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George Babu
On Sabbatical
George Babu is a Canadian technology executive and entrepreneur with extensive experience in the artificial intelligence and robotics industries. He currently serves on the Board of Advisors for the University of Toronto's Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, Division of Engineering Science.12
Education and Early Career
Babu attended the University of Toronto from 1995 to 2010, earning three degrees:
- Bachelor of Science in Engineering Science (Major in Electrical Engineering)
- MBA in Finance & Entrepreneurship
- JD in Law1
He began his career at Research In Motion (now BlackBerry), where he worked as an RF Researcher and later as a Patent Agent Trainee.2
Entrepreneurial Ventures
Babu has co-founded several successful companies:
- Rypple: A web-based social performance management platform, where he served as VP of Business Operations & Finance.12
- Kindred AI: Co-founded in 2014, where he was a board member and Chief Product Officer. The company was acquired by Ocado Group for $262 million in November 2020.1
Investment and Advisory Roles
Throughout his career, Babu has held various investment and advisory positions:
- Founding Partner at Sweat Equity Ventures (2018-2021)
- Director at OMERS Ventures (2013-2014)
- Member of the Investment Committee at Investment Accelerator Fund - MaRS (2013-2014)
- Board member for companies like Hopper and InteraXon2
Current Focus
Babu's LinkedIn profile indicates that he has a "lifelong fascination with technology's impact on our lives" and has explored ways to identify promising emerging technologies, bring people and capital together to develop products, and build defensible business models.2
Additional Interests and Certifications
Babu holds several certifications, including:
- Scrum Product Owner
- Private Pilot License
- Group 3 Instrument Rating
- Climate Change AI Summer School 20232
His diverse background in engineering, law, and business, combined with his entrepreneurial experience, makes him a valuable advisor for the University of Toronto's engineering programs.
