Rana el Kaliouby, Ph.D., is an Egyptian-American AI scientist, entrepreneur, and investor recognized as a pioneer of human-centric AI. She is the Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Blue Tulip Ventures, an early-stage firm investing in AI at the intersection of health & wellness, the future of work, and sustainable living. She also hosts Pioneers of AI (WaitWhat), exploring humanity’s relationship with artificial intelligence.
Previously, Rana co-founded Affectiva, an MIT spin-out that brought emotional intelligence to technology, and served as CEO until its acquisition by Smart Eye (NASDAQ: SEYE) in 2021. She is the author of Girl Decoded (Penguin Random House, 2020), and has been a visible voice shaping the dialogue on responsible AI through her roles as a TED speaker, PBS NOVA co-host, and conference co-chair for Fortune Brainstorm AI.
Rana serves as an Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School, a Trustee at the Boston Museum of Science and Milton Academy, and sits on multiple nonprofit and corporate boards. She has been recognized among Fortune’s 40 Under 40, Forbes’ Top 50 Women in Tech, Entrepreneur’s 100 Women of Influence, Newsweek’s Top Disruptors, and the Boston Globe’s Top 50 Tech Power Players.
She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge and completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at MIT. Rana lives in Milton, MA with her two children.
Can help with
Why Book Time with Rana?
Rana offers practical guidance on:
Building an AI-first company
Spinning out of academia and protecting IP
Strategizing on fundraising, investor relations, and board dynamics
Building responsible, defensible AI strategies
Recruiting world-class AI engineering teams
