# Lauren Dunford

> Lauren Dunford is the San Francisco-based co-founder and CEO of Guidewheel, an AI-powered FactoryOps company that uses clip-on electrical sensors and cloud software to make legacy factory equipment visible in real time. A Stanford BA and MBA, Fulbright Scholar, and former Revolution Foods operator, she built Guidewheel from an emerging-markets energy project into a manufacturing platform used across five continents, while keeping productivity and sustainability joined as one operating problem.

- **Role:** CEO and Co-Founder at Guidewheel
- **Organizations:** Guidewheel, Revolution Foods, Stanford University, Wichita State University Barton School of Business, World Economic Forum
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** BA in Human Biology, concentration in Sustainability in Global Environment and Health, Stanford University, MBA, Stanford Graduate School of Business
- **Known for:** Co-founded and leads Guidewheel, which Wichita State reported in 2026 as serving more than 400 manufacturers across five continents., Raised a $31 million Series B for Guidewheel in 2024 led by Decarbonization Partners., Led Guidewheel through selection as a 2022 World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer.

## Career timeline

- **2003** — Participated in an AMIGOS community program in Mexico.
- **2005** — Returned to AMIGOS for a second community program, in Nicaragua.
- **2009** — Completed a BA at Stanford University; during her undergraduate years, helped establish Stanford's Green Fund.
- **After 2009** — Completed a Fulbright Scholarship in India focused on supply chain and waste reduction.
- **Before 2016** — Led West Coast partnerships at Revolution Foods, working from its Oakland food-production operation.
- **2016-2018** — Earned an MBA at Stanford Graduate School of Business and developed the company that became Guidewheel.
- **2017** — Received an Innovation Transfer Grant from Stanford's TomKat Center for early hands-on prototyping.
- **2020** — Guidewheel adapted from emerging-market expansion to a remote-first U.S. launch during the pandemic.
- **2022** — Guidewheel was selected as a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer and raised a $9 million Series A-1 led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures.
- **2024** — Guidewheel raised a $31 million Series B led by Decarbonization Partners, a BlackRock-Temasek partnership.
- **2026** — Delivered an MD&M West keynote on practical industrial AI and was named Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Wichita State University's Barton School of Business.

## Achievements

- Co-founded and leads Guidewheel, which Wichita State reported in 2026 as serving more than 400 manufacturers across five continents.
- Raised a $31 million Series B for Guidewheel in 2024 led by Decarbonization Partners.
- Led Guidewheel through selection as a 2022 World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer.
- Named Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Wichita State University's Barton School of Business in 2026.
- Earned Fulbright, Truman, and Udall scholarships.
- Helped establish Stanford's Green Fund as an undergraduate.
- Spoke at World Economic Forum sessions in Davos on digital technology, AI, supply chains, and net zero.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — Guidewheel's clip-on sensors went live on real machines at SAP experience facilities in Palo Alto and Newtown Square, according to Dunford's LinkedIn update.
- **2026-05** — Served as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Wichita State University's Barton School of Business and delivered a keynote on AI, robotics, manufacturing, and energy.
- **2026-02** — Delivered an MD&M West keynote describing how real-time data and AI supported a reported 35% productivity improvement in a Johnson & Johnson suture operation.
- **2025-09** — Discussed digital transformation and AI-powered predictive maintenance in an interview for the Digital Manufacturing Strategies Summit USA.
- **2024-08** — Guidewheel announced a $31 million Series B led by Decarbonization Partners.

## Links

- Website: https://guidewheel.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-dunford-6887ab7

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/lauren-dunford
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-25