 |website=[[The San Francisco Examiner]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Weisenthal |first=Joe |title=RADIUMONE CEO: My Board Betrayed Me, Even Though I Made Them A Fortune |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/gurbaksh-chahal-blasts-media-board-2014-4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127155934/https://www.businessinsider.com/gurbaksh-chahal-blasts-media-board-2014-4 |archive-date=January 27, 2020 |access-date=January 31, 2020 |website=[[Business Insider]]}}</ref>
 
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 |url=http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/SF-judge-to-decide-fate-of-Gurbaksh-Chahal-in-9139376.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103220434/http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/SF-judge-to-decide-fate-of-Gurbaksh-Chahal-in-9139376.php |archive-date=November 3, 2016 |access-date=November 1, 2016 |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]}}</ref> The court sentenced him to one year in jail; he resigned from his position as CEO of Gravity4.<ref name="sentencing" /> The [[California StateCourts Appealsof CourtAppeal]] upheld the verdict in April 2018<ref name="sfgate.com">{{Cite news |last=Ma |first=Annie |date=April 28, 2018 |title=Court upholds ruling against SF tech mogul Chahal in domestic violence case |url=https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Court-upholds-ruling-against-SF-tech-mogul-Chahal-12870668.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304011417/https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Court-upholds-ruling-against-SF-tech-mogul-Chahal-12870668.php |archive-date=March 4, 2020 |access-date=January 25, 2020 |work=[[SFGate]]}}</ref> and Chahal served six months in [[San Francisco County Jails|San Francisco County Jail]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Daly |first=Michael |date=September 3, 2018 |title=O.J.'s Lawyer and the Woman-Abusing Princeling of Silicon Valley |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/ojs-lawyer-and-the-woman-abusing-princeling-of-silicon-valley |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109040829/https://www.thedailybeast.com/ojs-lawyer-and-the-woman-abusing-princeling-of-silicon-valley |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |access-date=January 31, 2020 |newspaper=[[The Daily Beast]] |via=www.thedailybeast.com}}</ref><ref name="The New York Times 6 June 2024" />
 
== Publications ==