Ghazal Qureshi

Ghazal Qureshi, Founder and CEO of Upbrainery Technologies, is on a mission to revolutionize the education industry by expanding online education through AI, machine learning and a neuroscience-backed curriculum. Within months of the company's 2020 launch, the startup formed partnerships with Whataburger, Nasdaq and the Girl Scouts. Offering a curriculum that exceeds 10,000 hours and a reach that spans 13 countries, the company was awarded a $5 million contract from the Department of Defense in 2022 for the use of its Career and Technical Education tech platform in military middle schools.

Qureshi is on Inc.'s 2023 Female Founders 200 List for giving students greater opportunities for their future through technological skill-building solutions; she was also recognized the same year by Forbes magazine on their 50 Over 50 list.

A Pakistani immigrant, Qureshi found her passion in education almost 20 years ago. After time in the corporate world and realizing a need for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) principles in early education, her entrepreneurial spirit drove her to create IDEA Lab Kids, a franchise that allows kids aged four to 14 to explore the STEAM fields via online and in-person programming. She believes diversity is pivotal in education and a social responsibility she takes seriously. She believes the lack of investment in marginalized and underrepresented groups is a huge loss for educators, parents, and students.

She attended The University of Houston and earned a degree in Computer Science.