Matei Zaharia, cofounder and CTO of Databricks, is one of the most influential computer scientists behind modern big-data and AI infrastructure. While a PhD student at UC Berkeley, he created Apache Spark, the open-source data-processing engine that revolutionized large-scale analytics and became foundational to enterprise data platforms worldwide. Zaharia went on to help build Databricks into a multibillion-dollar company, translating academic research into commercial cloud-native tools used by thousands of organizations. Known for bridging deep research with practical engineering, he remains a defining architect of the data and AI stack powering today’s digital economy.

Lloyd Frink, cofounder and vice chairman of Zillow, helped reshape the U.S. real estate market by bringing transparency, data, and digital tools to homebuyers and sellers. A former Microsoft executive and longtime collaborator of Rich Barton, Frink helped build Zillow into a leading online real estate marketplace, known for its Zestimate algorithm, vast housing database, and consumer-first product strategy. His work has been central to the digital transformation of residential real estate, influencing how millions search for and evaluate homes. Frink remains a guiding force at Zillow while also investing in technology and entrepreneurial ventures.

Kevin Systrom, cofounder of Instagram, helped build one of the most influential social platforms of the modern era by combining minimalist design, mobile photography, and frictionless sharing. After early career stints at Google and Nextstop, he launched Instagram with Mike Krieger in 2010, growing it to millions of users in months and selling the company to Facebook for $1 billion in 2012 while continuing to expand it into a global cultural phenomenon. Known for his product craftsmanship and creator-focused approach, Systrom has since turned his attention to algorithmic news and discovery through his startup Artifact, while remaining a major voice in technology and entrepreneurship.

Kelcy Warren, cofounder and executive chairman of Energy Transfer, built one of North America’s largest pipeline and midstream energy networks through aggressive dealmaking, operational scale, and a deep understanding of U.S. oil and gas logistics. Since launching Energy Transfer in 1996, he has overseen a sweeping expansion across natural gas, crude, and NGL infrastructure, including the development of high-profile projects such as the Dakota Access Pipeline. A self-made billionaire from modest Texas roots, Warren combines engineering discipline with bold acquisitive strategy, while remaining an active philanthropist in education, parks, and music—most notably founding the Texas music venue and nonprofit, Klyde Warren Park in Dallas.

Joseph Liemandt, founder of Trilogy and ESW Capital, is one of the most discreet yet influential figures in enterprise software, building a vast portfolio of companies by acquiring and optimizing underperforming software assets. After becoming a young tech millionaire with Trilogy in the 1990s, he shifted to a buy-and-build strategy through ESW Capital, assembling hundreds of enterprise software businesses and implementing data-driven, remote-first operational models long before they became mainstream. Known for his anonymity, contrarian discipline, and rigorous process engineering, Liemandt has quietly shaped the economics of enterprise software while amassing one of the sector’s most substantial private fortunes.

Joe Lau, cofounder and CTO of Alchemy, is one of the central technical architects behind the Web3 infrastructure powering thousands of blockchain applications. After graduating from Stanford, Lau teamed up with Nikil Viswanathan to launch Alchemy in 2017, building the backend platform that supports developers across Ethereum, Polygon, and other leading chains. Under his engineering leadership, Alchemy has become the “AWS of blockchain,” enabling billions of monthly transactions for companies ranging from DeFi protocols to NFT marketplaces and gaming studios. Known for his deep technical rigor, product discipline, and ability to translate complex infrastructure into accessible tools, Lau is a defining force in the maturation of Web3.

José E. Feliciano, cofounder and managing partner of Clearlake Capital, is one of the most influential private equity investors of his generation, helping build Clearlake into a top-tier global firm focused on technology, industrials, and consumer businesses. Since launching the firm in 2006 with Behdad Eghbali, Feliciano has overseen a disciplined strategy combining operational transformation with data-driven value creation, driving assets under management to well over $70 billion. A leader in expanding Latino representation in finance, he is also a major philanthropist through the SUPERB and Somos foundations, supporting education, entrepreneurship, and social mobility. Feliciano’s blend of investment rigor, cultural leadership, and long-horizon thinking has made him a defining force in modern private equity.

John Overdeck, cofounder and co-chairman of Two Sigma, is one of the key architects of quantitative hedge fund investing, bringing machine learning, distributed computing, and massive data science into the heart of portfolio management. After an award-winning math background and early leadership roles at D.E. Shaw and Amazon, he partnered with David Siegel in 2001 to build Two Sigma into a global multi-strategy platform managing tens of billions across equities, private investments, insurance tech, venture capital, and market-making. A champion of mathematics and education, Overdeck is also a leading philanthropist through the Overdeck Family Foundation, advancing STEM learning and research at scale.

Jerry Yang, cofounder of Yahoo!, is one of the earliest architects of the modern internet, helping transform a Stanford hobby project into one of the first global web portals and a defining tech company of the 1990s. After stepping down from Yahoo!, Yang went on to establish AME Cloud Ventures, becoming a major early-stage investor in data-driven startups and emerging technologies. Known for his long-term vision, deep technical roots, and influential role in bridging Silicon Valley with Asian markets, Yang remains a respected entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist shaping the next generation of innovation.

