I'm Hjálmar Gíslason*, founder and CEO of GRID. Over the past three decades I've started five software companies, driven by a deep fascination with data, technology, and how they reshape the world.
I started coding at age 8 and sold my first software license at 14.
Most Icelanders call me Hjalli, which is even harder!
The Journey
GRID
GRID works at the intersection of AI and spreadsheets. Our spreadsheet technology is used by some of the leading AI companies in the space.
Qlik
Served as VP of Product Management at business intelligence company Qlik in Boston following their acquisition of DataMarket.
DataMarket
Founded DataMarket to make the world's data more accessible and understandable. Moved to Boston to build out sales and marketing in 2012. Acquired by Qlik in 2014.
Já / Síminn
Served as CTO of yellow-pages company Já and in business development at their parent company - Iceland Telecom - after Já's acquisition of Spurl. Spurl's search technology became the foundation for directory search on Já.is.
Spurl
Built Spurl, one of the earliest social bookmarking services. It attracted over 200k users in a few months. Incidentally led to the development of powerful search technology that was acquired by Iceland Telecom for their new directory service: Já.
Maskina
Founded Maskina, building mobile solutions in the early days of internet-connected phones. The company merged with Norwegian mobile firm Viva Nordic and eventually became Vyke.
Gagarín
Worked on various web and multimedia projects after the merger of Lon&Don and Gagarín.
Lon&Don
Co-founded Lon&Don with three college friends. Created popular Icelandic word and crossword games. Lon&Don merged with the multimedia firm Gagarín in 1999.
Beyond startups
I write about technology and society, much of which can be found here. I'm a regular commentator in Icelandic media, especially on matters involving tech and innovation. Proudly serve on the boards of language technology company Miðeind, web studio and incubator Aranja, the .is domain registrar ISNIC, and Iceland's Technology Development Fund, as well as the university council of Reykjavik University.
Photos and bios
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One-liner
Hjalmar is a 5-time software startup founder. Now founder and CEO of GRID. He's curious about data, technology, media, the universe and everything.
Short bio
Hjálmar Gíslason is the founder and CEO of GRID. Hjalmar previously served as VP of Product Management at Qlik in Boston. He was the founder and CEO of DataMarket, founded in 2008 and sold to Qlik in 2014. A career data nerd and entrepreneur, GRID is Hjalmar's fifth software startup as a founder.