# Bassel Ojjeh

> Bassel Ojjeh is the CEO and co-founder of LigaData, a Menlo Park-based data platform company specializing in AI-powered telecom analytics and big data infrastructure. A Syrian-American serial entrepreneur, Ojjeh previously co-founded digiMine (behavioral targeting pioneer, later Audience Science), DMX Group (acquired by Yahoo, where he served as SVP), and nPario (big data platform). He also co-founded Syria's first English-language private university and SYNC, the first international tech conference held in Syria in 50 years, working to bridge Silicon Valley with Damascus.

- **Role:** Chief Executive Officer at LigaData
- **Organizations:** LigaData, nPario, Yahoo! (SVP Strategic Data Solutions), DMX Group, digiMine / Audience Science, Fox Software / Microsoft, SYNC (co-founder), International University for Science and Technology (IUST, Board Member), H.O.P.E Syria (founder), Syrian American Alliance for Peace and Prosperity
- **From:** Damascus, Syria
- **Nationality:** Syrian-American
- **Education:** Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Bowling Green State University
- **Known for:** Inducted into Bowling Green State University's Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame, Co-founded digiMine, one of the first behavioral targeting companies (later Audience Science), Founded DMX Group, acquired by Yahoo; served as Yahoo SVP of Strategic Data Solutions

## Career timeline

- **Pre-1990** — Moved from Damascus, Syria to the United States at age 16
- **1990** — Graduated from Bowling Green State University with a degree in Computer Science
- **~1989-1990** — Joined Fox Software (founded by his CS department chairman) while still in college; company later acquired by Microsoft to form the foundation of SQL Server
- **~1991-2000** — Worked at Microsoft in Seattle as Group Program Manager in the Internet Business division
- **~2000** — Co-founded digiMine, pioneering behavioral targeting for Fortune 100 clients including American Express, Daimler-Chrysler, and Microsoft; later rebranded as Audience Science
- **~2004** — Founded DMX Group, a business intelligence and data mining company in Seattle
- **~2006** — Yahoo acquired DMX Group; Ojjeh became Senior Vice President of Strategic Data Solutions
- **~2008** — Co-founded Syria's first English-taught private university (International University for Science and Technology)
- **2010** — Co-founded nPario with Krishna Uppala and Basel Tutunji, building a big data platform for enterprises that could not afford custom data infrastructure
- **2012** — nPario featured in KDnuggets; Ojjeh articulates vision for democratizing enterprise data access
- **2014** — Co-founded LigaData in Menlo Park, California, focusing on enterprise data platforms
- **2015** — Invited speaker at KDD 2015 Industry & Gov Track in Sydney
- **2020** — Featured in five-part Sramana Mitra interview series on entrepreneurial journey; BGSU Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame inductee
- **2024** — LigaData launches Telecom Data Fabric 4.0 and AI Apps at MWC Barcelona; partnership with Beyon on AWS Lake House
- **2024** — Asiacell-LigaData partnership advances Iraq's AI-powered telecom innovation
- **2025** — Co-organized SYNC 25, the first international tech conference in Syria in 50 years; met with Syria's interim president to discuss tech industry future
- **2025** — Announced Veritara AI, a sister company with GenAI-powered products
- **2026** — Participating in SYNC Spring 2026 Global Virtual Conference

## Achievements

- Inducted into Bowling Green State University's Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame
- Co-founded digiMine, one of the first behavioral targeting companies (later Audience Science)
- Founded DMX Group, acquired by Yahoo; served as Yahoo SVP of Strategic Data Solutions
- Co-founded nPario to democratize big data access for 99.9% of enterprises
- Co-founded LigaData, serving major telecom operators including Asiacell and Ooredoo
- Co-founded Syria's first English-taught private university (IUST), which survived the Syrian civil war and continues to graduate students
- Founded H.O.P.E Syria charity providing educational materials to war-affected students
- Co-organized SYNC 25, the first international tech conference in Syria in 50 years
- Multiple patents in data technology including behavioral advertising optimization and recommender systems
- Raised $3.5M for LigaData from investors including RoundGlass and MENA Venture Investments
- Launched LigaData Telecom Data Fabric 4.0 at MWC Barcelona 2024
- Announced Veritara AI sister company with GenAI-powered telecom products (2025)

## Latest updates

- **2026-05** — Participating in SYNC Spring 2026 Global Virtual Conference with mentorship sessions and closing ceremony panel
- **2025-03** — Announced Veritara AI, a sister company to LigaData with GenAI-powered products for telecom
- **2025-02** — Co-organized SYNC 25 - the first international tech conference in Syria in 50 years - and met with Syria's interim president to discuss the future of the tech industry
- **2024-11** — Asiacell-LigaData partnership announced, advancing Iraq's leadership in AI-powered telecom innovation
- **2024-10** — Deployed Lake House solution on AWS for Beyon
- **2024-02** — Launched LigaData Telecom Data Fabric 4.0 and AI Apps at MWC Barcelona 2024

## Links

- Website: https://ligadata.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/bassel-ojjeh-6bba54
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/basselojjeh
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsXHjSNq_j6Kylfz8uhBDgQ
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/basselojjeh/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LigaData-649996488451698/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/bassel-ojjeh
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-05-18