Sohrab Haghighat

Sohrab Haghighat is an entrepreneur with a specialtyspecializing in robotics, autonomous driving, and space technology. He is the co- foundercofounder &and CEO of SpaceRyde, a company building a space transportation infrastructure called the Rocket Network.

Sohrab Haghighat standing next to a component of the Ryder rocket engine.

Sohrab Haghighat standing next to a component of the Ryder rocket engine.

He holds a PhD in Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from the University of Toronto, alongside a Masters in Applied Science, Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo. From May 2012 to November 2012, Haghighat served as a Performanceperformance Specialistspecialist at Safran, an international technology group operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment, and interiors), defense, and space markets.

From December 2012 to October 2014, he was a member of the Researchresearch Staffstaff of Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories (MERL), a company carrying out basic and applied research in multi-physical multiphysical modeling and simulation, optimization, control, signal processing, and artificial intelligence.

From November 2014 to May 2015, he served as a Seniorsenior Algorithmsalgorithms Engineerengineer at Cymer, an ASML company providing light sources utilized by chipmakers to pattern semiconductor chips. From 2015 to 2017, he served as Controlscontrols engineer Engineer,and then Engineeringengineering Managermanager at Cruise Automation, a company building self-driving vehicles. He then co-foundedcofounded SpaceRyde in January 2018 alongside his wife, Saharnaz Safari.

The couple, who are the founders ofHaghighat SpaceRyde,and haveSafari opened their owna rocket factory north of Toronto.Haghighat and his wifeToronto, SaharnazCanada. SafariThey have been developing their launch system for the last four years, initially buildingdeveloping a prototype in a garage. NowThey theythen havereceived the backing of the Canadian Space Agency and employexpanded operations by employing more than 30 people.

The couple, who are the founders of SpaceRyde, have opened their own rocket factory north of Toronto.Haghighat and his wife Saharnaz Safari have been developing their launch system for the last four years, initially building a prototype in a garage. Now they have the backing of the Canadian Space Agency and employ more than 30 people.

Haghighat said about SpaceRyde in an interview:

We want to be the Uber of space. Launching from a balloon, we are going to bypass all the dense layers of the atmosphere, and it allows us to have a small, efficient and yet very affordable rocket.

Saharnaz Safari, left, and Sohrab Haghighat, right, pose with their rocket at SpaceRyde in Concord, Ont.

Sohrab Haghighat is an entrepreneur with a specialty in robotics, autonomous driving, and space technology. He is the co- founder & CEO of SpaceRyde, a company building a space transportation infrastructure called the Rocket Network. University of Toronto Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering 2007 - 2012. University of Waterloo Master of Applied Science, Mechanical Engineering 2005 - 2007

Performance Specialist at Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets May 2012 - Nov 2012. Member Research Staff, Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories MERL does basic and applied research in the areas of multi-physical modeling and simulation, optimization, control, signal processing and artificial intelligence.Dec 2012 - Oct 2014. Senior Algorithms EngineerSenior Algorithms Engineer CymerCymer Nov 2014 - May 2015Cymer, an ASML company, is a market-leading provider of sophisticated light sources used by chipmakers around the globe to pattern advanced semiconductor chips.

He holds a PhD in Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from the University of Toronto, alongside a Masters in Applied Science, Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo. From May 2012 to November 2012, Haghighat served as a Performance Specialist at Safran, an international technology group operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets.

As Engineering Manager at Cruise Automation, I rose from a Controls Engineer, steering the development and rollout of 11 significant autonomous driving features.Cruise is building the world’s most advanced self-driving vehicles.2015 to 2017 Founder & CEO, SpaceRyde Jan 2018 - Feb 2023

From December 2012 to October 2014, he was a member of the Research Staff of Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories (MERL), a company carrying out basic and applied research in multi-physical modeling and simulation, optimization, control, signal processing and artificial intelligence.

From November 2014 to May 2015 he served as a Senior Algorithms Engineer at Cymer, an ASML company providing light sources utilized by chipmakers to pattern semiconductor chips. From 2015 to 2017, he served as Controls Engineer, then Engineering Manager at Cruise Automation, a company building self-driving vehicles. He then co-founded SpaceRyde in January 2018 alongside his wife, Saharnaz Safari.

Sohrab Haghighat is an entrepreneur with a specialty in robotics, autonomous driving, and space technology. He is the founder & CEO of SpaceRyde, a company building a space transportation infrastructure called the Rocket Network. University of Toronto Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering 2007 - 2012. University of Waterloo Master of Applied Science, Mechanical Engineering 2005 - 2007

Performance Specialist at Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets May 2012 - Nov 2012. Member Research Staff, Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories MERL does basic and applied research in the areas of multi-physical modeling and simulation, optimization, control, signal processing and artificial intelligence.Dec 2012 - Oct 2014. Senior Algorithms EngineerSenior Algorithms Engineer CymerCymer Nov 2014 - May 2015Cymer, an ASML company, is a market-leading provider of sophisticated light sources used by chipmakers around the globe to pattern advanced semiconductor chips.

As Engineering Manager at Cruise Automation, I rose from a Controls Engineer, steering the development and rollout of 11 significant autonomous driving features.Cruise is building the world’s most advanced self-driving vehicles.2015 to 2017 Founder & CEO, SpaceRyde Jan 2018 - Feb 2023