Jad Esber
Founder and CEO of Koodos Labs, Affiliate at Harvard's Berkman Klein Center
Jad Esber is the Co-Founder and CEO of Koodos Labs, a company focused on developing products and conducting research aimed at shaping the next generation of the Internet. Koodos Labs is known for creating Shelf, a platform that allows users to track and showcase their interests online.
Esber is also an Affiliate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, where his research addresses digital consumption patterns and aims to invert the traditional personal data model of the internet, empowering users with greater control over their digital identities. His work includes exploring regulatory frameworks and the implications of user-provisioned access to data, particularly in relation to artificial intelligence and business models that align incentives with user interests.134
Before founding Koodos Labs, Esber had a significant career at Google and YouTube, where he focused on expanding the creator ecosystem in emerging markets and developing features aimed at trust-building amidst challenges faced by advertisers on the platform. He holds both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Engineering from the University of Cambridge and an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he was active in various leadership roles, including co-president of the Entrepreneurship Club.123
Esber is also a recognized speaker on emerging technologies, having presented at prestigious venues such as the United Nations and Harvard University, and he contributes to discussions on platform design and technology's impact on culture and business.14