P. J. Hyett, cofounder of GitHub, helped create the platform that became the default home for modern software collaboration, reshaping how developers build, review, and ship code at global scale. As GitHub evolved from a developer tool into a foundational layer of the internet’s software stack, Hyett played a key role in its early product DNA and community-first growth, helping turn open-source momentum into a dominant enterprise platform. GitHub’s rise culminated in its landmark acquisition by Microsoft, cementing Hyett’s place among the entrepreneurs who defined the modern developer economy.

Osman Kibar, founder and CEO of Samara, is a biotech entrepreneur focused on regenerative medicine, aiming to restore organ function rather than manage disease. Trained as a materials scientist, Kibar launched Samara to develop therapies that activate the body’s innate repair mechanisms, starting with severe osteoarthritis. By combining developmental biology with advanced drug discovery, he has positioned the company at the frontier of tissue regeneration. Kibar’s work reflects a long-horizon approach to biotech innovation centered on curative science.

Orlando Bravo, cofounder and managing partner of Thoma Bravo, built one of the most powerful private equity franchises in software by applying a disciplined, repeatable playbook to mission-critical technology businesses. After early success investing in cybersecurity and enterprise software, Bravo scaled Thoma Bravo into a dominant global platform known for operational improvement, buy-and-build strategies, and long-term value creation. His focus on recurring revenue models and founder-aligned execution has reshaped how private equity approaches software at scale.

Orion Hindawi, cofounder and CEO of Tanium, built one of the most influential private cybersecurity companies by redefining how large organizations manage and secure their endpoints in real time. Partnering with his father, computer scientist David Hindawi, he helped develop Tanium’s peer-to-peer architecture, enabling unprecedented visibility and control across massive enterprise networks. Under his leadership, Tanium became a trusted platform for governments and Fortune 500 companies, earning a reputation for technical rigor, security credibility, and disciplined growth while remaining privately held.

Oren Zeev, founder of Zeev Ventures, is a contrarian growth investor known for backing category-defining technology companies at pivotal moments. After early success in private equity and distressed investing, Zeev shifted to long-term minority investments, helping scale businesses such as Chegg, Audible, and TripActions. His hands-on, founder-aligned approach emphasizes durable unit economics, product leadership, and patient capital. Operating largely outside traditional venture cycles, Zeev has built a reputation for high-conviction bets that compound over time.

Olivier Pomel, cofounder and CEO of Datadog, built one of the most important cloud observability platforms by anticipating the shift to distributed, containerized infrastructure. After early engineering roles and time at Wireless Generation, Pomel launched Datadog in 2010 to unify monitoring across servers, applications, logs, and security in a single, developer-friendly platform. Under his leadership, Datadog scaled rapidly with the rise of cloud-native architectures, serving enterprises and high-growth startups alike, and went public in 2019. Known for product focus and technical clarity, Pomel has helped define how modern software is built, observed, and secured at scale.

Noubar Afeyan, founder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering, is a leading biotech entrepreneur and venture creator known for inventing companies at the intersection of science and breakthrough innovation. Through Flagship, he has co-founded and incubated dozens of life-sciences companies, most notably Moderna, helping pioneer the mRNA platform that reshaped vaccine development and global public health. Trained as a chemical engineer, Afeyan combines deep scientific rigor with venture discipline, backing long-horizon technologies across biology, health, and sustainability. His work has made Flagship a cornerstone of modern biotech company creation.

Norman Braman, founder and chairman of Braman Automotive Group, built one of the largest luxury auto dealership empires in the United States by focusing on premium brands, prime real estate, and disciplined operations. Starting in the 1970s, Braman expanded aggressively in South Florida, assembling a portfolio that includes top marques such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Rolls-Royce. Beyond automotive retail, he is a prominent civic figure and philanthropist, investing heavily in healthcare, education, and urban development in Miami. Braman’s career blends entrepreneurial scale with sustained local impact.

Noam Gottesman, cofounder and managing partner of GLG Partners, built one of Europe’s most successful hedge funds by combining global macro insight with disciplined risk management. After cofounding GLG in 1995, he helped grow the firm into a multibillion-dollar asset manager before selling it to Man Group in a landmark deal. Beyond finance, Gottesman has become a prominent investor and philanthropist, with significant interests in art, media, and education, reflecting a career that spans markets, culture, and long-term capital stewardship.

Niraj Shah, cofounder and CEO of Wayfair, helped build one of the world’s largest online home-goods retailers by reimagining how furniture and décor are discovered, sold, and delivered at scale. Starting the business in 2002 as a collection of niche e-commerce sites, Shah guided Wayfair’s evolution into a vertically integrated platform spanning logistics, private labels, and global sourcing. Known for data-driven execution and long-term conviction, he has steered the company through rapid growth, a public listing, and the complexities of last-mile fulfillment in bulky goods, reshaping e-commerce for the home category.

