Alexander Harmsen
FounderFounder/CEO at Iris Automation · CEO at PortfolioPilot
San Francisco, California, United States
Find your path to Alexander
277 people in our graph share verified history with Alexander — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Roger CarterunlockedAlexander: together at JPL (NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory) (2015)
×6Alexander: together at Airbus
×3Alexander: together at JPL (NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
Alexander: together at Engineers Without Borders Canada
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 checks · since 2015Bessemer 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
CEO at PortfolioPilot
Intro paths
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In turn, Alexander can intro founders to PortfolioPilot's investors below.
PortfolioPilot's investors · 3
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 and CEO at PortfolioPilot.
- What companies did Alexander Harmsen found?
- Alexander Harmsen founded Iris Automation, PortfolioPilot.
- 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 mafia10,230
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Sam AltmanPresidentFounded Tools for Humanity +3Garry TanPresident & CEOFounded Y Combinator +1Jessica LivingstonCo-founderFounded Y CombinatorAlexis OhanianPartnerFounded RedditFred EhrsamYC Summer 2012Founded Nudge +1Matt HuangYC Winter 2011Founded Paradigm +1
+ 10,223 more
University of British Columbia mafia201
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Weiting LiuBachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.)Founded Everyday.me +2Kristoffer Vik HansenBachelor’s DegreeFounded Spare +2Tal ElyashivMBAFounded Exactor +1Matthew AndersonBachelor of Commerce (B.Com.)Founded A&K Robotics Inc +1Alex SismanisBachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.)Founded L1 Advisors +1Cathy HanBachelor of CommerceFounded 42 +1
+ 194 more
Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi mafia174
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Deepinder GoyalFounded ZomatoBinny BansalBachelorsFounded FlipkartArvind JainBTechFounded Glean +2Jyoti BansalBachelor of TechnologyFounded Unusual +4Garg RajulB TechFounded Leo +4Rajul GargB TechFounded GlobalLogic +2
+ 167 more
Airbus mafia50
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Benoit LemaignanFlight control design engineerFounded Waga Energy +2Dr. Moritz MaierQuality Control SpecialistFounded Synera +1Arne GeschkeProgrammer (Data Analysis and FEM Calculations)Founded Fair Supply +1David MorczinekAircraft Completion Manager - A350XWB ProgrammeFounded Airworks Solutions +1Saulo TristaoInternshipFounded FacioDemetrios KellariAerospace Engineer, Special ProjectsFounded Neion Bio
+ 43 more
Matternet mafia3
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Same school
Also attended The University of British Columbia563
Joan MirallesHead of Administration & Valuation at Inveready Technology Investment GroupZack GrimmerInvestor at IVP (Institutional Venture Partners)Rares CrisanInvestor at Notable CapitalMarianne WuVenture Partner at Congruent VenturesBrendan BakerPartner at Rackhouse Venture Management LpAli KashaniVenture Partner at Think+ Ventures Management, Llc
+ 557 more
Also attended Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi306
Navin ChaddhaManaging Partner at MayfieldDeepinder GoyalCo-founder & CEO of ZomatoBinny BansalCo-founder of Flipkart; co-founder of PhonePe and OppDoorArvind JainFounder & CEO of GleanAshu GargInvestor at Foundation CapitalNeeraj AroraAll things business at WhatsApp; formerly M&A lead at Google for Local, Social and Mobile
+ 300 more
Shared employers
Also worked at VeriSIM Life5
Also worked at Iris Automation Inc5
Also worked at JPL (NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory)121
Frank RotmanCo-Founder and Partner Emeritus at QED InvestorsInca ComanVenture Partner at ARCH Venture PartnersKevin DunlapCo-Founder and Managing Partner at Calibrate VenturesRoger CarterVP of Engineering at Prime Movers LabAndrew ChanInvestor & ConsultantShalini HauptAssociate at Clocktower Ventures
+ 115 more
Also worked at Engineers Without Borders Canada18
Brendan BakerPartner at Rackhouse Venture Management LpNeil PeetPartner, Leads Intake at GreenSky VenturesLise BirikundavyiManaging Partner at BKR CapitalYehia HouryChief Executive Officer at Flat6LabsRogayeh TabriziBoard Vice President at AInBCBeth Foster-ChaoInvestment Lead, Climate Adaptation & Resilience at Autodesk Foundation
+ 12 more