Anousheh Ansari

Anousheh Ansari is a pioneering entrepreneur, engineer, and changemaker with deep expertise in space exploration, technology innovation, and impact-driven philanthropy. As the CEO of XPRIZE, the world's leader in designing and operating large-scale incentive competitions to solve humanity's grand challenges, she leads global incentive competitions that drive breakthroughs in areas such as health, climate, learning, and longevity. Under her leadership, XPRIZE has awarded $181M+ and launched $361M in active competitions.

Most recently, Anousheh has overseen the development and launch of the three largest competitions in history: $101M XPRIZE Healthspan prize to increase healthy life expectancy; the $119M XPRIZE Water Scarcity prize to create breakthroughs in seawater desalination; and the $100M XPRIZE Carbon Removal to durably and sustainably remove and store carbon dioxide, which recently announced its winners in April 2025. She also recently oversaw $11M XPRIZE Wildfire Competition designed to end destructive wildfires before they grow out of control. 

In 2006, Ansari captured headlines around the world when she embarked upon an 11-day space expedition to the International Space Station, accomplishing her childhood dream of becoming the first female private space explorer, first astronaut of Iranian descent, first Muslim woman in space, and fourth private explorer to visit space.

Anousheh is an advocate for women and girls in STEM, and a champion for expanding access to innovation that benefits underserved communities worldwide. She is a member of the Jabil cyber community and the World Economic Forum's Global Future Council, co-chair of the quantum track of GESDA, and an advisor to the Open Quantum Institute. She is also a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, a board member and life member of the Association of Space Explorers, a 2025 Forbes Sustainability Leader, and a Fellow of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. She co-founded The Billion Dollar Fund for Women, which invested $1 billion in women-founded companies by 2020.

Ansari holds a bachelor’s degree in electronics and computer engineering from George Mason University, a master’s degree in electrical engineering from George Washington University, and honorary doctorates from George Mason University, Utah Valley University, and International Space University. She has received numerous honors, including the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leader, Ellis Island Medal of Honor, STEM Leadership Hall of Fame, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the Southwest Region, and the Horatio Alger Award.