Global Executive · Technology & AI

Babar
Khan, PhD

Global executive and operator at the edge of technology and AI, moving capital and companies between the US and the Gulf.

Babar operates at the intersection of science, capital, and technology, moving companies and capital between the US and the Gulf. As Head of Life Science Investments at NEOM Investment Fund, he leads a deep-tech portfolio through origination, diligence, and deal structuring, and has structured cross-border joint ventures to localize frontier technology. Babar is also a Co-Founder of AI Astrolabe, which delivers high-quality multimodal data and low-resource language infrastructure for frontier AI systems and agents.

$150M+ Transactions Led 20+ Years Across Science & Investing Sovereign Capital Frontier AI 4 Board Roles 3 US Patents MIT Innovators Under 35 US + KSA + UAE Access Trilingual Riyadh · New York $150M+ Transactions Led 20+ Years Across Science & Investing Sovereign Capital Frontier AI 4 Board Roles 3 US Patents MIT Innovators Under 35 US + KSA + UAE Access Trilingual Riyadh · New York

Current Roles

Operating across sovereign capital and frontier AI

Current Role

Head of Life Science Investments

NEOM Investment Fund · Riyadh

Leads investments and joint ventures across life sciences and related technology platforms, building the industries of the future in Saudi Arabia.

Current Role

Co-Founder

AI Astrolabe · USA

Building high-quality multimodal data and low-resource language infrastructure for frontier AI systems and agents.

What I Do

Invest. Build. Bridge.

Invest

Sovereign capital across deep tech, biotech, and applied AI. $150M+ in transactions led through the full cycle, from origination to portfolio management, with board and governance roles across the portfolio.

Build

Co-founder of AI Astrolabe, delivering multimodal data and low-resource language infrastructure for frontier AI. I've run the company AI-first across legal, finance, and operations. Built from zero.

Bridge

A direct bridge between Gulf and global markets, spanning transactions that bring frontier technologies in-country, with established networks across the USA, Europe, and China.

Five Lenses

1Technologist

Built my first computer at age 9 (a 286, 4MB RAM), then spent a decade as a technician in our family's IT business. I competed in esports before it was a career path, and have always been tinkering with technology reshaping how people live and work.

2Scientist

STEM PhD (Biology), and completed my Masters while working full-time at Genzyme Genetics as a scientist. Hold multiple US patents, and was the first of 3 scientists to advance a novel antimicrobial to Phase I clinical trials at an NYC biotech that IPO'd.

3Operator

Founded AI Astrolabe to deliver high-quality multimodal data for frontier AI. I run all business operations (legal, finance, contracting, fundraising) with an AI-first approach. I know what it takes to build from zero to profitability.

4Capital Deployer

Led the life science portfolio at NEOM Investment Fund and structured joint ventures to build "Industries of the Future" in Saudi Arabia. Presented to sovereign investment committees at the highest level and moved capital through complex institutional frameworks.

5Connector

American citizen, Saudi Premium Resident, UAE Golden Visa holder. 35+ countries. Networks spanning US/China venture, GCC sovereign wealth, and global policy circles.

BabarKhan, PhD