Andy Konwinski, cofounder of Databricks and Perplexity, is a computer scientist and investor focused on AI, data infrastructure, and research-driven startups. He earned his Ph.D. in computer science at UC Berkeley, where he contributed to Apache Hadoop and co-created Apache Mesos and Apache Spark. He later cofounded Laude Ventures and Laude Institute, including a $100 million commitment to support AI researchers.

Denis Yarats, cofounder and CTO of Perplexity, previously worked at Microsoft, Quora, and Facebook AI Research. He holds a Ph.D. in computer science from NYU and has research experience in machine learning and reinforcement learning. At Perplexity, he helped build the company’s AI answer engine, which combines large language models with real-time, source-backed search.

Aravind Srinivas, cofounder and CEO of Perplexity, has become one of the most visible challengers to Google in the AI search race. Born in Chennai and trained at IIT Madras and UC Berkeley, he worked at OpenAI, Google, and DeepMind before launching Perplexity in 2022 with Denis Yarats, Johnny Ho, and Andy Konwinski. The company built its reputation around citation-backed answers rather than traditional search links, reaching a reported $20 billion valuation in 2025 and making Srinivas one of the standout founders of the generative AI boom.

Daniel Nadler, founder and CEO of OpenEvidence, has emerged as one of the standout entrepreneurs of the AI era by building a platform that applies large language models to clinical decision-making and medical research. A former academic and founder of Kensho Technologies, which was acquired by S&P Global for $550 million, he has repeatedly operated at the intersection of artificial intelligence and high-value information systems. With OpenEvidence’s rapid growth among physicians, Nadler has become a major figure in AI-driven healthcare infrastructure.

Chris Stolte, Tableau cofounder and technical advisor, helped turn academic research in data visualization into one of the most influential analytics companies of the modern software era. Launched in 2003 with Christian Chabot and Pat Hanrahan, Tableau reshaped business intelligence by making data analysis more visual, intuitive, and accessible, before Salesforce acquired the company in a $15.7 billion deal in 2019. Stolte remains closely associated with the technical vision that made Tableau a defining force in analytics.

Sam McCandlish, Anthropic cofounder and former chief technology officer, helped build one of the defining companies of the generative AI era while shaping the technical foundations behind Claude and Anthropic’s broader safety-driven approach to frontier models. A theoretical physicist by training and former OpenAI researcher, he became known for influential work on AI scaling and compute, then played a central role in Anthropic’s rise from high-conviction startup to one of the world’s most valuable AI companies. He later moved into the role of chief architect, underscoring his importance as one of the key technical minds behind Anthropic’s long-term direction.

Jared Kaplan, cofounder and chief science officer of Anthropic, has become one of the central technical figures in the generative AI boom, helping build the company behind Claude into a major force in large language models. A theoretical physicist by training and former OpenAI researcher, he is known for influential work on the scaling behavior of AI systems and for pairing frontier model development with a strong emphasis on safety and governance. As Anthropic’s influence has expanded, Kaplan has emerged as one of the key scientists shaping the next era of artificial intelligence.

Dario Amodei, cofounder and CEO of Anthropic, has emerged as one of the central architects of the generative AI era, building the company behind Claude into a major force in safe, high-performance artificial intelligence. A former OpenAI research leader who helped advance large language models and reinforcement learning from human feedback, he has paired technical credibility with a strong public stance on AI safety, governance, and long-term societal risk. As Anthropic’s valuation and influence have surged, Amodei has become one of the most consequential figures shaping the future of AI.

Luis von Ahn, cofounder and CEO of Duolingo, is a pioneering computer scientist who turned language learning into one of the world’s most successful education apps while helping define the economics of crowdsourced internet infrastructure. Before Duolingo, he created reCAPTCHA, later acquired by Google, and built a reputation for converting human attention into scalable digital systems. At Duolingo, he helped grow the company from a mission-driven startup into a publicly traded global platform spanning language, math, and music education, with AI increasingly central to its product strategy.

Arthur D. Levinson, chairman of Apple and CEO of Calico, is one of the rare biotech leaders who successfully bridged frontier science and trillion-dollar corporate governance. Best known for leading Genentech through its golden era as CEO, Levinson later took the helm of Calico, Alphabet’s longevity-focused research company, while also serving as chairman of Apple’s board since 2011. With deep roots in molecular biology and decades of boardroom influence, he stands out as a scientist-executive whose career spans biotechnology breakthroughs, aging research, and stewardship at one of the world’s most valuable companies.

