About Us
Our mission is to empower sensory and consumer science teams with AI, revolutionizing marketing and R&D ways of working.
Our Mission & History
Aigora was founded in 2019 with a clear mission: empower sensory and consumer science teams to implement artificial intelligence (AI) and revolutionize the way companies approach marketing and R&D. We leverage the power of AI and its incredible capabilities to bring more value to your organization, accelerate processes, and enhance effectiveness.
Sensory and consumer science can be the vital bridge between products and the market. By tapping into the potential of AI, we enable companies to make more informed decisions, resulting in a sustainable and strategic use of research and data. At Aigora, we pride ourselves on our expertise in sensory and consumer science. Our team of highly qualified sensory PhD consultants possesses a deep understanding of human perception and behavior, as well as comprehensive knowledge on sensory and consumer science methods combined with data science, allowing us to offer invaluable insights and recommendations.
While our roots lie in sensory and consumer science, our capabilities have expanded far beyond. We have a strong technical team with considerable experience in Data Science, Machine Learning and Knowledge Management. With this we have been extending our expertise to the full realm of research and development. In addition, we have ventured into the dynamic world of marketing and sales, where AI-driven solutions can optimize strategies and drive revenue growth.
With our cutting-edge AI technologies and the expertise of our consultants and technical teams, we provide a comprehensive suite of services that empower your organization to unlock its full potential. Join us on this transformative journey and discover how AI can revolutionize your sensory and consumer science processes, enhancing both your company's success and its sustainability.
Your Research Is In Good Hands
Consultants Team
Dr. Danielle van Hout holds a PhD in sensory science from the Erasmus University Institute of Management in Rotterdam, where her research focused on sensory-based business decision making. Before joining Aigora, Danielle enjoyed a career at Unilever R&D, where she led strategic science areas and expertise teams, and drove global innovation projects, this equipped her with invaluable insights in the intersection between science, business, and consumer needs.
"What makes Aigora special is how closely we work with our clients, helping them transform and thrive with greater efficiency, sustainability, and value for their R&D and Marketing teams."
President
Dr. Danielle van Hout
Dr. Vanessa Rios de Souza holds a BSc in Food Engineering and a Ph.D. degree in Food Science and has over 10 years of experience in R&D, consumer and sensory research across multiple food product categories and functions, with strong background in food science and food processing. She has extensive experience in industrial, academic, and research settings.
"What I like the most about working at Aigora is the friendly and collaborative atmosphere we have, where we genuinely empower our clients and treat them as our partners in success."
Director of Client Solutions
Dr. Vanessa Rios de Souza
Dr. Tian Yu obtained her Ph.D. in neuroscience, focusing on taste signaling transduction, and completed her post-doctoral fellowship on metabolic disease. She has over 15 years of research experience in academia and working with the pharmaceutical industry. She met a sensory scientist during a conference and immediately fell in love with the field and moved her way to becoming a sensory and consumer scientist to apply her expertise in sensory neuroscience, data science, and her passion for new technologies in the field of sensory and consumer science.
"Aigora gives me boundless territory to explore."
Director of Research & Innovation
Dr. Tian Yu
Dr. Cécile Bavay-Alessandri holds a Ph.D. in Food Science focusing on Sensory Science and Sensometrics. She has over 10 years of experience in sensory and consumer science through multiple roles, from leading sensory projects to developing tools for analysis and science and providing key consumer feedback for product improvement. Her multi-disciplinary experience brings together the specialties of sensory science and data science.
"What I truly enjoy at Aigora is the passion we put into our projects and how dedicated we are to empowering our clients!”
Sensory Science Consultant
Dr. Cécile Bavay-Alessandri
Technical Team
Bartosz Smulski is a highly skilled engineer with over 6 years of experience in delivering Artificial Intelligence empowered solutions. He has a proven track record of developing state-of-the-art analytical solutions that span across a multitude of industries, including sensory and consumer science, finance, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare. Bartosz has extensive experience in both proof-of-concept and production solutions, leveraging cloud infrastructures to deliver robust, scalable solutions. As the leader of the technical team at Aigora, Bartosz brings his leadership skills to guide and mentor his team toward delivering cutting-edge solutions.
"One of the things I truly value here is our collective drive for excellence. It's not just about getting the job done, but about achieving the best possible outcomes."
