Shahram Tafazoli
About Shahram Tafazoli
Shahram Tafazoli was born in 1967 in Maragheh, Iran. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering from Sharif University of Technology (1988 and 1991). He moved to Canada in 1992 and earned a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in 1997, with a focus on robotics and machine vision. He is an Adjunct Professor in UBC's ECE department and has taught courses in robotics, control systems and digital signal processing.
After his PhD he started a one-man technology consulting company based at UBC. It grew into Motion Metrics International Corp., which builds AI, rugged embedded vision and cloud tools to improve safety and efficiency in mining. Crunchbase says its systems were deployed at more than 60 large mining operations worldwide. A BC Tech Association profile says the company passed $20M in revenue in 2019. The Weir Group acquired Motion Metrics in December 2021. BC Tech Association reports a headline price of CAD $250M.
After the sale he became Chief of AI at Weir Motion Metrics, leading what Motion Metrics describes as Weir's first Centre of Excellence for AI and Machine Vision. Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) says he held that role until April 2024. He received the UBC Faculty of Applied Science Dean's Medal of Distinction on April 12, 2018, and has co-authored patents with Motion Metrics engineers. Crunchbase still lists him as Founder, President & CEO of Motion Metrics, but Weir Motion Metrics announced his departure. Third-party profiles also list him as an advisor at Advanced Intelligent Systems and a board member at NZ Technologies.
UBC's profile describes him as an angel investor in early-stage BC-based and other Canadian technology ventures. He is an associate member of Creative Destruction Lab (CDL-Vancouver, Minerals stream). Crunchbase notes that his investments include several CDL ventures. One third-party bio says he has invested in more than 20 Canadian startups. That figure is self-reported and not independently confirmed.
Public databases count his deals differently. Crunchbase lists 3 investments, 0 lead investments and 0 exits. PitchBook lists 8 investments, 6 portfolio companies and 2 exits. Tracxn lists 6 portfolio companies and one exit, Train with Push, which was acquired in September 2021. Treat these as partial counts, since angel deals are often not disclosed.
In February 2022 he founded Fold36 Capital. CDL describes its aim as investing in game-changing technology ventures with a positive impact on humanity. Public sources do not give its fund size or structure.
No public source lists his investments by AI category. His AI background comes from operating: he built Motion Metrics, which applies AI and machine vision to mining, and he later led Weir's AI and machine vision centre of excellence. He is also listed as an advisor at Advanced Intelligent Systems.
His disclosed portfolio includes robotics and hardware companies, such as A&K Robotics (seed round, July 2020, per PitchBook), alongside software companies. Founders should not assume he backs AI software specifically. His own bios describe an interest in technology and sustainability, and Crunchbase says he is keen on applying space technologies to terrestrial problems.
Stages: his public profiles describe early-stage ventures. PitchBook lists him as an active angel who is seeking new investments. Deals with a recorded round include a seed round at A&K Robotics (2020) and the OmniCart seed round (December 2023).
Sectors: his listed deals span industrial and electronic hardware, robotics, diagnostics, business software and enterprise software. His public bios stress technology and sustainability, and he is associated with CDL's Minerals stream.
Geography: BC-based and other Canadian companies. Tracxn lists Canada as the only location in his portfolio.
Check size: he has not published a check size, and the databases do not show his individual amounts. His own statements about what he looks for are limited to the Fold36 Capital description above.
- A&K Robotics: robotics company; seed round in July 2020 (PitchBook).
- OmniCart: Vancouver SaaS platform developer; $1.5M seed round announced December 2023, with Tafazoli's bio included in the announcement.
- Validere: Canadian business software company; investment dated April 2016 (PitchBook). Tracxn also lists it as a notable investment.
- Innovere: diagnostic equipment startup; investment dated April 2016 (PitchBook).
- Nano-Lit: electrical equipment company; investment dated August 2018 (PitchBook).
- SHM Controls: electronic instruments company; investment dated June 2015 (PitchBook). PitchBook lists it as out of business.
- Train with Push: armband for tracking athlete performance; acquired in September 2021 (Tracxn). Investment date not given.
- NZ Technologies: electronic equipment and instruments company where he is also listed as a board member. Investment date not given.
- crunchbase.com/person/shahram-tafazoli
- apsc.ubc.ca/profile/shahram-tafazoli
- creativedestructionlab.com/mentors/shahram-tafazoli
- pitchbook.com/profiles/investor/157278-34
- tracxn.com/d/people/shahram-tafazoli/__FrhHhpmOsmH70mQJLM8xCUo7EcAH5-9
- wearebctech.com/programs/dragons-1-on-1-mentorship/name/shahram-tafazo
- motionmetrics.com/celebrating-dr-shahram-tafazolis-remarkable-journey-
- motionmetrics.com/motion-metrics-ceo-receives-ubc-faculty-of-applied-s
Investing activity
Shahram Tafazoli has made 3 investments according to Crunchbase across 3 portfolio companies, and has founded 1 company.
Deals
Frequently asked questions about Shahram Tafazoli
Who is Shahram Tafazoli?
He is a Vancouver-based engineer, UBC adjunct professor and angel investor. He founded Motion Metrics, an AI and machine vision company for mining that Weir acquired in December 2021. He founded Fold36 Capital in 2022.
What stage does Shahram Tafazoli invest in?
His public profiles describe early-stage technology ventures, and recorded deals include seed rounds. He has not published a formal stage policy.
What is Shahram Tafazoli's check size?
It is not public. Databases do not show his individual check amounts, and he has not stated a range.
Does Shahram Tafazoli invest in AI startups?
He built an AI company and led AI at Weir Motion Metrics, but no public source lists his investments by AI category. His disclosed deals include robotics, hardware and software companies, mostly in Canada.
Where is Shahram Tafazoli based and does he invest outside Canada?
He is based in Vancouver, British Columbia. His public portfolio is entirely Canadian, with a stated focus on BC and other Canadian ventures.
What is Fold36 Capital?
It is an investment vehicle he founded in February 2022. CDL describes its goal as investing in game-changing technology ventures with a positive impact on humanity. Public sources give no fund size.
Is Shahram Tafazoli an angel investor?
Yes. Shahram Tafazoli invests personally as an angel and is Founder, President & CEO at Motion Metrics. Crunchbase counts 3 investments.
Where is Shahram Tafazoli based?
Shahram Tafazoli is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
How can founders reach Shahram Tafazoli?
Founders on Lounge can see Shahram Tafazoli'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 Shahram Tafazoli to their Investor Pipeline to track the conversation.