Joe Intrakamhang, '02, Joins AI Startup as Chief Tech Officer After Years at Google
By Tony Scott

Joe Intrakamhang, '02, with his wife, Giselle, '04, left, and daughter, Aubrey, center, at Machu Picchu in Peru. (Photo: Joe Intrakamhang)

Joe Intrakamhang, ’02, has been building an innovative future as a tech executive, while also ensuring a safe, healthy future for the planet as an advocate for food sustainability.
 

Intrakamhang earned two bachelor’s degrees from NIU – one in computer science and the other in mathematical science. 

After spending nearly nine years at Google and Google affiliates, most recently as head of cost optimization and data management at Verily, Intrakamhang joined SWARM Engineering, a California-based agentic AI (or autonomous artificial intelligence) startup, as its chief technology officer in February 2025.

Agentic AI differs from the more commonly known generative AI in that, while generative AI relies on prompts to create text, images or other creative content, agentic AI systems can set their own goals, make autonomous decisions and take actions without prompts. Where generative AI is reactive, agentic AI is proactive.

“As chief technology officer, I’m responsible for setting the product and technical strategy. I’m also responsible for leading the offshore and onshore teams,” Intrakamhang said.

In addition, Intrakamhang is a board member of the Northern Illinois Food Bank and has worked on projects to help streamline data related to food waste, food insecurity and sustainability. He is passionate about sustainability and eliminating food waste. 

Intrakamhang was involved in a project while at X, The Moonshot Factory, a Google company, that helped streamline and visualize data for Kroger and the organization Feeding America, which have been partners for decades. Kroger regularly donates food to Feeding America's network of food banks. 
 

“Food waste produces 79 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions,” he said. “If food waste were its own country, it would be the third largest producer of greenhouse gas emissions.”

Intrakamhang grew up in suburban Streamwood, Illinois, the son of blue-collar workers. He became interested in computer programming while in middle school.
 

He commuted to NIU for the first year and a half and finished his degree in three years.

“My family couldn't afford the full college experience, so I had to choose a school that was nearby where I could commute to school with a strong computer science degree,” he said.

He worked his way through school at Circuit City and as a teaching assistant with the Department of Mathematical Sciences. 

NIU holds a special place in his heart as it is where he met his wife, Giselle (Soto), ’04. He said the two met in a class and were competitive in a playful way, and they finally began dating.

“I met my wife my freshman year and we are celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary this year,” he said. 

Intrakamhang has fond memories of computer science professor and one-time department chair Rodney Angotti. He said when he was chair, Angotti helped guide him so he would graduate in three years.

“Dr. Angotti gave me the chance to graduate early with the ability to substitute a class,” Intrakamhang said. “Without him, I would have had an extra year of waiting for the one required class offered once a year.”

When he graduated, it was at the peak of the dot-com bust years, and jobs were scarce. But Intrakamhang said the classes he took and the areas he was focused on at NIU helped him land a job right away as a developer for CVS Caremark.

"They taught a lot of mainframe courses, and at that time they needed a lot of mainframe developers, so I was able to get that job," he said. "I'm still so grateful to get that first job that gave me that chance to prove myself."

Intrakamhang said during his career he has had to work on soft skills, but that his career has been rewarding. 

“Interacting with my colleagues and influencing without authority isn't natural for me, and I had to continue to work on my soft skills,” he said. “The most rewarding part of my career has been mentoring other folks and seeing them rise on their career and personal rocket ship.”

Intrakamhang and his wife now return to campus on occasion with their 12-year-old daughter, who is interested in child psychology and wants to be a Huskie someday.
 

"Coming back to campus evokes so many memories," he said.

For Intrakamhang, being a Huskie means being humble and working hard to succeed.

“Huskies have the grit and the grind to succeed in the workforce,” he said. “They don't wait to be rewarded, they are ambitious to go after their goals and aspirations.”