Posted:Â May 26, 2025
Many in the newest class of Dal graduates have never known a world without the internet — which means their world has been forever shaped by the work of entrepreneur Paul Gauthier (BSc’94).Ìý
A ±«Óãtv Computer Science graduate who grew up in Cole Harbour, N.S., Gauthier earned a master’s in the same discipline at the University of Washington. His PhD research at UC Berkley on computer clustering turned into Inktomi, a company that went on to provide the back-end support for every leading search engine of its time, from Yahoo to AOL.Ìý
He later went on to become chief technology officer at Groupon and was VP of engineering at Geomagical Labs, which was acquired by IKEA in summer 2021. At IKEA, the computer vision technology he developed allows people to use their smart phones to build and decorate 3D augmented reality versions of their homes.Ìý
Claiming an attraction to early-stage start-up experiences, he is currently founder and CEO of software engineering firm Aider AI. He continues to invest in and support emerging startups and technology companies to this day.Ìý
Self-described entrepreneur, investor and advisorÂ
Call him a tech wizard and you wouldn’t be wrong, but Gauthier describes himself as an entrepreneur, investor and advisor whose passion is consumer internet products. What that translates to, he told Dal in a 2021 Dal Magazine article, is “figuring out and looking out for new capabilities, then gathering up a good group of people and having some luck while working hard.â€Â
His career has kept him largely in the United States, but he returns as often as he’s able to Nova Scotia, where his roots are deep and his interests broad. He's watched with interest as internet industries expand here. And he’s remained a vital benefactor to many local causes including launching the Cole Harbour Foundation, which supports children and youth in the community, and instigating the 100 Wild Islands campaign to protect the natural beauty of Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore.