Strategy Leadership Technology

Founder, CEO & CTO, Speaker, and Board Member

As the driving force behind more than $100MM in software brought to market, Chris Daden's innovative solutions have found a place within numerous global enterprises, including a number of Fortune 500 companies.

View Resume LinkedIn →

Trusted By:

Transactions/Exits

~100+

Developers Led

Advisory / Board Roles

~150+

SaaS Projects Deployed

100M+

Software Deliverables

~$50M+

ARR / Enterprise Sales

Discipline in SaaS Technology

Chris Daden stands out as a dynamic, multiple time founder with exits in Enterprise Technology and other industries. As the driving force behind more than $100MM in software brought to market, his innovative solutions have found a place within numerous global enterprises, including a number of Fortune 500 companies. Chris has founded and operated four global organizations, including centers of technical excellence in India, from as early as 18 years old.

Chris has held roles, including those of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technology Officer, displaying a rare blend of business acumen and technical expertise. His leadership extends to boardrooms with several advisory and fiduciary positions under his belt, testament to Chris' experience and insights.

Learn more →

Professional Recommendations

"Chris is highly skilled as a full stack developer and is a natural leader. He has excellent communication and people skills and a very keen business sense. As our CTO, Chris is a key driver in the forward momentum of NCompassTrac. His pragmatic and analytic approach to complex problems has opened the door to new opportunities and has created a bond of confidence with new and existing business relationships. His understanding of organizational dynamics combined with personal integrity is a winning characteristic that is rarely found."

— Ronald Vangell | Chairman of the Board, Chief Strategy Officer | NCompassTrac

"I have worked with Christopher for over two years and he has been a huge asset to me professionally. Chris has taught me more than I was even aware I didn't know. Chris has made huge strides in helping me fix things I inadvertently "broke" and is extremely response to my requests - both small and large. Chris helps educate me in the areas I need to learn more about and never makes me feel silly for not knowing what I do not know. Chris is very easy to work with and I would recommend him as an integral asset to any business. Chris surprises me with his depth of knowledge in many areas and his professionalism, grace, and responsiveness as well as his calm demeanor in highly stressful situations. Chris is always the calm in the storm for any emergency situations in the work place of which I am very appreciative."

— Colette Craig | Reference from a Direct Report

Recent Articles, Thoughts, and Case Studies

Feb 26, 2026 · Tech, Article

IT hiring is under relentless pressure. Here's how leaders are responding

Chris Daden, CTO at SaaS hiring and talent management company Criteria, warned that a four-hour AI course given right after hiring isn't as effective as continuous learning, so his cybersecurity training now includes five-minute videos that teach employees something about a particular issue -- for example, phishing.

Feb 25, 2026 · Tech, Article

Edge Computing Use Cases That Deliver Faster Results And High ROI

A manufacturing team used edge computing to process sensor data locally on the factory floor instead of round-tripping to the cloud. Latency dropped from seconds to milliseconds, enabling real-time anomaly detection and automated shutdowns. The result was fewer defects, safer operations and reduced cloud costs by filtering data before transmission. - Christopher Daden, Criteria Corp.

Jan 29, 2026 · Tech, Article

Knowledge Networks Convenes Global Leaders in WEF, Davos Annual Meetings to Advance Responsible AI Governance

Jan 26, 2026 · Tech, Article

AI in Hiring: Promises, Pitfalls, and Practical Solutions

Watch our on-demand webinar for an engaging panel-style discussion featuring insider perspectives from two of Criteria's leaders – Chris Daden, Chief Technology Officer, and Jillian Phelan, Chief People Officer.

Jan 26, 2026 · Tech, Article

How to Stop AI "Cheating" Before it Haunts Your Hiring Process

In this webinar, Criteria's Chief Technology Officer, Chris Daden, and Chief People Officer, Jillian Phelan, explore how AI is reshaping candidate behavior and what organizations can do to maintain fairness and authenticity in their hiring process. Together, they unpack how AI is being used by job seekers today, what counts as "cheating" (and why that definition can vary), and how hiring teams can communicate clear expectations while maintaining a great candidate experience.

Jan 11, 2026 · Tech, Article

Future of Work

Chris Daden, CTO of Criteria, speaks about the Future of Work & AI.

Dec 26, 2025 · Tech, Article

The 2026 talent reckoning: Beyond degrees and certifications

"AI is fundamentally changing how tech organizations think about and evaluate the talent we bring in," said Christopher Daden, CTO at Criteria Corp. "Hiring is no longer just about the experience or hard skills that someone has, but their emotional intelligence, willingness to adapt, ability to think critically and work effectively alongside AI."

Dec 19, 2025 · Tech, Article

From AI Features to Digital Employees | Tech Connect Podcast

AI is no longer just about adding features. It's reshaping how products are built, how teams operate, and who—or what—does the work. In this episode of the Tech Connect Podcast, we're joined by Andy, founder of @LuckyDayLabs and Chris from SoCal Tech Forum to explore what's actually happening in AI product development today, beyond the hype.