Information has always been valuable in business. The challenge is identifying which developments matter, how quickly they could affect an organization, and what they mean for its bottom line. Artificial intelligence is creating new ways to analyze that information, and entrepreneur Shayan Shokri sees an opportunity to help businesses make better-informed decisions.
Shokri founded Earthian AI, an Amsterdam-based AI company that analyzes news, satellite images, geopolitical developments, and corporate disclosures to help organizations assess financial and operational risks. Its technology is designed to turn large volumes of information into insights that businesses can use when evaluating potential threats and opportunities.
From research to real-world impact
The idea grew out of Shokri’s experience in neuroscience research. While working at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, affiliated with Harvard Medical School, he became increasingly interested in how scientific discoveries could translate into practical applications.
“I found out that it’s quite hard to make impact directly or solely through research,” he said.
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Shokri also questioned whether the traditional research environment offered the resources and flexibility needed to bring ideas to a wider audience. He saw entrepreneurship as a way to take greater ownership of a project and its potential impact.
“I was disappointed that science doesn’t get enough money at universities,” he noted.
Moving into business meant leaving a familiar professional environment and learning how to turn an idea into a product customers would pay for.