Aidan Connolly is CEO of Cainthus, an Irish artificial intelligence company, using computer vision to monitor animals. Cainthus’ combines unparalleled expertize and cutting-edge innovation, to passively monitor cows, other livestock, and farm management practices 24/7, alerting the farmer when it matters most.
Aidan is also president of AgriTech Capital, a new company in the field of advisory investment and development of ventures in agriculture, focused on both start-ups and existing traditional business development. He has worked with several Governments and leading food companies on agtech policy.
He is the author of the recently launched strategic business planning book, “2-1-4-3.”
Aidan Connolly graduated with a Master’s in International Marketing from the Smurfit School of Business, University College Dublin, Ireland. He previously worked with Alltech for more than 25 years, initially in Ireland, and then based in France, Brazil and the United States. He has travelled for business to over 100 countries including most recently extensively in China. From 2002 until 2008, Connolly held the position of Vice President of Alltech Europe, then to Washington DC as VP of Corporate Accounts. As Chief Innovation Officer Connolly was responsible for the commercialization of Alltech’s global research in addition to continuing corporate account strategy within Alltech.
His expertise is in branding, agriculture and international marketing. Connolly is an adjunct professor of marketing at University College Dublin and visiting professor at the China Agricultural University. He is a former member of the boards of IFIF, NPP, NCC, FEFANA, and a Fellow of the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA). Aidan is also a member and regular contributor of the Forbes Technology Council.
Connolly speaks regularly, appearing at up to 50 conferences annually on the future of food, agriculture and agri-technologies.