Tony Rizzaro

Operating Partner - Technology, Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (CAIO)

Tony is a serial entrepreneur and proven visionary of AI Platforms for more than 30 years, with first-to-market solutions that have changed the world we live in. Tony built a decades long reputation of “seeing around the corner” to capitalize on emerging technology trends before they go mainstream.

First spearheaded AI initiatives in the ’90s forming the foundation for mixed reality development and industry disruption in the decades that followed. His visionary leadership, ingenuity, and pioneering ground-breaking technologies have helped hundreds of enterprises from Global 2000, to F500, and SMEs become smarter, faster, and more profitable across a diverse list of industry trade and consumer-facing sectors. Over the years, CEOs, owners, and clients have validated his initiatives with repeat engagements based on Tony’s uncanny ability to exploit technology’s evolutionary arc, anticipate trends, and consistently deliver innovative profitable solutions. And they still do.

Tony is a frequent speaker at industry conferences, symposiums for government and private sector, as well as Universities throughout the world speaking on future trends and the impact of artificial intelligence on business, society, and culture. He has been featured for a multi-month run at the Museum of Television and Radio in the Spielberg Gallery, Chelsea Museum and cited in major media outlets such as Wired Magazine, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Daily News, Rolling Stone Magazine, and he has been interviewed for technology segments on the Disney Network, ABC, Fox and CBS.

Tony’s arsenal of self-funded effective proprietary technology tools, software was built to increase overall marketing impact, efficiency, and profit. At the heart of Tony’s digital-first vision is a profound understanding that customer facing technology platforms should be more than just functional; they should engage, be intuitive, and integrate seamlessly into our work, play, and how we communicate with each other to help each of us become more productive in life.

Tony is one of the few behavioral technologists skilled at combining the desired human behavior/response, with the right software and platform to achieve an effective outcome.

Tony holds a degree from the School of Visual Art in Manhattan, and has continued his education in technology, computer science and AI at Columbia University, MIT, and Pratt Institute of Technology, and SUNY. He has partnered with the NYU Tish ITP Center in NYC since its inception and has mentored many of its alumni. A few have gone on to become high profile captains of today’s high-tech industry. To stay current and ahead of the AI curve, Tony is currently enrolled in MIT’s AI program.

First-to-Market Initiator:

  • Created the first U.S. bank less banking system, a precursor to modern digital finance.
  • Created the first-ever based POD (print-on-demand) personalized platform business that revolutionized publishing, included text to image technology, disrupted multiple industries, saved thousands of business owners millions, and was then rolled out across the automotive, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry sectors with 1B in marketing funds annually.
  • Developed a CRM system long before Salesforce, setting a new standard for customer relationship management.
  • The above three platforms were AI-based, built and launched prior to the internet wave.
  • Launched one of first interactive marketing agencies in the U.S., pioneering both trade and consumer digital engagement.
  • Launched a first-to-market AI-based gesture tracking and computer vision immersive experience at Disney’s Epcot Center that entertained visitors for years.
  • Developed a CRM system long before Salesforce, setting a new standard for customer relationship management.
  • Pioneered first-to-web, mobile, AR, VR, and mixed reality technologies, consistently staying ahead of the curve.
  • Was creating AI Chat bots in 2017 and 2018 years before the AI boom.
  • Continues to lead in AI and technology innovation, developing proprietary tools and platforms that maintains a legacy of mentoring and inspiring the next generation of tech innovators and entrepreneurs.