Chris Classen

Chris Classen

VP, Brand

As Vice President of Brand, Chris has a dual role of overseeing all aspects of the XPRIZE brand / reputation as well as all Foundation experiences to drive engagement and enthusiasm. With a background in consumer goods and experiential marketing he helped re-launch the XPRIZE brand in March of 2020 and continues to manage its evolution and development.

Prior to joining XPRIZE he worked with Google on Tier 1 events including the YouTube Creators Summit, Coachella YouTube Artists Backstage Experience, the launch of the Google News Initiative, and the 20 Years of Search anniversary event. Before that he served as the President of Christopher Street West, the non-profit organization that produces the annual LA Pride Music Festival, turning a small community event into the largest music festival in Los Angeles. During his early career he drove campaigns and created strategic partnerships with brands like W Hotels, Delta Airlines, Bloomingdales, Khiel’s, Universal Studios, and the LA Dodgers. In 2015 he received an MTV VMA nomination for Jennifer Hudson’s video “I Still Love you”. He has received accommodations from both the City of Los Angeles and the City of West Hollywood for his cultural and economic contributions. 

After receiving a BFA in Art & Design from the University of Nebraska he moved to Los Angeles for his graduate degree in Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI_Arc). Chris currently lives in Hollywood and pursues painting and sculpture in his spare time.