Dr. Hossein Rokhsari is the Managing Director of SURGE Ventures, a technology investment firm based in Houston. SURGE enables entrepreneurs to solve the world’s energy problems by finding, investing in, and accelerating the growth of early stage technology companies. Since 2013, Hossein has led 20+ investments in areas such as seismic interpretation, offshore automation, down-hole data analysis, oilfield water management, and mobile oil field technologies. Prior to SURGE, Hossein spent 8 years at McKinsey & Company, in the Energy and Oil & Gas practice, advising CEOs and executives of Fortune 100 companies, private equity investors and sovereign wealth funds in North America, Europe, Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Prior to McKinsey, Hossein received his PhD in applied physics from the California Institute of Technology. At Caltech, his research focused on building micron sized devices on semiconductor chips, replacing electronic signal processing by manipulation of LASER light from fiber optics. His discovery resulted in observation of mechanical vibrations induced by LASER for the first time and opened a fast growing field in experimental physics which could allow detection of the gravitational waves predicted by Einstein in 1916.

Hossein grew up in a family of artists and managed an art gallery during his college years. This inspired him to be an active member of the Houston Arts Alliance. Over the last few years, Hossein has advised art organizations in Houston including Musiqa, contemporary music group and Gulf Coast literary journal.