Maria Dahrieh

CEO & Founder

Earth05.org

Founder & CEO, Earth05.org & OctoNex.ai | Social Entrepreneur | Water & AI Advocate Maria A. Dahrieh is a visionary serial entrepreneur, investor relations expert, and impact leader with 20+ years in tech startups, fundraising, and business development. She has worked with 100+ startups, sourcing deals for VCs, family offices, and institutional investors worldwide. As Founder & CEO of Earth05 and OctoNex.ai, Maria is pioneering AI-driven solutions for water, food, and energy resilience. OctoNex.ai leverages AI, quantum simulations, and satellite mapping to help governments and communities modernize infrastructure, optimize budgets, and drive sustainable innovation. In 2024, she launched the Earth05 Co-Creation Prize, first awarded in Davos (2025), recognizing breakthrough solutions in microplastics, desalination, and AI-driven sustainability. She also founded the Return on Lives (ROL) metric, a framework measuring the real-world impact of innovation. Her career spans Europe and the Middle East, shaped by 300+ smart city deployments. A champion for water rights and ethical AI, she advocates for policies aligning technology with humanity’s needs. A polyglot and world traveler, Maria is currently writing her first book—a blend of her journey in tech, science fiction visions, and sustainability insights—set for publication in 2026.