Testimonials

I first met Jonathan when he was running a machine learning masterclass, aimed at industry leaders incorporating mainstream AI into their daily business activities. At the time, I was the CTO of a very successful post Series B startup, in the Silicon Valley, that I’d founded from my academic work. He ran his course so well that it not only accelerated the adoption of AI into the product, but also helped us co-author a research manuscript that made its way into the nature portfolio of journals! Jonathan and I have since stayed in touch and meet regularly to discuss everything from life, to academia, to current industry trends, to the future of AI. His breadth of knowledge and uncanny ability to apply and implement the latest technologies to solving business problems is unparalleled. Cheers to a great mentor, advisor, and friend!

I had the pleasure of working with Jonathan as a freelance Business Development Consultant from June 2024 until our acquisition by HuggingFace in April 2025. Hired to position our open-source humanoid robot Reachy 2 as a credible platform for Embodied AI research, Jonathan exceeded expectations with his strategic mindset, technical expertise, and ability to engage top-tier academic labs. During his mission, Jonathan helped us transition from cold prospecting to initiating high-impact collaborations, laying the groundwork for partnerships and potential research publications, significantly enhancing Reachy 2’s visibility in the AI and robotics community. What set Jonathan apart was his ability to bridge academia and industry. His insights into the competitive landscape and proactive suggestions - such as accelerating AI demos to showcase Reachy 2’s capabilities - were invaluable. While working only 4 to 6 hours per week for us, Jonathan delivered consistent results, maintained clear communication, and provided actionable recommendations that shaped our strategy. Jonathan's entrepreneurial spirit and passion for innovation were evident in his approach. He challenged us to refine our processes and position Reachy 2 as a benchmarking platform for Embodied AI. His ability to navigate complex challenges and build meaningful relationships made him an exceptional collaborator. I highly recommend Jonathan to any organization seeking a forward-thinking professional with expertise in AI, robotics, and business development. His unique blend of technical knowledge, strategic vision, and execution skills makes him a standout consultant.

I had the privilege of working closely with Jonathan throughout my 4-year chemistry PhD, during which he served as the senior postdoc and team leader for our automated chemistry team. Jonathan’s technical expertise, evident from his impressive track record, was matched by his ability to work across (and in new) disciplines and quickly acquire new areas of expertise. Beyond his intellectual acumen, it was Jonathan’s soft skills that set him apart as a manager and scientific leader. His passion for the work was palpable, and he invested deeply in the growth and well-being of his team members. As a communicator, whether in interpersonal interactions, writing, or presentations, Jonathan is engaging and clear with both experts and those less experienced. Jonathan played a pivotal role in my scientific and personal development, consistently challenging me to expand my horizons. His contributions were instrumental in my enjoyment and successful completion of my PhD. Notably, even in a field outside his primary expertise, Jonathan actively participated in numerous projects, resulting in publications in high-impact journals. Additionally, he provided informal support on an ad-hoc basis to various endeavors across the wider team. I wholeheartedly recommend working with Jonathan to any student or postdoc. His blend of intellect, technical expertise, soft skills, and leadership qualities, make him an invaluable mentor. Having maintained contact with Jonathan since my PhD, I continue to be impressed by his diverse successes spanning academia, start-ups, and education. Jonathan’s influence extends beyond the completion of my PhD, shaping my professional approach in industry today. His guidance and mentorship have not only contributed to my academic achievements but have also left an enduring impact on my modus operandi in the industrial landscape.

An hour was all Jonathan needed to transform my understanding of modern NLP. He distilled his insights clearly through live demos and business use-cases.