Innovators in Residence

Stuart Zola

Stuart Zola, former advisor and innovator in residence at The Hatchery since 2022 and longtime Emory leader, is a distinguished neuroscientist and entrepreneur whose career has spanned groundbreaking research on memory and memory impairment. Zola co-founded NeuroTrack Technologies, Inc., a company started at Emory University and now located in Redwood City, California, focused on digital phenotyping for early detection of cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer’s disease. He is the president and CEO of Quiet Developments, LLC, an award-winning leadership advisory company. Most recently, he has co-founded a third company, Map Habit, Inc., focused on neurocognitive support for individuals with memory impairment, using visual maps to help guide them through their daily schedules. Zola is also internationally known and respected for his many roles in leadership, including as director of the Graduate Neuroscience Program at the University of California, San Diego, director of the Emory National Primate Research Center at Emory University, co-director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Emory, senior research career scientist and deputy associate chief of staff for research at the Atlanta VA Medical Center, and as the interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Emory University. 

Zahir Palanpur

Zahir Palanpur is the founder and CEO of Azul Arc, a web development company based in Atlanta. He brings a strong global perspective and diverse work experience in general management, business strategy and digital product development with extensive experience working with design teams and technology development. Prior to launching Azul Arc, he lived, studied and worked with firms in Asia, Europe and America, including Fortune 500 and Private 500 firms. He has an MBA from Goizueta Business School and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Bombay University. Palanpur currently serves on the board of the Atlanta chapter of the Entrepreneurs Organization and the Emory Entrepreneurs Network. He has co-founded and holds equity positions in several digital start-ups, including inSITE, StaffWRX, VinoApp and Ecomedes. 

Ayesha Khanna

Ayesha Khanna is executive director of Tides, a leading partner for justice in the social sector, providing comprehensive operational, funding and capacity-building services to support entrepreneurial teams as they develop solutions to advance justice. Khanna has more than 20 years of experience in social impact and business sectors leading national and global organizations and scaling for-profit and nonprofit ventures. Students will benefit from her experience as managing director of CARE Enterprises, founder of the Civic Accelerator, member of the Acumen Fund and president of Civic Innovation, leading business development and the global practice of Points of Light. Khanna has also led the YWCA, built health care centers in Punjab, India, and served on the founding boards of many social enterprises. She has dedicated her career to social impact and advancing diverse founders’ and marginalized communities’ opportunities and rights through high-impact, innovative approaches.