A Note from Our Founders
Reflecting on ten years since the Boston Marathon bombing, we think about the work we have done together and what lies ahead. In 2011 and 2012, we were actively searching for new technology that could transform an industry. The Sandy Hook tragedy on December 14, 2012 was followed by 52 more mass shootings over 122 days, leading up to the Boston Marathon bombing on April 15, 2013. It became clear to both of us that there was a bigger need for technology that could address this new and evolving epidemic.
We started Evolv to develop products that could help reduce the risk for these catastrophic headline events. Our founding principle was that any successful solution had to detect the weapons that were actually being used while allowing people to continue to live at ‘the pace of life’. This meant not always having to stop, remove personal items or create traditional checkpoints. It took us six years to develop and start deploying technology that could meet this need. Since the Express was launched in September 2019, we have screened over 700 million, helping keep them safer from harm.
Unfortunately, ten years later the U.S. has more mass shootings, and gun violence continues to rage. Over the 106 days this year there have been 163 mass shootings taking 228 lives and 4,511 additional lives were lost to gun violence. Over 44 people each day. Our work is just getting started.
As we continue to drive forward, developing new products, building and deploying our technology, spreading the word to help protect more places, and ensuring that Evolv can do this day in and day out, we thank our team of dedicated employees and partners who work every day to help make the world a safer place. Our mission has never been more important.
Founder, Chief Innovation Officer
Michael Ellenbogen co-founded Evolv with Anil Chitkara in July 2013 and has been Evolv’s Head of Advanced Technology since January 2020. Prior to assuming his current role at Evolv, Mr. Ellenbogen served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer from August 2013 to January 2020. Prior to co-founding Evolv, Mr. Ellenbogen was the Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Reveal Imaging Technologies, an X-ray imaging systems company focusing on automated explosives detection, from 2002 to 2010. Prior to joining Reveal, Mr. Ellenbogen was the Vice President of Research & Development and Business Development of PerkinElmer Detection Systems, a provider of X-ray-based security technologies, from 1994 to 2002. During his 25 plus year career in the security industry, Mr. Ellenbogen has proven his expertise in product and business development, as well as stakeholder value creation. In addition, Mr. Ellenbogen is an inventor with 19 awarded patents. Mr. Ellenbogen received a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Colgate University.
Founder, Chief Growth Officer
Anil Chitkara is a member of the Evolv Technology Executive Leadership Team, where he serves as Chief Growth Officer. Anil co-founded the company along with Mike Ellenbogen in August 2013, having met previously at General Catalyst. His impressive background includes executive positions at Oco, Inc, PTC, and Accenture. Anil served as an Executive-in-Residence for General Catalyst, where he developed market entry and revenue growth strategies prior to founding Evolv Technology. He has proven expertise in the development of analytic business cloud applications, product marketing, and business strategy. Anil holds a Bachelor of Science from Boston University, as well as an MBA from The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.
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Founder, Chief Innovation Officer
Founder, Chief Growth Officer