Shahrzad Rafati


Shahrzad Rafati

Shahrzad Rafati
Born Tehran, Iran
Nationality Iranian, Canadian
Alma mater University of British Columbia (B.Sc. Computer Science)
Occupation Founder & CEO of BroadbandTV Corp.[1] Vancouver, British Columbia, Founder- Make Change, Co-Founder & Advisory Board Member, Chopra Yoga Center,[2] Vancouver, British Columbia

Shahrzad Rafati is the founder and CEO of BroadbandTV Corp, a leading digital entertainment and technology company that operates an entertainment network on YouTube. Recognized by Fast Company as one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business, Shahrzad is accredited with pioneering both the technology and business model that made peace between big entertainment entities like the NBA and their fans who were uploading premium content to video sites like YouTube.

Shahrzad propelled BroadbandTV to become a networks on YouTube connecting with media companies, telcos, professional sports leagues and Internet giants like Google. In 2013, Shahrzad also closed a strategic partnership and investment with RTL Group, a European largest media conglomerate, and a unit of Bertelsmann. The $36 million investment marks the largest private placement into an Internet media company in Canada since 2007.

In addition to her work at BroadbandTV Shahrzad is the founder of VISO Give, an online channel that allows viewers to donate to charities by watching YouTube videos about them. She is also the co-founder of Chopra Yoga in partnership with Dr. Deepak Chopra.

Early life

Rafati was born in Tehran, Iran. and immigrated to Vancouver, Canada as a teenager. Entertainment and media played a key role in her introduction to North American culture. In 2005, she completed her BSc in computer science at the University of British Columbia where she was inducted into the Golden Key International Honour Society and later served as one of its directors.[3] She also studied French at Université Paris Sorbonne (Paris IV).

Career

Rafati founded BroadbandTV in 2005 and has overseen its execution since inception. She has driven deals with TELUS,[4] NBA,[5] Warner Bros.,[6] Electronic Arts,[5] Venevision International, Vuze[7] and other leading video production and distribution companies.

Rafati also spearheads BroadbandTV’s R&D efforts which promise to better connect and monetize online consumers and the content they are seeking on various platforms.[8]

In 2011, Rafati and partners opened Chopra Yoga Center, with Deepak Chopra in Vancouver, Canada. A second location is slated to open in Toronto, Canada in late 2012.

Rafati was selected to speak at the 2012 Sages & Scientists Symposium with Deepak Chopra. She has also spoken at TEDx Vancouver.

In 2012, Rafati's company BroadbandTV was named the Most Innovative Company in the province of British Columbia, Canada by BC Business. Through Rafati's leadership, BroadbandTV was also recognized in 2011 on Ready to Rocket list, known for identifying companies with outstanding achievements in revenue, profitability and growth. The annual list of Rocket recognizes the companies who have created innovative products, practices and services that are capitalizing on significant IT trends.

Accolades

- 2014 Digital Life Design (DLD), Munich, Germany, panelist: Digital Storytelling: Surfing the Video Explosion (January 2014)

- 2013 Digi Awards, Executive of The Year (December 2013)

- 2013 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100™ Award Winner in the Sun Life Financial Arts & Communications category (December 2013)

- Ernst & Young, Pacific Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year (October 2013)

- Business In Vancouver, CEO of The Year (October 2013)

- BCTech Magazine's Top 10 Women in Tech (June 2013)

- YWCA Women of Distinction Award for Entrepreneurism (May 2013)

- 40 Under 40 Business in Vancouver (December 2012)

- Fast Company's 100 Most Creative People in Business (2011)

- TedX Speaker, Vancouver, Canada: You are what you watch (2011)

- Chopra Yoga, Advisory Board Member & Co-Founder (Ongoing)

- Forum For Women Entrepreneurs, Board Member (Ongoing)

References

  1. ↑ BroadbandTV Corp
  2. ↑ Chopra Yoga Studio
  3. ↑ "CS Alumna Turned Pirate into Profit | Computer Science at UBC". Cs.ubc.ca. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  4. ↑ "TELUS TV expands digital content with Broadbandtv deal". ITnewsLink. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Those illegal videogame gameplay clips on YouTube? A Vancouver company turns them into gold. - Kill Screen". News.killscreendaily.com. 2011-06-08. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  6. ↑ http://www.itnewsonline.com/showprnstory.php?storyid=140670/
  7. ↑ "Vuze and Broadbandtv team up". AfterDawn. 2008-01-29. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  8. ↑

External links