Erfan Nouraee

Erfan Nouraee is an inventor, technologist, and author. He grew up in Tehran, Iran, with an amazing and supportive family who encouraged his interest in science and engineering at an early age. Today, Erfan is the founder of Fiberlink, where he works to invent devices that can make high-speed internet accessible and affordable.

Having witnessed the suffering of the most vulnerable people, from rural communities to big cities, Erfan has centered his efforts on inventing solutions that preserve our planet and improve the quality of life for people everywhere.

It's the broadband divide that Erfan sought to fix by inventing what he calls the Photon Detector, a sensor that detects the emission of electrons from metal surfaces caused by the particles of light - photons. The product can enhance the quality of data sent through light signals and extend the life of the fiber-optic cables.

When Erfan started Fiberlink, his vision of "Internet in every home" seemed farfetched to most people. Today, thanks to Fiberlink and its partners, that vision can become a reality in many parts of the world.

In addition to Fiberlink’s work, Erfan has separately taken on some projects to address issues that interest him personally, such as advocating for human rights and climate justice. In all his work—with Fiberlink and otherwise—he’s focused on a people-centered approach to invention and problem-solving.

These days Erfan focuses most of his time on the work he is doing through his start-up. People are often surprised to hear him say that getting involved in social action has a lot in common with his work at Fiberlink. In both cases, he gets to bring together smart people and collaborate with them to solve big, tough problems. Erfan is gratified to know that his start-up and its partners are helping people in rural communities access high-speed internet.