About Andy Konwinski
Andy Konwinski is a serial co-founder in the AI and data infrastructure space, having co-founded Databricks, Perplexity AI, and Laude Ventures/Institute. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from UC Berkeley, where he contributed to major open-source projects like Apache Spark and Mesos. His work focuses on bridging research and real-world impact in artificial intelligence and software infrastructure, and he also teaches a PhD seminar on "Research to Startups" at Berkeley.
Career
Co-founder, GP
Co-founder, GP
Co-founder
Co-founder
Co-founder
Co-founder
Co-founder
Co-founder
PhD Student, Computer Science
PhD Student, Computer Science
Intern
Intern
Intern
Intern
Intern
Intern
Intern
Intern
Education
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - Computer Science
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) - Computer Science
Associate's degree
Associate's degree - Computer Science
Skills
Core technical, entrepreneurial, and professional competencies inferred from his serial co-founding roles and deep academic background in computer science.
Distributed Systems
Apache Spark
Apache Mesos
Data Infrastructure
Machine Learning
Generative AI
Cloud Computing
Hadoop
Venture Capital
Startup Founding
Product Strategy
Business Development
Fundraising
Research to Market
Academic Research
Computer Science
Teaching & Mentorship
System Analysis
Modeling
Domains
Artificial Intelligence, Data Infrastructure, Large Language Models (LLMs)
Venture Capital, Deep Tech, Academic Research, Distributed Systems
Tags
Serial Co-founder, Visionary, Technical Leader, Educator, Investor
Research-Driven, Innovative, High-Impact, Systems-Thinker
Key Themes & Expertise
AI
Data Infrastructure
Apache Spark
Venture Capital
Computer Science
Frequently Asked Questions
Andy Konwinski is a serial co-founder of major AI and data infrastructure companies, including Databricks and Perplexity AI, and holds a PhD from UC Berkeley.
Did Andy Konwinski co-found Databricks and Perplexity AI?
Where did Andy Konwinski earn his PhD?
He earned a PhD in Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley, completing his studies in December 2012.
What is the Laude Institute fund size?
Laude Institute, co-founded in 2024, manages a $100 million fund focused on commercializing artificial intelligence research.
What open-source projects did he contribute to?
While at UC Berkeley, he contributed to major open-source data infrastructure projects, including Apache Spark and Mesos.
Does Andy Konwinski teach at UC Berkeley?
Yes, he currently teaches a PhD seminar at Berkeley titled "Research to Startups," focusing on commercializing AI research.


