Indian American venture capitalist appointed to Northeastern University Board of Trustees

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Northeastern University has appointed an Indian American venture capitalist and global thought leader to its board of trustees. The appointment is aimed at bolstering the university’s expertise in Artificial Intelligence and venture capital.

Hemant Taneja, the CEO and managing director of General Catalyst, venture capital firm that supports founders with society-changing visions through various stages of business development, was recently appointed to Northeastern’s Board of Trustees. Taneja is a global investment leader with a focus on the future of artificial intelligence.

“Hemant leads one of the country’s most important venture capital funds and is a thought leader in today’s innovation economy,” says Richard D’Amore, chair of the Board of Trustees. D’Amore says the board will benefit from Taneja’s experience, expertise and dedication to Northeastern and its educational mission.

Taneja’s wife, Jessica, is a Northeastern graduate and his daughter is a member of Northeastern’s student body. Based in San Francisco, Taneja says the university’s co-op program, global university system, and innovative approach to AI are already helping it chart a new path in higher ed that truly prepares the next generation for success. His educational qualification includes Bachelor of Arts/Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Master of Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Master of Science in Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“In this world where artificial intelligence is going to be playing a huge role in society, we need to rethink how we train our next generation to thrive in that society as well,” Taneja says. “The university’s willingness to think outside of the box and be open to exploring how the education paradigm has to change in the era of AI is very interesting to me.”

Taneja’s work as an investor primarily focuses on the transformative impact of new technologies like AI. He was an early investor in major companies including Stripe, Snap, Grammarly, and Applied Intuition. He also co-founded the nonprofit Responsible Innovation Labs, which focuses on re-centering technology as a positive force in the world.

“Hemant is one of the most forward-thinking innovators in Silicon Valley,” Northeastern president Joseph E. Aoun says. “As Northeastern continues to play a leadership role in the world of artificial intelligence his visionary thinking and deep understanding of AI will be invaluable to the board and to the university.”