Claude Théoret is a technology entrepreneur, investor and advisor with more than two decades of experience at the intersection of artificial intelligence, defence and intelligence software, data infrastructure, and technology M&A.
He founded and successfully exited Nexalogy, one of Canada’s pioneering artificial intelligence companies. Under his leadership, Nexalogy developed machine-learning technology for extracting actionable intelligence from large volumes of unstructured and open-source data, with applications spanning defence, geopolitical analysis, influence operations, disinformation and situational awareness.
Nexalogy became an early and highly successful participant in the Canadian Department of National Defence’s Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program.
While leading Nexalogy, Claude obtained Secret security status with the Canadian military and oversaw AI-driven political, geopolitical and military intelligence projects. The company’s technology was deployed in defence and intelligence environments, giving him direct experience with the operational, procurement and technological requirements of national-security customers.
Claude’s involvement with defence and national-security environments predates his entrepreneurial career. He earned his PhD in high-energy astrophysics, conducting part of his doctoral research at Sandia National Laboratories on the STACEE (Solar Tower Atmospheric Cherenkov Effect Experiment) telescope, located on Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico. He subsequently conducted research with the HESS Collaboration and published in leading scientific journals including Nature and Science.
A former professor of physics and statistics, Claude developed expertise in large-scale data analysis during the earliest days of the web and big-data revolution, building his first web applications while working with CERN in the mid-1990s. He is also the author of two patents in unsupervised learning.
Following the successful exit of Nexalogy, Claude became COO of Intema Solutions Inc., a publicly traded technology company, where he participated directly in the execution of a growth-by-acquisition strategy. This added hands-on M&A and post-acquisition operating experience to his background as a founder and technology executive.
Claude subsequently founded X Machina, an AI-focused roll up. Through X Machina, he evaluated approximately 240 AI companies, developing a broad comparative view of AI technologies, business models, management teams, intellectual property and commercialization strategies. This experience further developed his ability to rapidly assess emerging technology companies from both a technical and investment perspective.
Today Claude is a Senior AI Advisor and Acting Operational Partner at Innovobot, working with founders, investors and corporate partners across AI, autonomous systems, drones and deep technology. He is also a limited partner in several Canadian venture funds and has spent years evaluating technology companies, founders, intellectual property and emerging markets.