Timothy Springer is the Latham Family Professor at Harvard Medical School and a billionaire biotech pioneer known for his foundational work in immunology. He discovered the first integrins and adhesion molecules (ICAMs), discoveries that led to blockbusters like Entyvio and Raptiva. A founding investor in Moderna, he famously turned a $5 million stake into billions, cementing his status as one of the world's wealthiest academics. In 2026, he continues to lead the Institute for Protein Innovation (IPI), a legacy nonprofit he endowed with $210 million to advance open-source protein research. Recently, he was elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors and made headlines for his massive $61 million investment in Tectonic Therapeutic. Beyond science, he is an avid collector of gongshi (Chinese scholar's rocks).

Romesh Wadhwani, founder and chairman of SymphonyAI, built a major enterprise AI platform focused on industry-specific software for data-intensive sectors such as retail, financial services, manufacturing, and healthcare. A serial entrepreneur and investor, Wadhwani assembled SymphonyAI through acquisitions and product integration, positioning it as a vertically focused alternative to generic AI tools by embedding analytics and machine learning into mission-critical business workflows. Known for long-term vision and execution discipline, he has also become a prominent philanthropist through the Wadhwani Foundation, supporting entrepreneurship, education, and healthcare innovation globally.

RJ Scaringe, founder and CEO of Rivian, is an engineer-entrepreneur building one of the most ambitious electric vehicle companies focused on trucks, SUVs, and commercial fleets. After earning a PhD from MIT, Scaringe founded Rivian with a vision to electrify adventure-oriented vehicles and scalable delivery platforms. Under his leadership, Rivian secured major backing from Amazon and other investors, launched its flagship R1T and R1S models, and positioned itself as a key player in the transition to electrified transportation. Known for technical depth and long-term product focus, Scaringe represents the new generation of American EV leadership.

Purnendu Chatterjee, founder and chairman of The Chatterjee Group, built a diversified global investment firm by taking concentrated, long-term positions in industrial, chemical, consumer, and infrastructure businesses. A former partner at Soros Fund Management, Chatterjee applies activist discipline and operational focus to complex situations, often partnering closely with management to drive strategic change. His portfolio has included significant stakes across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, reflecting a patient, hands-on approach to value creation.

Patrizio Vinciarelli, founder and CEO of Vicor Corporation, is a pioneer in advanced power electronics whose work has reshaped how electricity is delivered inside high-performance computing systems. Trained as a physicist and engineer, Vinciarelli founded Vicor in 1981 and spent decades developing high-density, modular power conversion technologies that became critical to data centers, aerospace, defense, and AI-driven computing. Under his long-term leadership, Vicor evolved into a publicly traded company known for deep intellectual property, engineering precision, and its role in powering next-generation processors and accelerated computing architectures.

Patrick Hanrahan is a pioneering computer graphics researcher and Stanford professor whose work helped define modern real-time rendering and GPU-driven visual computing. Best known as a co-creator of Pixar’s RenderMan rendering system, he laid the technical foundations for photorealistic computer animation used across film and media for decades. In academia and industry, Hanrahan’s research bridged graphics hardware and software, influencing the evolution of programmable GPUs and real-time graphics pipelines. Widely respected for translating deep theory into practical systems, he remains one of the most influential figures in computer graphics and visual computing.

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.

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.

Myron Wentz, founder of USANA Health Sciences, built a global nutritional supplements company by applying scientific rigor and quality control to the direct-to-consumer wellness market. A microbiologist by training, Wentz launched USANA in 1992 with a focus on research-driven formulation, manufacturing discipline, and international distribution, growing the company into a publicly traded enterprise with customers worldwide. Beyond business, he became a major philanthropist through the Wentz Family Foundation, supporting medical research, higher education, and humanitarian initiatives. His career reflects a blend of scientific entrepreneurship, global commerce, and long-term charitable impact.

Min Kao, cofounder and longtime executive of Garmin, helped build one of the world’s most successful GPS and navigation technology companies. After cofounding Garmin in 1989, Kao played a central role in developing satellite-based navigation systems that became industry standards across aviation, marine, automotive, fitness, and outdoor markets. Under his technical leadership, Garmin evolved from a niche aviation supplier into a global consumer and industrial technology powerhouse known for precision engineering and vertical integration. Since stepping back from daily operations, Kao has focused on philanthropy, particularly in education, science, and environmental conservation.