Aug 2022 – Oct 2024 · 2 yrs 2 mos

• CloudFactory provides AI data solutions, combining human-in-the-loop expertise with advanced automation to deliver high-quality data labeling, model oversight, and analytics for accelerating AI development and deployment.
• Led a global team of product, machine learning, and engineering professionals, reducing technology headcount by 20% and budget by 15% while increasing output by 50%.
• Launched the Accelerated Annotation offering in Jan 2023 which utilized foundational models like SAM to offer AI-assisted data labelling combined with human expertise, delivering data labeling up to 5X faster for clients, while reducing costs by 20-50%.
• Launched the Model Monitoring & Oversight offering in July 2024 allowing clients to launch models in production with assurance of accuracy while reducing operational costs by as much as 20-30%
• Acquired and oversaw integration of Berlin AI startup Hasty.ai in 2022 to expand technical capabilities.

Feb 2022 – Jul 2022 · 5 mos

Mar 2020 – Dec 2021 · 1 yr 9 mos · New York, United States

• Ocrolus is a fintech infrastructure company that uses human-in-the-loop AI to transform documents into actionable financial data for lenders. During my tenure, it was named as the fastest growing software company in New York by Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 list and fastest growing fintech company in the US by Inc. 5000. Ocrolus has raised over $120 million in venture capital, backed by FTV, Oak HC/FT, FinTech Collective, and QED Investors, among others.
• Spearheaded Rapid-Response PPP Processing enabling instant processing of over 2.5 million PPP loans with 99%+ accuracy, while expanding document support to over 1,110 types, driving fintech market penetration during a critical economic period
• Launched Advanced AI Features for fraud detection and cash flow analytics in 2021 integrating refined AI and human-in-the-loop validation to boost platform accuracy and enterprise growth in lending and banking sectors
• Pioneered the use of early LLMs like BERT to enhance our named entity recognition and document classification capabilities
• Implemented our security strategy, secured SOC2 and ISO27001 compliance and built a security team under a highly experienced CISO
• Contributed to securing $80m Series C raise in Sept 2021 which 5X’ed the valuation to $500m from 2019

Jun 2017 – Feb 2020 · 2 yrs 8 mos · New York, United States

• Co-authored and acted as the technical expert on top thought leadership research papers on artificial intelligence, reaching millions of business leaders worldwide.
• Advised a major tech company on product strategy for their open source AI toolkit and a program supporting AI for social good.

Jan 2017 – Jun 2017 · 5 mos · Hong Kong SAR

• Developed launch strategy for world-first livestreaming product with satellite TV channel in South Africa
• Advised Tencent's International Business Group and their investor Naspers on the launch and growth of their mobility products in markets outside of China

Jul 2014 – Mar 2016 · 1 yr 8 mos · New York, United States

• YouNow was a live video mobile social network funded by Union Square Ventures and Venrock and named by TechCrunch as one of the five fastest rising startups of 2015
• Scaled the company from a purely US domestic focus to a global player with 100m monthly user sessions across four continents
• Launched an in-app economy growing revenue from zero to $15m p/a
• Recruited and led a team of data scientists implementing unique machine learning features to allow for content matching in our product.

Jun 2013 – Jun 2014 · 1 yr · Cambridge, Massachusetts

• Developed expertise in emerging market mobile technology ventures focusing on strategy, systems thinking, and analytics.
• Conducted consulting projects for Tencent and NTT DoCoMo, modeling product diffusion and adoption characteristics.
• Associated with MIT Legatum Center as a Legatum and Mastercard Foundation Fellow.

May 2011 – May 2013 · 2 yrs · City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

• Kuza was a mobile technology company focused on delivering business tools to underserved communities, particularly in Africa, through low-cost mobile platforms. We called it eBay for mobile for Africa.
• Led the development of Kuza, a mobile business platform, winning the MIT Sloan business plan competition in 2011.
• Secured SeriesAA seed funding from Founders Collective and showcased the product at Demo Africa in 2012.
• Recognized by the World Bank as one of the world's most inspiring high-growth entrepreneurs in 2013.

Jul 2010 – Feb 2011 · 7 mos · City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

• Developed and produced a strategic plan for the Korbicom board, advising on venture financing for the Ghostdraft product.
• Provided invaluable guidance in shaping, building, and establishing a solid foundation for overall corporate growth.

May 2008 – Oct 2009 · 1 yr 5 mos · City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

• MXit was a mobile-first social network and instant messaging platform that gained widespread popularity in South Africa and emerging markets, offering low-data text-based communication long before smartphones and mainstream messaging apps became prevalent. At the time it was bigger than Twitter.
• Led the turnaround of Mxit’s technical division, resolving major scaling issues that blocked user acquisition during a critical expansion phase.
• Implemented agile methodologies company-wide, improving efficiency and adaptability.
• Formalized recruiting, HR, and reward structures to attract and retain top engineering talent.
• Directed the successful launch of a fully rewritten, scalable backend in just six months, eliminating growth bottlenecks.
• Enabled years of sustained growth by ensuring long-term scalability, allowing the company to refocus on innovation and expansion.

May 2006 – Apr 2008 · 1 yr 11 mos · City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

• Managed the technology aspect of the $65 billion asset management outsourcing project to JPMorgan, leading a team of 50 technical experts.
• Successfully completed the largest outsource in South African financial history without any business interruption.
• Collaborated with the CIO to ensure the project was completed on schedule and within budget.