PeopleofSuperintelligence

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Rana el Kaliouby

Also known as رنا القليوبي

Rana el Kaliouby is a computer scientist known for emotion AI and for co-founding Affectiva. She studied computer science at the American University in Cairo, earned a PhD at Cambridge, and co-founded Affectiva in 2009 while a postdoc at MIT Media Lab. She took the company's reins as CEO in 2016, and Smart Eye bought Affectiva for $73.5 million in 2021. In September 2024 she launched Pioneers of AI, a podcast about how AI will shape the future. As of October 2026 she is co-founder and general partner of Blue Tulip Ventures, an early-stage firm that invests in human-centric AI.

Now at
Blue Tulip Ventures
Works
85
Citations
3,569
h-index
31

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 15 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. 1978

    Studying in Cairo and Cambridge

    Born in 1978, she studies computer science at the American University in Cairo, then completes a PhD at Cambridge.

  2. 2009

    Co-founding Affectiva

    While a postdoc at MIT Media Lab in 2009, she co-founds Affectiva, a startup built on emotion AI technology.

  3. 2016

    Chief executive of Affectiva

    In 2016 she takes the company reins as CEO of Affectiva.

  4. April 2020

    The memoir Girl Decoded

    Girl Decoded, her memoir, is published in April 2020.

  5. 2021

    Affectiva joins Smart Eye

    Smart Eye acquires Affectiva for $73.5 million in 2021, and she sells the company she runs as CEO.

  6. 2023

    An Eisenhower Fellowship

    She becomes an Eisenhower Fellow in 2023.

  7. September 2024

    The Pioneers of AI podcast

    Pioneers of AI, her podcast on how AI will shape the future, launches in September 2024.

  8. As of October 2026

    Investing through Blue Tulip Ventures

    In March 2026 she speaks at SXSW as co-founder and general partner of Blue Tulip Ventures, an early-stage firm that invests in human-centric AI.

Sources and credits

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  1. Rana el Kaliouby - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  2. Rana el Kaliouby | Penguin Random House penguinrandomhouse.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  3. Rana el Kaliouby, Blue Tulip Ventures | Boston Tech Leaders - The Boston Globe bostonglobe.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  4. Women in STEM: Rana el Kaliouby - Tynker Blog tynker.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  5. Emotion-detection software startup Affectiva acquired for $73.5M | TechCrunch techcrunch.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  6. Dr. Rana el Kaliouby Profile Page | XPRIZE Foundation go.xprize.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  7. Egyptian-American Scientist Rana El Kaliouby Explores Ethical AI in New Podcast Series | Egyptian Streets egyptianstreets.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  8. AI's 'boys' club' could widen the wealth gap for women, says Rana el Kaliouby | TechCrunch techcrunch.com. Checked 15 October 2026.