Zarif Azher
| Zarif Azher | |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, researcher |
|---|---|
| Known for | Co-founder and CEO of Nexa Labs |
Zarif Azher is an American entrepreneur and researcher who is the co-founder and CEO of Nexa Labs, a company developing implantable microchips and artificial intelligence for cattle health monitoring. Nexa Labs was part of the Y Combinator Summer 2025 batch.[1]
Early life and education
Azher attended Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia.[2] He studied bioengineering and computer science at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).[3] His family is originally from Bangladesh, where a significant portion of the population raises livestock, an experience Azher has cited as an early influence on his interest in agricultural health technology.[4]
Career
Prior to founding Nexa Labs, Azher held several research positions in healthcare and artificial intelligence. He served as a Health AI Researcher at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, a Health Biodevices Researcher at Caltech's Gao Lab, and a Medical Imaging AI Researcher at Stanford University School of Medicine. He also worked as a researcher and project mentor at Dartmouth–Hitchcock Medical Center and as an AI engineer at Caire Health.[5]
In November 2024, Azher and four fellow Caltech undergraduates began exploring industries with what they identified as a reactionary healthcare problem. After reaching out to more than 100 U.S. farmers, the team found that an estimated 70 to 90 percent of farmers monitored their animals' health primarily through visual observation, a method that often fails to detect disease before significant losses occur. Global livestock disease losses contribute to nearly $400 billion annually.[6]
Nexa Labs was incorporated in February 2025 and developed a biosensor in the form of an implantable microchip placed through the ear of cattle. The device collects biometric data, and the company's AI-driven health engine provides farmers with early disease detection, reproductive insights, and GPS tracking. The company describes its mission as building the world's largest cattle health dataset.[7]
In May 2025, Nexa Labs won first prize at the 2025 UC Davis Big Bang! Business Competition.[8] In November 2025, the company announced the launch and initial deployments of its implantable cattle monitoring system, described as the first of its kind.[9]
References
- ↑ "Nexa Labs – Y Combinator". 'Y Combinator}'. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "Zarif Azher's Thomas Jefferson Science & Technology High School Career Home". 'MaxPreps}'. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "Zarif Azher – The Org". 'The Org}'. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "Startup of the Month: Nexa Labs". 'Comstock's Magazine}'. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "Zarif Azher – The Org". 'The Org}'. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "Startup of the Month: Nexa Labs". 'Comstock's Magazine}'. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "Nexa Labs". 'Nexa Labs}'. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "Startup of the Month: Nexa Labs". 'Comstock's Magazine}'. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "Nexa Labs Announces First Implantable Cattle Monitoring System and AI-Powered Dairy Insights Accessible for All". 'Ag Proud}'. Retrieved 2026-03-19.