About Chelsea AI Ventures

Ben Auffarth

Director & Chief Data Officer

Enterprise AI, Machine Learning & Data Systems

Ben is an experienced AI and data leader specializing in the design and deployment of production-grade machine learning systems.

With 15+ years of industry experience, he has architected and delivered mission-critical platforms, including fraud detection systems with £60M impact, real-time decision engines processing 100k+ transactions daily, and ML-driven marketing optimization delivering 15% ROI improvements.

His work focuses on building robust, scalable systems across the full stack—from data infrastructure and pipelines to modeling and deployment. He combines classical machine learning with modern AI approaches, including generative models and advanced retrieval systems, always with a focus on measurable business outcomes.

In addition to his industry work, Ben is the author of several widely read books on machine learning and applied AI. His research in computational neuroscience and machine learning has received 500+ citations.

He holds a PhD in Computer Science from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, where his research explored how biological neural systems process complex information—foundations that continue to inform his approach to modern machine learning systems.

Minghan Bao

Head of Sales

Technical Sales & Business Development

With a Ph.D. in Chemical and Process Engineering and expertise in artificial intelligence, Minghan brings a unique technical perspective to our client partnerships. His background in industrial AI applications enables him to quickly understand client challenges and connect them with the right solutions.

Prior to joining Chelsea AI Ventures, Minghan gained valuable experience at Industrial Tomography Systems and led an EPSRC-funded research project focused on commercializing advanced measurement technology. His blend of technical knowledge and business acumen helps our clients identify high-value AI opportunities that deliver measurable returns.

Justin Ju

Junior AI Associate

Project Research, Data Visualisation

Justin Ju is a Mathematics student at Imperial College London who combines strong analytical capabilities with practical business acumen at Chelsea AI Ventures. With expertise in mathematical modeling, supervised machine learning, and data visualization using Python and R, Justin helps translate complex technical concepts into business value for our SME clients. His leadership experience from managing successful sales events in the Young Enterprise program, coupled with fluency in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin, enables him to effectively communicate solutions across diverse markets—particularly valuable for clients looking to implement AI solutions with clear ROI in international contexts.

Saman Shah Hosseini

AI Engineering Intern

MLOps, Time Series, Teaching

Saman Shah Hosseini is an AI Engineering Intern at Chelsea AI Ventures, where he develops agentic and generative AI solutions that transition smoothly from prototype to production. As a Machine Learning Engineer at ATLAS R&D Group, he delivered an automated ophthalmic test classifier that digitises thousands of clinic results each month eliminating paper waste and accelerating patient care. Holding a BEng in Computer Engineering and pursuing an MSc in Artificial Intelligence, Saman explores LLM tooling and AI for finance, driven by a belief that well-crafted AI agents can unlock smarter, greener workflows at scale.