Executive Spotlight: Parker Conrad, Co-Founder and CEO of Rippling (2027)
Parker Conrad is the Co-Founder and CEO of Rippling, a workforce software company that combines HR, IT and finance tools. Rippling's own about page gives that title.
He was previously CEO of the HR software company Zenefits, which he left in February 2016.
This page uses public professional information only.
Current role and company
Rippling's about page lists Parker Conrad as Co-Founder and CEO. A June 2026 TechCrunch article covers his plans for Rippling's new data product and its approach to spending, and describes Rippling as a company that started in HR software.
- CompanyRippling, which integrates with more than 600 apps and has offices on four continents (Rippling about page).
- TitleCo-Founder and CEO.
- Funding$1.8 billion raised from investors including Kleiner Perkins, Founders Fund, Sequoia and Bedrock (Rippling newsroom, undated).
Career path
- Zenefits, CEO until February 2016. On February 8, 2016, TechCrunch reported that he exited as CEO and stepped down as a director, with COO David Sacks taking over.
- Rippling, Co-Founder and CEO. Rippling's about page lists him as its Co-Founder and CEO today. The pages read for this profile do not give his earlier education or earlier ventures, so this page does not cover them.
The Zenefits exit and SEC settlement
Dated facts from news reports. On February 8, 2016, TechCrunch reported that Zenefits CEO Parker Conrad left the company; an internal email from Sacks said the company's compliance processes had been inadequate, and Conrad said he was proud of what the organization had built. On October 26, 2017, TechCrunch reported that Zenefits and Conrad settled SEC accusations of misleading investors about insurance licensing compliance. Zenefits agreed to a $450,000 penalty. Conrad agreed to $350,000 in disgorgement, $23,692.39 in interest and a $160,000 penalty, $533,692 in total, without having to admit that he violated securities laws.
What he is known for
- Building Rippling. He leads a company that sells HR, IT and finance software in one system and has expanded into data and banking products in 2026.
- Heavy R&D spending. TechCrunch reported in June 2026 that Rippling spends 45% to 50% of revenue on research and development.
- Leading Zenefits. He was its CEO until February 2016.
Leadership style and philosophy
In the June 2026 TechCrunch article, Conrad said Rippling is not going public and criticized public markets as a home for slow-growth companies. He also said Rippling is about two years from being cash-flow positive. On Rippling's about page he says the company has an unusual commitment to R&D among software companies.
Key numbers
Company-reported or press-reported figures, with the period shown.
- Funding raised$1.8 billion (Rippling newsroom, undated).
- Rippling Data Cloud customersAbout 560 companies as of June 25, 2026 (TechCrunch).
- New revenue from that productRoughly $5 million to $7 million per month as of June 2026 (TechCrunch).
- R&D spend45% to 50% of revenue, against roughly 8% to 9% at Paylocity and Paycom (TechCrunch, June 2026).
- Prior valuation$16.8 billion, as assigned by investors the previous year (TechCrunch, June 2026).
What to watch next
Worth tracking: uptake of Rippling Data Cloud and Business Banking, and Conrad's stated timeline of about two years to cash-flow positive.
Questions people ask
Who is Parker Conrad?
He is the Co-Founder and CEO of Rippling and a former CEO of Zenefits.
What is Parker Conrad's current role?
Co-Founder and CEO of Rippling, per Rippling's about page.
Why did Parker Conrad leave Zenefits?
TechCrunch reported on February 8, 2016 that he exited as CEO, with COO David Sacks taking over; Sacks cited inadequate compliance processes.
Was there an SEC settlement?
TechCrunch reported on October 26, 2017 that Zenefits and Conrad settled SEC accusations, with Conrad paying $533,692 in total without having to admit violations.
Is Rippling going public?
In June 2026 Conrad told TechCrunch that Rippling is not going public.
Sources
- Rippling about page · Title, apps and offices
- Rippling newsroom · Funding raised
- TechCrunch (June 25, 2026): Rippling and employee AI spend · Product figures, R&D share, his statements
- TechCrunch (February 8, 2016): Zenefits CEO out · Zenefits exit
- TechCrunch (October 26, 2017): SEC fines Zenefits · SEC settlement amounts
- Wikimedia Commons photo · Hero photo, CC BY 2.0
Facts were read from the linked pages on October 31, 2026, partly through a fetch tool that returns summaries, so confirm details on the original pages. The hero photo is a TechCrunch Disrupt 2022 photo from Wikimedia Commons. This page covers public professional information only.
Top photo: Kimberly White Stringer / Getty Images for TechCrunch, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons