Early Life
Parker Conrad was born in New York City in 1980. His parents, Ellen and Winthrop Conrad, instilled in him a strong work ethic and the value of community involvement. He attended The Collegiate School and excelled in academics, particularly in a high school neurobiology project. This research earned him $20,000 and a national award. He then went on to Harvard University, where he was the managing editor of The Harvard Crimson. Despite facing academic challenges, he completed his degree in chemistry in 2003.
Rise to Success
Conrad's career began with a product manager role at Amgen, a biotechnology firm. In 2007, he co-founded Wikinvest (later SigFig), a portfolio management startup, with Mike Sha. Conrad served as co-CEO but left the company in 2012 due to disagreements. In 2013, Conrad founded Zenefits, a cloud-based HR platform focused on health insurance and payroll. Zenefits rapidly grew, becoming the fastest-growing startup in 2014, reaching a valuation of $4.5 billion. In 2015, he was recognized on Fortune's 40 Under 40 list and Forbes' America's Richest Entrepreneurs Under 40. However, Zenefits faced scrutiny and compliance issues, leading Conrad to resign in February 2016.
Key Business Strategies
After leaving Zenefits, Conrad co-founded Rippling in April 2016 with Prasanna Sankar. Rippling aimed to integrate HR, IT, payroll, and finance into a single platform. The company has since grown to a valuation of $16.8 billion (May 2025), with Conrad owning an estimated 20% stake. Conrad has emphasized the importance of building a "compound startup" with multiple integrated products. His approach prioritizes urgency and high-quality product development.
Philanthropy
While specific philanthropy amounts are not readily available through a search, Conrad has shown interest in charitable causes through his family involvement in non-profit environmental groups.