David Rose
About David Rose
David Rose is a Boston-based entrepreneur, author and lecturer at the MIT Media Lab. His research and writing cover ambient computing, the Internet of Things and digital product design. He holds patents for photo sharing, interactive TV, ambient information displays and medical devices, and Crunchbase describes him as the author of the seminal patent on photo sharing. He studied at St. Olaf College and Harvard University.
He has founded or run several companies. Ambient Devices, an MIT Media Lab spin-off, embedded internet information in objects such as lamps, mirrors and umbrellas. Rose was co-founder and CEO from 2001 to 2007. He then founded Vitality, which made the GlowCap connected pill cap and sold medication packaging through CVS, Walgreens and Express Scripts. He became CEO of Ditto Labs, a computer vision company that found brands and products in social media photos, in 2012.
From 2017 to 2019 he was VP of Vision Technology at Warby Parker, where his team built a virtual try-on app using computer vision. Crunchbase also lists him as CTO of Home Outside from October 2021 to December 2022. Wikipedia describes him as CEO and co-founder of LOOKOUT, a marine AI safety company.
He wrote Enchanted Objects (2014) on designing the Internet of Things, and SuperSight (2021) on augmented reality. His work has appeared at the Museum of Modern Art and in The New York Times, WIRED and The Economist.
Crunchbase shows one investment and one portfolio company for David Rose. It shows no lead investments and no exits. The company name and investment date were not available in the sources reviewed. He has not published a check size, an investment thesis or a fund. His public profile is as an operator, author and advisor, not as an active angel.
No stage, sector, geography or check size preference is public. His operating experience is in computer vision, connected devices, consumer health products and augmented reality. He is based in Boston, Massachusetts. Founders in those areas may find his background relevant, but he has not said he invests in them. Ask for a warm introduction and treat any fit as unconfirmed.
Investing activity
David Rose has made 1 investment according to Crunchbase across 1 portfolio company, and has founded 4 companies.
Deals
Frequently asked questions about David Rose
Who is David Rose?
David Rose is a Boston-based inventor, author and MIT Media Lab lecturer. He has founded companies including Ambient Devices, Vitality and Ditto Labs, and was VP of Vision Technology at Warby Parker.
Is David Rose an active angel investor?
Crunchbase lists one investment and one portfolio company for him. It lists no lead investments and no exits. No public source reviewed describes a regular angel investing practice.
What is David Rose's check size?
He has not published a check size. Lounge does not estimate one.
What AI experience does David Rose have?
He was CEO of Ditto Labs, a computer vision company, and led Warby Parker's vision technology team from 2017 to 2019. Wikipedia lists him as CEO and co-founder of LOOKOUT, a marine AI safety company.
How can AI founders reach David Rose?
His personal site is enchantedobjects.com and his LinkedIn profile is linkedin.com/in/davidloringrose. A warm introduction through the MIT or Boston community is the more likely route, but that is an inference, not something he has stated.
Is David Rose the same person as David S. Rose of Gust and New York Angels?
No. David S. Rose founded Gust and New York Angels and has a long, documented record of angel investments. David Rose of MIT and Enchanted Objects is a different person, with a different profile.
Is David Rose an angel investor?
Yes. David Rose invests personally as an angel. Crunchbase counts 1 investment.
Where is David Rose based?
David Rose is based in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
How can founders reach David Rose?
Founders on Lounge can see David Rose's contact details in AI Investor Contacts (paid plans), check for a warm introduction through members who worked with them under Warm Paths, and add David Rose to their Investor Pipeline to track the conversation.