Latest news with #AISquared
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Indian tech entrepreneur Nagendra Dhanakeerthi recounts final hurdle before getting O-1A visa: 'Why do you think you are extraordinary?'
Indian tech entrepreneur Nagendra Dhanakeerthi has recently relocated to California on an O-1A visa which is reserved for "extraordinary" people in their fields. His relocation comes amid the Donald Trump administration's stricter rules for foreign nationals and a brewing discontent among the US tech workers over the H-1B visa, the program that allows US companies to hire foreign skills. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now But Nagendra is an O-1A and he recounted his last hurdle before getting the visa to the as being asked why he thinks he is extraordinary. The question is the visa's core requirement that the applicants have to be extraordinary in their field. "I was confident but at the same time you do hear a lot of rejections," Dhanakeerthi said. The Wall Street Journal report that detailed the the journey of the Indian techie from Bengaluru to California focuses on immigration in California and how it is necessary for California's growth. The reply that Nag gave that got him his extraordinary category visa was his ingenuity. "I shared how I've led teams across geographies and how the product I built got acquired by AI Squared,' he said. Dhanakeerthi was described as one of California's newest residents, whom his company paid a lot of money to get there. The Indian entrepreneur shifted to California from Bengaluru with his wife Sindhuja Ravichandran and their two daughters, as he found it difficult to work remotely. He was a co-founder of the AI startup and is now the chief technical officer after his company was acquired by a different venture. The WSJ report said that his company applied for a visa to relocate the CTO to California and the six-month process cost the company about $30,000. Darren Kimura, the CEO of the company AI Squared said he has a second visa applicant in India who is still navigating the O-1A application process. Kimura told WSJ that the second position is for chief customer officer, and it is a little difficult to define.
Associated Press
18-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
AI Squared Names Darren Kimura as Chief Executive Officer
WASHINGTON, March 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AI Squared, a leading AI integration provider, today announced that Darren Kimura has been appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer. Founded in 2019 by Benjamin Harvey, Ph.D., AI Squared has rapidly emerged as an industry leader, pioneering advancements in AI accessibility and integration. Under Harvey's leadership, the company has established strategic partnerships with major government agencies and Fortune 50 enterprises, driving innovation at the intersection of AI and enterprise applications. Harvey will transition into a new role focused on positioning AI Squared as a thought leader and deepening customer engagement while pursuing his next entrepreneurial venture. 'Leading AI Squared has been an incredible journey, and I am immensely proud of what our team has accomplished,' said Harvey. 'Darren has played a pivotal role in our success, and I have full confidence that, under his leadership, AI Squared will continue to thrive and expand its impact.' Darren Kimura brings over 25 years of experience in scaling technology companies and bridging AI with enterprise solutions. Prior to his recent appointment, Kimura joined AI Squared in 2024 as President and Chief Operating Officer and has been instrumental in shaping the company's operational growth and strategic direction. As CEO, he will focus on accelerating the company's expansion and reinforcing its commitment to delivering transformative AI solutions. Delivering proven leadership skills, Kimura also served as President and CEO of Energy Industries Corporation, Solar Power Technology, and LiveAction. 'Ben's vision and leadership have positioned AI Squared as a market leader, and I am honored to build upon that strong foundation,' said Kimura. 'We have an exceptional team, and I look forward to driving forward our mission of making AI more accessible and impactful for organizations worldwide.' Greg Papadopoulos, Venture Partner at NEA, an AI Squared investor, recognized Dr. Harvey's contributions: 'Ben's pioneering work has shaped AI Squared into a formidable force in AI integration. His dedication and innovation have been critical to the company's success, and I look forward to seeing continued growth under Darren's leadership.' Allan Jean-Baptiste, General Partner at Ansa Capital, an AI Squared investor, added: 'As Founder, Ben has been critical to building AI Squared's foundation and an important part of the company's success. Darren's transition to CEO marks an exciting new chapter for the company, and we look forward to AI Squared's continued growth and innovation.' AI Squared remains committed to advancing AI adoption and empowering organizations with cutting-edge technology. Under Kimura's leadership, the company looks forward to accelerating its impact and expanding its reach across industries. About AI Squared AI Squared helps large organizations seamlessly integrate AI where work happens. Through our SaaS and on-premises platforms, we combine data sources with advanced AI/ML capabilities, embedding intelligent insights directly into business applications. Trusted by leading financial institutions, complex supply chain logistics companies, and the U.S. Department of Defense, we enable seamless collaboration between data science teams and business users—driving faster, more informed decision-making.
