Chris Savage

Chris Savage is an American entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Wistia, a video marketing platform he launched in 2006 with college friend Brendan Schwartz.^[1] The Cambridge-based company has grown to 188 employees and serves over 375,000 customers worldwide.^[1][12]

Savage pioneered business-focused video hosting as an alternative to consumer platforms like YouTube, building Wistia into a profitable company with a $32 million revenue run rate by 2018.^[6] In 2018, he raised $17.3 million in debt financing to buy out early angel investors and maintain the company's independence after receiving multiple acquisition offers.^[6][7]

Before founding Wistia, Savage worked on Emmy Award-winning documentaries and taught himself motion graphics.^[2] He graduated from Brown University in 2005 with a degree in Art-Semiotics and received the Weston Fine Arts Award for excellence in filmmaking.^[3]

Savage grew up in Rhode Island in a technology-forward household.^[3] His father, a computer science professor at Brown University, was an early adopter who bought DVD players and Microsoft Flight Simulator on their release days.^[3] Savage gained internet access in fourth grade and was immediately drawn to the medium.^[3]

He attended Moses Brown School, where his family had a three-generation connection, graduating in 2001.^[4] Savage then enrolled at Brown University, where he studied Art-Semiotics and developed his interest in filmmaking.^[3] He received the Weston Fine Arts Award for excellence in filmmaking and graduated in 2005.^[3]

During and after college, Savage worked at Big Orange Films, where he contributed to Emmy Award-winning documentaries and taught himself After Effects for motion graphics work.^[2] His original ambition was to make movies, but he became frustrated with the traditional film industry's barriers to entry.^[3]

Wistia (2006–present)

Savage co-founded Wistia in 2006 with Brendan Schwartz, his best friend from college.^[1][5] The company began as a video hosting platform designed specifically for businesses, differentiating itself from consumer-focused platforms like YouTube by offering customizable players, detailed analytics, and marketing integrations.^[1]

The company grew steadily without traditional venture capital, instead raising $1.4 million in angel funding.^[7] By 2015, Wistia had reached 80 employees, and by 2018, the company achieved a $32 million annual revenue run rate with 40% year-over-year growth.^[5][6]

In 2017, Savage received several significant acquisition offers but chose instead to maintain Wistia's independence.^[5] In 2018, he raised $17.3 million in debt financing from Accel-KKR to buy out the company's angel investors, a move he described as "one of the most important in Wistia's history."^[6][7] The transaction allowed Savage and Schwartz to regain full control of the company and return it to profitability.^[6]

Under Savage's leadership, Wistia has grown to 188 employees and serves over 375,000 customers worldwide.^[1][12] The platform has expanded beyond hosting to include video creation tools, marketing automation features, and advanced analytics capabilities.^[1]

Savage was recognized as a Top Young Entrepreneur by BusinessWeek in 2009.^[2] In 2019, he and co-founder Brendan Schwartz received the Ernst & Young New England Entrepreneurs of the Year award.^[1]

He has spoken at industry conferences including the Business of Software Conference, where he presented on "Company Life After Investors."^[9] In 2024, Savage returned to his alma mater, Moses Brown School, as the commencement speaker, where he advised graduates to "stay curious, question assumptions, never stop asking why, and above all else, do not be afraid to be wrong."^[4]

Savage hosts the podcast "Talking Too Loud" and has been featured on numerous industry podcasts including Practical Founders.^[8][5] He contributes articles to Entrepreneur magazine and maintains an active presence in the video marketing community.^[12]

Savage lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with his wife and two daughters.^[5] He maintains close ties to Rhode Island and his alma mater, Moses Brown School, where three generations of his family have attended.^[4]