Nikil Viswanathan, cofounder and CEO of Alchemy, has built one of the most critical infrastructure companies in the Web3 ecosystem, providing the backend platform that powers thousands of blockchain applications. After graduating from Stanford, Viswanathan partnered with Joe Lau to launch Alchemy in 2017, positioning it as the developer layer for Ethereum and other major blockchains. Under his leadership, Alchemy scaled rapidly by focusing on reliability, tooling, and enterprise-grade infrastructure, earning adoption from leading crypto startups, Fortune 500 companies, and global institutions. Known for his product-driven mindset and ability to translate complex systems into usable platforms, Viswanathan has become a central figure in the maturation of blockchain technology.

Nicolas Berggruen, investor and philanthropist, built a global reputation as a contrarian thinker blending capital, policy, and long-term societal vision. Founder of Berggruen Holdings and the Berggruen Institute, he has invested across real estate, finance, and special situations while championing ideas around governance reform, technology, and globalization. Known for his unconventional lifestyle and intellectual focus, Berggruen has positioned himself less as a traditional financier and more as a patron of cross-disciplinary thought, convening global leaders to address structural challenges facing modern societies.

Nick Caporella, founder and longtime chairman of National Beverage Corp., built one of the most distinctive players in the U.S. beverage industry by betting early on healthier, flavor-forward drinks. After acquiring the company in the 1980s, Caporella focused on brand-led growth rather than scale-for-scale’s sake, turning LaCroix into a cultural phenomenon and a leader in sparkling water. Known for frugality, tight control, and unconventional strategy, he created outsized value with a small portfolio and an intense focus on margins and brand equity.

Nicholas Woodman, founder and CEO of GoPro, created one of the most recognizable consumer electronics brands by turning a simple idea—capturing action sports from the participant’s perspective—into a global media and hardware platform. After an early surfing trip inspired the original camera mount, Woodman built GoPro into a publicly traded company whose rugged cameras became synonymous with adventure, user-generated content, and immersive storytelling. Under his leadership, GoPro expanded beyond hardware into software, subscriptions, and content ecosystems, shaping how millions document and share experiences. Woodman’s entrepreneurial journey reflects persistence, product obsession, and the power of creator-driven media.

Nicholas J. Pritzker, managing partner and cofounder of Tao Capital Partners, represents the next generation of the Pritzker family’s investment legacy, focusing on long-term, impact-oriented private investing. Through Tao Capital, he backs companies across technology, healthcare, sustainable consumer brands, and environmental solutions, emphasizing durable growth, values-driven leadership, and positive social outcomes. Distinct from the family’s hospitality roots, Pritzker has carved out an independent path as an investor aligned with ESG principles, while also engaging deeply in philanthropy supporting climate action, democracy, and community development.

Nelson Peltz, founder and CEO of Trian Fund Management, is one of the most prominent activist investors in corporate America, known for pushing operational discipline and shareholder-focused governance at some of the world’s largest companies. After early success building food distributor Triangle Industries, Peltz turned to activism through Trian, taking influential stakes in companies such as Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, DuPont, and General Electric. His campaigns typically emphasize cost control, capital allocation, and strategic clarity rather than breakups, earning him a reputation as a boardroom power broker. Peltz’s blend of industrial experience and financial activism has reshaped how large corporations respond to shareholder pressure.

Neil Kadisha, cofounder of Omninet and a pioneering telecommunications entrepreneur, played a central role in building the early global internet backbone during the 1990s. Through Omninet, he helped deploy one of the world’s first international fiber-optic networks, enabling high-capacity data transmission across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East at a critical moment in internet expansion. After exiting the business, Kadisha shifted his focus to philanthropy and impact investing, supporting initiatives in health, education, conflict resolution, and peace-building through the Kadisha Family Foundation. His career bridges foundational internet infrastructure and long-term global social impact.

Neil Bluhm, real estate developer and casino magnate, built a diversified empire spanning luxury hotels, gaming, and urban real estate through long-term vision and disciplined capital deployment. As cofounder of JMB Realty, he helped shape landmark developments across major U.S. cities before expanding aggressively into gaming as a principal owner of Rush Street Gaming and Rush Street Interactive. Bluhm is also a major civic philanthropist, supporting education, healthcare, and cultural institutions in Chicago and beyond, blending large-scale commercial development with sustained community investment.

Naveen Jain, serial entrepreneur and philanthropist, is best known for building companies that tackle large-scale problems in health, space, and data science. After founding InfoSpace during the early internet era, Jain went on to launch ventures such as Moon Express, focused on commercial lunar exploration, and Viome, which applies AI and molecular analysis to personalized health and longevity. Known for his “moonshot” mindset, he consistently targets industries where exponential technology can disrupt entrenched models. Jain’s work blends bold vision with scientific ambition, positioning him as a distinctive force at the intersection of entrepreneurship and frontier innovation.

Nathan Blecharczyk, cofounder and chief strategy officer of Airbnb, is the technical architect behind one of the world’s most influential travel platforms. After building Airbnb’s original website and payment systems, he helped scale the company from a startup renting air mattresses into a global marketplace operating in nearly every country. Blecharczyk has played a central role in shaping Airbnb’s long-term strategy, trust and safety infrastructure, and international expansion, while also serving as chairman of Airbnb China. Known for his engineering-first mindset and low public profile, he remains a key force behind the platform’s global growth and resilience.