ViridIQ is a strategic AI consultancy that bridges the gap between boardroom ambition and production reality.

ViridIQ is a strategic AI consultancy that bridges the gap between boardroom ambition and production reality.

Founded in 2023, ViridIQ works with enterprise clients to design, build, and deploy AI systems that create measurable business value. Every engagement is principal-led - delivered by a founder who combines strategic thinking with hands-on engineering.

Founded in 2023, ViridIQ works with enterprise clients to design, build, and deploy AI systems that create measurable business value. Every engagement is principal-led - delivered by a founder who combines strategic thinking with hands-on engineering.

We exist because too many organisations are stuck between two unsatisfying options: expensive strategy firms that produce slide decks but cannot ship code, and technical contractors who build models but cannot connect them to business outcomes. ViridIQ is both. The thinking and the doing. In one engagement.

We exist because too many organisations are stuck between two unsatisfying options: expensive strategy firms that produce slide decks but cannot ship code, and technical contractors who build models but cannot connect them to business outcomes. ViridIQ is both. The thinking and the doing. In one engagement.

Ali Safari

Ali Safari

Founder & Principal Consultant

Ali Safari is a Cambridge-trained AI engineer whose career spans nuclear physics, energy systems, and production AI - connected by a single thread: using mathematical rigour to solve problems that matter.

Ali Safari is a Cambridge-trained AI engineer whose career spans nuclear physics, energy systems, and production AI - connected by a single thread: using mathematical rigour to solve problems that matter.

He holds an MPhil in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Cambridge (Emmanuel College, First-Class Honours), where his research at the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy gave him the mathematical foundations that became his AI engineering career.

He holds an MPhil in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Cambridge (Emmanuel College, First-Class Honours), where his research at the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy gave him the mathematical foundations that became his AI engineering career.

Before founding ViridIQ, Ali founded Farad.ai - a multi-award-winning B2B startup that pioneered AI-powered digital twin solutions for UK energy systems. Over several years, the team built production ML models achieving 85-90% forecasting accuracy, grew a cross-functional team of 15 scientists and engineers, and won three industry awards for innovation in AI-driven energy optimisation.

Before founding ViridIQ, Ali founded Farad.ai - a multi-award-winning B2B startup that pioneered AI-powered digital twin solutions for UK energy systems. Over several years, the team built production ML models achieving 85-90% forecasting accuracy, grew a cross-functional team of 15 scientists and engineers, and won three industry awards for innovation in AI-driven energy optimisation.

Awards

Most Innovative Startup of the Year - London & East of England | 2022

Recognised for breakthrough AI application in the UK energy sector - the regional innovation award covering London and the East of England.

Small Business of the Year - BusinessGreen Leaders Awards | 2021

The BusinessGreen Leaders Awards are the UK’s premier sustainability business awards, recognising companies making the most significant environmental and commercial impact.

Start-up of the Year - Solar & Storage Awards | 2021

The Solar & Storage Awards are the leading industry awards for energy technology innovation in the UK, judged by senior industry figures.

Track Record

Ali has delivered AI systems for clients ranging from a $730B global investment firm to Innovate UK’s Strategic Innovation Fund - where he has guided the allocation of approximately £45m across transformative energy projects including AI,quantum computing, green hydrogen, and offshore wind.

Advisory & Institutional Positions:

Innovate UK Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) - Strategic capital allocation across Data & AI, Quantum Computing, Green Hydrogen, EVs, Interconnection, and Offshore Wind. Guided approximately £45m to date.

University of Southampton - Advisory Board

Clean Growth Fund - ML consultant appointed by the £101m venture fund for biotechnology investment evaluation.

Why “Virid”?

The name ViridIQ combines viridis - the Latin word for green, living, and flourishing - with IQ, representing intelligence applied with precision.

ViridIQ carries that principle forward: deep knowledge, expressed with precision, in service of transformation.

The name ViridIQ combines viridis - the Latin word for green, living, and flourishing - with IQ, representing intelligence applied with precision.

ViridIQ carries that principle forward: deep knowledge, expressed with precision, in service of transformation.

Values

Rigour


Every recommendation is evidence-based. Every system is production-tested.

Transformation


We take what exists and create something measurably better.

Stewardship


We treat your data, infrastructure, and trust as assets to be protected.

Honesty


If AI is not the right answer, we will tell you.

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