Ashhad started ApexChat in 2008 after having difficulty operating website chat of an earlier startup. The result is a chat solution for SMBs that not only has a feature rich, scalable chat software platform, but also includes industry trained agents to conduct chats for customers. Before ApexChat, Ashhad founded two additional startups. The first was a pay-per-call platform for the Auto service industry, and the second was a subscription based internet reseller of leads to direct marketers. Prior to these startups Ashhad was a Principal at Ibex Solutions, a professional services company focused on CRM integration. Ibex serviced several fortune 500 companies including Hewlett Packard, GE, Sprint PCS, EMC, Silicon Graphics, 3Com and more. Ashhad holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University.

After obtaining a BS degree from Lake Forest College and serving as a Naval Officer in the US Military, Jim joined the IBM Corporation, and subsequently enjoyed several successful years in senior sales management positions with other Data Processing Services Companies. In addition to managing large sales teams, Jim secured many partnering and alliance agreements with major corporations including: GE Information Services, Sterling Software, IBM, Wells Fargo Bank, HUD, The Ford Motor Company, and MGIC. Jim manages and has helped form key alliances with many channel partners.