Director of Technology
Bartosz Smulski
Viktor Plamenov has a diverse set of skills and experiences, having both a formal background in mathematical optimization and stochastic processes at the postgrad level (University of Edinburgh, 2019), as well as professional experience across a variety of industries, including quant finance, pharma, and energy. His main areas of expertise are discrete optimization, time series analysis, symbolic computing, and genetic programming. He also enjoys building large-scale R Shiny apps and solving computational problems. His favorite technologies for solving technical problems are Wolfram Mathematica, R, and Python.
Machine Learning Engineer
Viktor Plamenov
Dominik, with degrees in Data Science from Warsaw University of Technology, has over three years' experience in international bioinformatics projects, leading to publications and talks. Now at Aigora, he designs and develops internal tools, implementing client solutions. His expertise in programming in R, combined with his passion for innovation, positions him as a key asset in the ever-evolving field of data science.
"At Aigora, I find the perfect blend of innovation, collaboration, and challenge. Designing and developing tools that not only meet our clients' needs but also push the boundaries of data science is an invigorating experience. It's a place where my passion for technology finds a true purpose."
Software Engineer & Developer
Dominik Rafacz
Mateusz is an applied mathematics graduate with over 8 years of machine learning experience. He has been involved in data science projects spanning diverse sectors, including investment banking, the pharmaceutical industry, retail, and e-commerce. His broad experience allows for solving business problems using algorithms/maths.
"At Aigora, I truly value our team. Working with them is genuinely rewarding because they are passionate experts in their fields!"
Director of AI and Product Innovation
Mateusz Kowalski
Marcin began his career in the banking industry, dedicating seven years to the field following his graduation in finance. His journey then led him into the realm of data science, where he contributed to projects in the pharmaceutical, energy and affiliate marketing sectors. His work focused on both the solution design and the development of scalable products for customers. Now at Aigora, Marcin applies his rich experience to support the creation of robust and effective solutions for clients, ensuring they meet the highest standards of efficiency and innovation.
"I find the greatest satisfaction in working closely with our customers, developing innovative tools that truly meet their needs. It's incredibly rewarding to be part of a team that not only shares a dedication to excellence but also brings diverse strengths and ideas to our projects. The synergy we create at Aigora is something I deeply admire and value."
DevOps Engineer
Marcin Smiechowicz
Laura has a master's degree in Data Science from Warsaw University of Technology. Before joining Aigora, she worked in the field of clinical trial data analysis and co-authored a few published papers on bioinformatics. At Aigora, she uses her R and Shiny expertise to develop efficient, comprehensive, and customizable solutions; her side goal is to promote the internationalization of web apps.
"Here, at Aigora, two things I value the most. One is the encouragement to search for better solutions and to expand our shared knowledge base. The other is the team I feel I can trust, the team where our different strengths can synergize.
Data Scientist
Laura Bakala
Administrative Team
Megan Livingston has been with Aigora since September of 2019. With over fifteen years of business administration under her belt, she has a wide range of industry knowledge to include: insurance, education, hospitality, and healthcare. She’s proud and thankful to call Aigora home.
"I love working for Aigora because I’m continually learning and experiencing new things. Before, I’d never considered all the science behind the products I consume or wear. Now, when I get ready for the day or open my pantry to consider what’s for dinner or get my kids ready for bed I’m proud knowing I am, Aigora is, a part of those products."
Director of Operations
Megan Livingston
Prior to joining Aigora, Marjorie Aleguen worked as a sample coordinator at Yuenthai Philippines, Inc., a manufacturer of one and famous sports apparel and garments with production facilities in China, Cambodia, and Philippines. She earned a bachelor's degree in information technology from University of Cebu.
"Working at Aigora is fun and helps me meet exciting people from different parts of the world. This experience has also profoundly enhanced my aptitude for uncovering latent abilities I never thought possible."
Executive Assistant
Marjorie Aleguen
Our Founders
Dr. John Ennis is a veteran market research consultant trained in both mathematics and computational neuroscience, author of 50+ peer-reviewed articles and 2 books in sensory and consumer science, and recipient of the "Researcher of the Future" and UCSB "Outstanding Educator" awards.
Co-Founder & Senior Advisor
Dr. John Ennis
Dr. Ruth Brown-Ennis is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Virginia Commonwealth University and an expert practitioner of state-of-the-art data science tools.
Co-Founder & Senior Advisor
Dr. Ruth Brown-Ennis