Jack Hughes

Jack founded TopCoder on the premise that talent and skill are the determinant factors in the quality and utility of software — and software has become central to the global economy. In both his own programming experience and as co-founder and Chairman of Tallan Inc., a provider of web-enabled business solutions, Jack recognized that while successful projects were driven by superior programming skills, the talent was unqualified and largely unrecognized. TopCoder’s mission is to create objective ratings that place high value on the programming industry’s best and brightest, and build opportunity and community for programmers through ongoing programming tournaments and employer connections. Under Jack’s tenure as Chairman at Tallan, the company was recognized as one of the fastest-growing technology companies in North America four years in a row by consultancy firm Deloitte & Touche and by Inc. magazine for its outstanding performance. In 2000, CMGI, Inc. acquired a majority ownership of the company.