Ivan is an investor, entrepreneur and operator with unique domain expertise in start up scaling, machine learning and software product development. He splits his time these days as a venture capital investor and operator, having stepped into several start up CEO roles since joining ScOp VC. Earlier in his career, Ivan spent 10 years overseeing engineering at Graphiq, a Santa Barbara-based software business, which brought to market some of the most innovative machine learning software, leading to a company sale Amazon.  At Graphiq they developed some of the most advanced natural language generation and understanding technology and their system now powers the majority of Alexa’s interaction capabilities. He stayed on a GM at Amazon where he continued to work on groundbreaking natural language technologies.  Besides driving value creation at portfolio companies, Ivan spends a lot of time thinking about how to turn complex data into rich experiences/products. Ivan is a thought leader in AI and brings fresh perspectives on the applications and impacts we will encounter in the future. Originally from Argentina, Ivan now calls Santa Barbara home.