James Monsees, cofounder of Juul Labs, helped transform the nicotine industry by developing one of the most disruptive consumer products of the decade. Alongside Adam Bowen, he created the vapor technology that became JUUL while both were graduate students at Stanford, ultimately scaling the company into a multibillion-dollar business that reshaped global tobacco markets. Monsees’ work—focused on design, user experience, and harm-reduction alternatives—made him a central figure in one of the most controversial and fast-growing consumer product stories of the 21st century.

James Breyer, founder and CEO of Breyer Capital, is one of the most successful venture capitalists of his generation, known for early investments in transformative technology companies. As a former partner at Accel Partners, he led the firm’s landmark investment in Facebook, which became one of the most profitable bets in venture history. Through Breyer Capital, he continues to back leading innovators in artificial intelligence, media, and healthcare. With deep ties to both Silicon Valley and China, Breyer has built a global reputation as a visionary investor bridging technology, policy, and capital.

Pedro Franceschi, Brazilian-born entrepreneur and technologist, is the cofounder and co-CEO of Brex, a fintech company transforming how startups and enterprises manage credit and financial services. A coding prodigy from a young age, he gained early recognition for developing tools to bring Siri to non-Apple devices before joining forces with Henrique Dubugras to launch Brex in Silicon Valley. Together, they scaled the company into a multibillion-dollar fintech platform, making Franceschi one of the youngest self-made billionaires and a leading voice in the future of global finance and technology.

Henrique Dubugras, Brazilian-born entrepreneur, is the cofounder and co-CEO of Brex, the fintech company revolutionizing corporate credit cards and financial services for startups and enterprises. A tech prodigy, he launched his first startup as a teenager before moving to Silicon Valley, where he and cofounder Pedro Franceschi built Brex into a multibillion-dollar company backed by leading investors. Known for his sharp vision and ability to scale fast-growing businesses, Dubugras has become a defining figure in the new wave of fintech, bridging Silicon Valley innovation with global entrepreneurship.

Felix Baker is a highly influential biotech-focused investor and co-founder of Baker Brothers Advisors, a leading hedge fund specializing in healthcare and biotechnology investing. Through his firm, established in 2000, Felix manages over $20 billion in assets and helped generate an estimated $8 billion gain from early investments in Seagen. A PhD immunologist and Stanford alumnus, he also serves on boards of key biotech companies and contributes to Stanford’s biosciences initiatives.

Evan Spiegel co‑founded Snap Inc. (initially Snapchat) in 2011 while studying product design at Stanford. Under his leadership, Snap evolved into a global social media firm with ~400+ million daily users, launching viral innovations like Stories and AR lenses. Spiegel holds over 95 % of Snap’s voting power alongside co‑founder Bobby Murphy and remains its CEO. He also supports youth arts and education through the Spiegel Family Fund with his wife Miranda Kerr.

Ernest C. “Ernie” Garcia, III is the American tech‑entrepreneurial executive behind Carvana, the disruptive used‑car retail marketplace he co‑founded in 2012. A Stanford alumnus in Management Science & Engineering, he previously worked at DriveTime and RBS Greenwich Capital. Under his leadership, Carvana went public in 2017 and became a Fortune 500 company. Despite market volatility, Garcia continues to steer its turnaround as CEO and Chairman.

Eldrick Tont “Tiger” Woods is widely considered one of golf’s greatest players and one of the few athlete‑billionaires. With 82 PGA Tour wins including 15 majors, he pioneered global value in golf and re‑energized the sport after his 2021 car crash. Woods also owns ventures including PopStroke mini‑golf courses, a restaurant, golf‑course design business, and co-founded TMRW Sports and TGL with Rory McIlroy. Today, he remains active despite injuries and maintains a 15‑time major winner legacy. 

David E. Shaw is the Stanford‑trained computer scientist turned Wall Street quant and billionaire founder of D. E. Shaw & Co.. Launched in 1988 with $28 million, the firm pioneered algorithmic trading and grew into one of the world’s largest hedge funds—managing ~$65 billion in assets by 2025. Shaw stepped back from daily operations in 2001 to lead D. E. Shaw Research, advancing computational biochemistry and molecular-dynamics simulations.

David Filo is an American engineer‑entrepreneur best known for co‑founding Yahoo! alongside Stanford classmate Jerry Yang in 1995. As the company’s “Chief Yahoo,” he led the engineering behind early web directories and services. A Sam Houston High and Tulane graduate who earned a master’s in electrical engineering from Stanford, Filo grew Yahoo into an internet pioneer and became a billionaire after its IPO. A longtime tech philanthropist, he has donated millions to sustainability and journalism initiatives.

David Baszucki s a Canadian‑American entrepreneur, software engineer, and inventor. He co-founded Roblox Corporation in 2004 and has led as CEO since its 2006 launch. Previously, he founded Knowledge Revolution—creator of Interactive Physics, sold to MSC Software—and later funded early startups like Friendster. A pioneer of user‑generated content and the metaverse, Baszucki also champions research via the Baszucki Brain Research Fund.