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Taneja says Northeastern’s co-op program, global university system and innovative approach to AI are helping it chart a new path in higher education.
Hemant Taneja is CEO and managing director of General Catalyst, a venture capital firm that supports founders with society-changing visions through various stages of business development.
A global investment leader with a focus on the future of artificial intelligence, Taneja was recently appointed to Northeastern’s Board of Trustees.
“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 is excited by what he sees on the horizon for the university. His wife, Jessica, is a Northeastern graduate.
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.
“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, which primarily focuses on the transformative impact of new technologies like AI, has given him a front row seat to global change. 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.”
Taneja also has a front row seat to the innovation being brought by Northeastern’s student body, of which his daughter is now a member.
“As an investor who invests in early-stage companies, I genuinely believe that the next generation always has the best finger on the pulse of cultural changes with new technology,” Taneja says. “I definitely see the student body on campus here being part of that movement as well.”