Thariq KaraFounder

United States - Washington DC-Baltimore Area

Mechanical engineer - turned data guy - turned product owner and entrepreneur. I can't sit still and have always had passion for using data to solve complex problems—especially those that sit at the intersection of national security, trade, and emerging technology.

My journey began at Homeland Security, where I managed R&D initiatives for Homeland Security Investigations, and led the introduction of the Agency’s first Big Data cluster using open source technology—an effort that earned me the Agency's Director’s Award. From there, I helped establish the Agency’s first Data Management Office, ultimately serving as Chief Data Architect and laying the foundation for enterprise-scale data governance and infrastructure.

In 2015, I co-founded NU Borders with Tim Gildea—a software engineering and data science company focused on modernizing investigative tools for federal agencies. Our team supported mission-critical programs across DOJ, DHS, DoD, and the IC, with a focus on mapping and monitoring global supply chains and illicit networks through advanced data analytics.

Still, I always felt drawn to the product space—building tools that scale, and making transformative technology more accessible. That’s why I launched BITE Data with Anne Riitho: to bring AI-driven innovation to the world of trade compliance. At BITE, we're on a mission to disrupt the space with tools that empower procurement and compliance teams to:

- Uncover optimized tariffs
- Rapidly identify regulatory risks across supplier networks
- Pivot faster with smarter product data for sourcing teams

Excited to keep pushing boundaries at the intersection of data, regulation, and AI.