Dr. Rizwan Kheraj
Industrial Technology Advisor, National Research Council - IRAP Pacific
Rizwan’s work in the 80’s at the PhD level in industrial psychology and computing science in the area of knowledge-based systems (Queen’s University) gained him early expertise in human factors and user interface design. Rizwan has led the development, deployment and management of customer relationship and web-based business intelligence systems at Knowledge Junction, ISM-BC, MPR Teltech, and Allied-Signal Corporation. Rizwan co-founded Knowledge Junction Systems in 1997, and successfully raised three rounds of venture financing. In his role as CEO and CTO at Knowledge Junction, he gained key expertise in starting a company, raising financing; working with equity investors, managing and operating the company, and setting a vision and direction for a company that grew to 40 employees over a five year period. In 2003, Rizwan joined an early-stage wireless software company, Mobile Operandi as co-founder and Chief Operating Officer responsible for the commercial operation of the Mophone service, for finance, technical recruitment, human resources. The company was successfully sold to a US venture capital firm in February 2006. Rizwan has been a member of the of the IRAP team as an Industrial Technology Advisor in BC since 2006 focused on the ICT sector (software, digital media, wireless, e-health, green ICT) and has assisted over 500 early-stage ICT SME companies by delivering technical, business, and operational advice to his clients’ CEOs to help them structure their companies, raise financing, grow their technological platforms and resource competencies, and commercialize their R&D results. He is currently a member of the Queens University Arts & Sciences Cabinet, the BCIT Computing Advisory Committee, and the BC Chapter of the Manning Awards Foundation. Rizwan has been an active participant as a mentor and judge to early-stage technology companies in the annual BCIC New Ventures BC competition since 2001.
Rizwan’s work in the 80’s at the PhD level in industrial psychology and computing science in the area of knowledge-based systems (Queen’s University) gained him early expertise in human factors and user interface design. Rizwan has led the development, deployment and management of customer relationship and web-based business intelligence systems at Knowledge Junction, ISM-BC, MPR Teltech, and Allied-Signal Corporation. Rizwan co-founded Knowledge Junction Systems in 1997, and successfully raised three rounds of venture financing. In his role as CEO and CTO at Knowledge Junction, he gained key expertise in starting a company, raising financing; working with equity investors, managing and operating the company, and setting a vision and direction for a company that grew to 40 employees over a five year period. In 2003, Rizwan joined an early-stage wireless software company, Mobile Operandi as co-founder and Chief Operating Officer responsible for the commercial operation of the Mophone service, for finance, technical recruitment, human resources. The company was successfully sold to a US venture capital firm in February 2006. Rizwan has been a member of the of the IRAP team as an Industrial Technology Advisor in BC since 2006 focused on the ICT sector (software, digital media, wireless, e-health, green ICT) and has assisted over 500 early-stage ICT SME companies by delivering technical, business, and operational advice to his clients’ CEOs to help them structure their companies, raise financing, grow their technological platforms and resource competencies, and commercialize their R&D results. He is currently a member of the Queens University Arts & Sciences Cabinet, the BCIT Computing Advisory Committee, and the BC Chapter of the Manning Awards Foundation. Rizwan has been an active participant as a mentor and judge to early-stage technology companies in the annual BCIC New Ventures BC competition since 2001.
