Skild Intelligent Competitions

Skild is a fast-growing, privately-held company that helps organizations design and manage every aspect of online contests, and we’ve been doing it since the dawn of the 21st century.

Oooh! Dawn of the century! Impressive, right? Well, actually it kind of is. Skild began life in 2002 under a different name: Idea Crossing. The company’s first project was the Innovation Challenge®, an annual contest that unites hundreds of teams from top universities with global brands to solve real-world business challenges. Since then, the Innovation Challenge® has grown into the largest competition of its kind in the world.

That alone is an impressive feat. But in the decade since the first Innovation Challenge®, we’ve also consulted with world-class organizations and produced dozens of online contests. We’ve amassed a treasure trove of wisdom, techniques and logistical savvy, which we have distilled into Skild’s competition management platform.

Today, clients from next-gen technology leaders to Fortune 500 companies and some of the world’s most ambitious nonprofits rely on Skild for the tools and knowledge they need to run effective awards, prizes and promotional contests.

Imagine what we’ll accomplish in our second decade!

Skild people exhibit a rare combination of ingenuity, organization and technical literacy. Every contest is unique, and it takes an equally unique and talented team to get the most out of each customer engagement. For this reason, we take agency-style approach to building distinctive contest experiences. And as you would expect, the people behind Skild comprise more than four decades of creative, technical and operational know-how specifically tailored meet the complex demands of running online contests.

Soft spoken yet full of passion, Señor Rathi is Skild’s founder and spiritual leader. When he’s not plotting online contest dominance, you’ll likely find him at the links or sipping craft beer and rooting for the Badgers. Some would say Indian George Clooney, but get past his good looks and charm and you’ll find a real entrepreneur with the tenacity of a “pomacentridae in the Gulf of Mexico” (thanks Dennis Miller). Committed husband, proud master of Patu, app addict and a true do-it-yourselfer, Anil embodies all that is Skild.

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ANIL K. RATHI

CEO & FOUNDER

Meet Ryan “today is the day” Wilson. His piercing blue eyes are hypnotic; and yes, Mensa turned him away because they felt threatened; but his Midwestern charm puts everyone at ease. Why is he a successful CMO? He inspires and leads… he uses both sides of his brain… he completely gets the “prize” landscape… and he really likes cookies (oatmeal raisin and HTTP). When he’s not proselytizing Skild, Ryan can be found testing gravity on snow-capped peaks, cooking epicurean delights or fulfilling his role as devoted husband and father.

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RYAN WILSON

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER

When it comes to sprints and scrums, it’s all business. But don’t let the nice threads and game face fool ya – when this code-master unwinds on the dance floor, he has more moves than a chess tournament. Denis is a rare bird indeed: Berkeley trained computer scientist, ripping surfer, Smithsonian Institute inductee, loving father and owner of 20 patents, he’s the guy you tell your teenage son to emulate. Oh, AND he can dance. Enough about Denis, we’re getting jealous.

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DENIS KHOO

Chief Technology Officer

Early in his career, Joe was known as the “Asian Frank Sinatra” (think younger, brown eyes and less Italian). Relatively unknown in the US, Joe enrolled at the University of Hawaii to study computer science. Unable to shake his charismatic charm, he took on the moniker “U'i, nohea alaka'I” (sexy leader). Flash forward: Joe is now Skild’s lead engineer and crooner. When he’s not dialed-in, you might hear the glorious acoustics of The Smiths or Depeche Mode coming from his office.

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JOE KUM

SOFTWARE ENGINEER

Think of "Face" from the A-Team with savvy real-world talents comparable only to MacGyver's survival skills, and you have Michael Timmons. When Chuck Norris dials 911, Michael Timmons answers. No BS, he’s the go-to guy for anything and everything Skild and beyond. A brilliant photog, father of two boys, prized husband and creative genius with an art collection that makes you wonder, "how does one acquire such a piece?” When Skild started expanding, no job req was drafted, no search was held - it was Michael or no one.

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MICHAEL TIMMONS

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING