Leadership

Operators who have already built voice AI and sold it.

VaraiE is led by people who have built AI communications technology, scaled enterprise platforms, and run venture-backed companies. They previously built BabbleLabs, backed by Dell Technologies Capital and Intel Capital. BabbleLabs delivered over 10× ROI and was acquired by Cisco in 2020.

Portrait of Samer Hijazi, PhD

Samer Hijazi, PhD

Chief Executive Officer & Founder

Defines the platform vision and technical strategy, builds the engineering teams, and is responsible for an enterprise-grade system that acts for people across complex workflows. Former executive at Cadence and Qualcomm. Co-founder of BabbleLabs through its acquisition by Cisco Webex.

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Portrait of Martha McClatchie

Martha McClatchie

Co-founder, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer

Owns the financial and operating foundation: capital strategy, forecasting, and governance, so the company can take institutional investment and grow with discipline. Previously led finance and operations at BabbleLabs, with experience across startups, GE Capital, and Silicon Valley companies.

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Portrait of Michelle Mao, PhD

Michelle Mao, PhD

Co-founder & Chief Technology Officer

Leads AI strategy and technology, building agents that turn intent into action. Co-founder of BabbleLabs, acquired by Cisco in 2020, where she later led AI for Webex. PhD, University of Utah.

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Portrait of Chris Rowen, PhD

Chris Rowen, PhD

Board member & strategic advisor

Founded Tensilica and BabbleLabs. Deep work on audio, video, natural language, and AI analytics for Webex conferencing, calling, and contact centers, with a focus on what AI does next.

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Advisors

Clinical reality, conversational systems, and the work of scaling a technical team.

Portrait of Basem Nayfeh, PhD

Basem Nayfeh, PhD

Technical advisor

Decades across AI, conversational systems, enterprise software, and telecommunications.

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Portrait of Sarah Azad, MD

Sarah Azad, MD

Clinical advisor

Board-certified OB-GYN with more than 20 years in practice at El Camino Women’s Medical Group. She knows how patients and clinics actually schedule, coordinate, and communicate.

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Portrait of Alyssa Patnode

Alyssa Patnode

People advisor

Organizational design and people strategy, including the work of scaling high-performing technical teams.

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