Alexander Harmsen
FounderFounder/CEO at Iris Automation
San Francisco, California, United States
FoundedIris Automation · YC
About
Alexander Harmsen founded Iris Automation, an autonomous vehicle software company that raised over $30M and obtained regulatory approvals in multiple countries before exiting. He is currently CEO and co-founder of PortfolioPilot.com, an AI-based financial advisory platform, and advises computational pharma and SaaS companies.
Founder/CEO at Iris AutomationYC S16
Intro paths
YC
Alexander went through Y Combinator (Summer 2016) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
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In turn, Alexander can intro founders to Iris Automation's investors below.
Iris Automation's investors · 7
ARC Angel FundNew York · $50K – $250K checksBee PartnersLafayette · $300K – $500K checksBessemer Venture PartnersRedwood City · $5M – $100M checksFlucas VenturesJupiter · $100K – $5M checksNotable CapitalSilicon Valley · $5M – $50M checksSony Ventures CorporationTokyoY CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K checks · since 2016
Co-founders at Iris Automation
JH
James HowardFounder/CTO
Experience
- PortfolioPilotCEO & Foundercurrent2022 — presentSan Francisco, California, United States
- PEF CommunityMembercurrent2021 — present
- Flight Club LifeStrategic Advisorcurrent2020 — present
- VeriSIM LifeStrategic Advisorcurrent2017 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- Iris Automation IncChairman & Founder2020 — 2022San Francisco Bay Area
- Iris Automation IncCEO and Founder2015 — 2020
- Unmanned Systems Canada (USC-STC)Member of the Board of Directors2015 — 2019
- JPL (NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory)Aircraft Computer Vision Programmer2015Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
- Engineers Without Borders CanadaChapter President2011 — 2015
- Matternet, Inc.Flight Software Engineer2014 — 2015Palo alto, California
- Airbus Defence and SpaceElectrical & Software Engineer2013
- Vancouver Space Society, a Chapter of the Canadian Space SocietyActing Chair2011 — 2012Greater Vancouver Metropolitan Area
- MDAAviation Software Engineering2011 — 2012Richmond, British Columbia
- Defence Research and Development CanadaResearcher2011Quebec City, PQ
- Royal Canadian Air CadetsSquadron Commander & Training Coordinator2005 — 2010
- Self-EmployedPilot Ground School Instructor2008 — 2010
Skills & more
Matlab32C++12Python4C6Solidworks5AutoCAD1Simulink1Microsoft Office19Microsoft ExcelSolidWorks3Avionics4Engineering26
+12 more
AerospaceProgrammingTestingSoftware DevelopmentBudgetingProject PlanningSoftware EngineeringResearchTeam BuildingBorland DelphiInstructingIntegrationLanguages Dutch · English · French · German
- Superforecasting Fundamentals — Good Judgment Inc
- Applied Forecasting: Improving the Accuracy and Value of Your Predictions — Institute For the Future (IFF)
- Stanford Machine Learning & Practical Applications — Stanford University
From Alexander's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Alexander Harmsen?
- Alexander Harmsen founded Iris Automation, an autonomous vehicle software company that raised over $30M and obtained regulatory approvals in multiple countries before exiting. He is currently CEO and co-founder of PortfolioPilot.com, an AI-based financial advisory platform, and advises computational pharma and SaaS companies.
- Where does Alexander Harmsen work?
- Alexander Harmsen is Founder/CEO of Iris Automation.
- What companies did Alexander Harmsen found?
- Alexander Harmsen founded Iris Automation.
- Where did Alexander Harmsen go to school?
- Alexander Harmsen studied at The University of British Columbia (Bachelor of Applied Science, Engineering Physics & Economics); Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.), Engineering Physics).
Founder mafias
Y Combinator mafia8,773
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University of British Columbia mafia80
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Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi mafia66
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Airbus mafia20
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Matternet mafia3
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Same school
Also attended The University of British Columbia248
Joan MirallesHead of Administration & Valuation at Inveready Technology Investment GroupRares CrisanInvestor at Notable CapitalMarianne WuVenture Partner at Congruent VenturesBrendan BakerPartner at Rackhouse Venture Management LpAli KashaniVenture Partner at Think+ Ventures Management, LlcNick FitzInvestor at Juniper Ventures Management, Llc
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Shared employers
Also worked at VeriSIM Life4
Also worked at Iris Automation Inc5
Also worked at JPL (NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory)79
Frank RotmanCo-Founder and Partner Emeritus at QED InvestorsKevin DunlapCo-Founder and Managing Partner at Calibrate VenturesRoger CarterVP of Engineering at Prime Movers LabAndrew ChanFounder · Managing Partner at Atas VCShalini HauptAssociate at Clocktower VenturesGeorge UgrasGeneral Partner at AV8 Ventures
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Also worked at Engineers Without Borders Canada10
Brendan BakerPartner at Rackhouse Venture Management LpNeil PeetPartner, Leads Intake at GreenSky VenturesLise BirikundavyiManaging Partner at BKR CapitalRogayeh TabriziBoard Vice President at AInBCRebeccaPeople & Performance at NascentKa-Hay LawInvestment Director at TELUS Ventures
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