Keynote

Chris Barton

Founder & Creator of Shazam, Entrepreneur, Inventor, and Tech Investor

Artificial IntelligenceInnovationLeadershipEntrepreneurshipTechnologyMotivational

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Chris Barton — The Story Behind Shazam

Speaking Topics

Technology and AI are reshaping what's achievable. Chris created Shazam after experts deemed it impossible — an innovation eight years ahead of the iPhone era. This presentation helps audiences envision and execute new futures, featuring jaw-dropping stories about overcoming obstacles through continuous problem-solving rather than a single eureka moment.

Great ideas require tenacity and creative problem-solving. Chris faced seemingly insurmountable challenges while creating Shazam but refused to quit. Instead, he questioned every assumption blocking his path. This talk shares actionable lessons inspiring audiences to pursue dreams, challenge status quo thinking, and attend carefully to details on the journey to innovation.

Entrepreneurs often get stuck between passion and execution. This presentation teaches how to overcome major obstacles, prioritize effectively, and convince others of your vision using Shazam's creation story and the scrappy, creative solutions that attracted two billion customers.

Friction permeates most organizations despite everyone valuing simplicity. Chris moved mountains making one thing effortless: song identification. Drawing from Shazam, Google/Android, and Dropbox experiences, he provides concrete examples of pushing boundaries to eliminate friction and accelerate growth.

About Chris

Chris Barton is the founder and creator of Shazam, the first mass consumer AI product in history. His app revolutionized music discovery with over 2 billion downloads and was acquired by Apple for approximately $400 million, making it Apple's 6th largest acquisition.

Beyond Shazam, Barton holds 12 patents, including one integrated into Google's search algorithm. He served as the first head of mobile relationships at Google and was among Dropbox's initial 100 employees, leading carrier partnerships. Currently, he develops Guard, an AI system designed to detect drowning in swimming pools — an unprecedented application.

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Session Formats

KeynoteFireside Chat

Delivery

In-PersonVirtual

Best For

Sales Kickoffs Customer Conferences Leadership Retreats Annual Meetings & All-Hands Team Offsites

Achievements

Founder & First CEO of Shazam (acquired by Apple for $400M)
2+ Billion Shazam Downloads Worldwide
12 Patents (Shazam, Google, Dropbox, Guard)
Founding Member, Google Android Partnerships Team
Early Employee at Dropbox (first 100)
Founder & CEO of Guard (AI Drowning Detection)

What Clients Say

“Chris's keynote completely captivated our audience of 1,700+ customers, partners, and employees. His talk was truly entertaining and inspiring — the audience's perception of entrepreneurial innovation was completely transformed.”
Managing DirectorSAP

“Chris customized a powerful keynote that delivered significant value. His energy and enthusiasm really stands out. His messages sparked action among our executives and inspired bottler partners toward their goals.”
VP Customer & Commercial LeadershipCoca-Cola

“The group thought Chris was terrific and the feedback we received immediately following the event was phenomenal. There was a line for pictures with him following his presentation.”
Senior Meeting & Event PlannerFranklin Templeton

“Best one-hour keynote our clients and staff had ever seen. Chris is an energetic, entertaining speaker whose powerful content generates talkability across the organization and will stick for years to come.”
CEOPorter Novelli

“Chris delivered an inspiring and on-point presentation tailored to over 7,000 employees to launch our new Innovation strategy. His talk attracted the highest real-time attendance and engagement compared to any other speaker.”
Innovation DirectorOptus

Past Clients

Frequently Asked Questions

What topics does Chris Barton speak about?

Chris delivers keynotes on innovation, creative persistence, entrepreneurship, and AI. His signature "Start From Zero" framework teaches audiences how to question assumptions and bring impossible ideas to life — drawing from his experience creating Shazam, working at Google and Dropbox, and founding Guard AI.

Does Chris customize his presentations?

Yes. Chris works closely with event organizers to tailor his keynote to the audience's industry, challenges, and goals. He incorporates company-specific context and messaging to ensure maximum relevance and impact.

What is the typical format for a Chris Barton keynote?

Chris typically delivers 45–60 minute keynotes and is also available for fireside chats, panel moderation, and Q&A sessions. His presentations are cinematic and rich with storytelling, humor, music, and audience engagement. He speaks both in-person and virtually.

What is Chris Barton's "Start From Zero" methodology?

"Start From Zero" is Chris's innovation framework built on four ways of thinking differently — the same methods used by Steve Jobs, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Leonardo Da Vinci. It teaches audiences to question every assumption, persist through obstacles, and build the impossible. It's the methodology that made Shazam possible when experts said it couldn't be done.

What types of events is Chris best suited for?

Chris is ideal for corporate conferences, leadership summits, sales kickoffs, technology events, innovation forums, and annual meetings. He's spoken to audiences ranging from 30 CEOs to 7,000+ employees across technology, financial services, healthcare, food & beverage, insurance, and telecommunications industries.