Ankur Gopal

Ankur Gopal is the founder and CEO of Interapt, an IT services firm that partners with Fortune 1000 companies and communities on digital transformation, business process outsourcing, and IT workforce training. Gopal established Interapt in Louisville, Kentucky, with the goal of building an IT company focused on technology-driven solutions for clients and workforce development. Interapt has become a nationally recognized model for bridging the digital divide through technology training and job creation. The company was selected by Google as one of only ten global Glass at Work Partners and received the Gartner Cool Vendor Award from Gartner Group.

In response to challenges in sourcing local tech talent, Gopal developed a six-month paid training program that evolved into one of the leading IT apprenticeship models in the United States. This program serves underemployed and unemployed individuals in both rural and urban areas, as well as veterans, providing pathways to IT careers with upward mobility. Interapt has collaborated with the Department of Labor to help write national standards for IT apprenticeships. Gopal has supported more than 3,000 individuals, including veterans and those facing employment barriers, in launching technology careers. Interapt maintains a 95 percent success rate in job placement and retention, contributing to workforce development and community revitalization.

Gopal has received recognition including the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award, 40 Under 40 distinction, induction into the Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame, and Business Journal's Business of the Year and Most Admired CEO honors. He was named an Endeavor Entrepreneur and later joined the Endeavor board. Interapt's work has been featured in New York Times, Wall Street Journal, PBS Newshour, Fox News, USA Today, and The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.

Gopal is a frequent speaker on entrepreneurship, workforce development, and technology. He has presented at the White House, TEDx, and delivered a TED Talk titled "Opportunity as a Service: Igniting Human Potential." He has also spoken at the EY Strategic Growth Forum, The University of Chicago, Stanford University, and McKesson's Annual Meeting. Gopal was honored as commencement speaker by the University of Illinois, his alma mater. He is also an alumnus of Second City Chicago, where he performed stand-up comedy and improv on the Main Stage, bringing a distinctive perspective to his public speaking engagements.