Explore profiles of investors actively backing artificial intelligence, machine learning, and deep tech startups. From early-stage AI funds to established VCs with AI-focused portfolios, find the right investors for your AI venture.
Sam Altman is a prominent American entrepreneur, investor, and programmer, best known as the CEO of ...
Sarah Guo is a highly respected figure in the venture capital landscape, best known as the Founding ...
Elad Gil is a highly respected Silicon Valley entrepreneur, operating executive, and investor, renow...
Vinod Khosla is a prominent Indian-American venture capitalist and entrepreneur, widely recognized f...
23 investors
Larry Page is an American computer scientist and internet entrepreneur who co-founded Google with Sergey Brin. He served as Google's CEO from 1997 to 2001 and again from 2011 to 2015 when he became CEO of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company. Page stepped down as CEO of Alphabet in 2019 but remains a board member and a controlling shareholder.Page's vision significantly shaped the internet landscape, emphasizing organizing the world's information and making it universally accessible and useful. His entrepreneurial spirit extends beyond Google into numerous ventures, particularly in advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, and sustainable energy.
Elad Gil is a highly respected Silicon Valley entrepreneur, operating executive, and investor, renowned for his early-stage investments in some of the most successful technology companies of the past two decades. He has a unique background that blends deep technical expertise with hands-on operational experience, having held significant roles at major tech giants and multiple startups.Gil is particularly recognized for his strategic insights into company building and scaling, which he shares through his popular blog, speaking engagements, and his best-selling book, 'High Growth Handbook'. His investment philosophy often extends beyond capital, offering invaluable guidance to founders on product-market fit, team building, and navigating hyper-growth phases.His influence is evident in the remarkable list of companies he’s supported from their nascent stages, many of which have gone on to achieve multi-billion dollar valuations and reshape their respective industries. He is considered a
Jensen Huang is a Taiwanese-American billionaire businessman and electrical engineer who co-founded NVIDIA Corporation in 1993. He has served as its president and CEO since its inception. Under his leadership, NVIDIA has become a global leader in graphics processing units (GPUs), which are crucial for gaming, professional visualization, data centers, and, most notably, artificial intelligence.Huang's vision has been instrumental in transforming NVIDIA from a 3D graphics chip maker into a full-stack computing company. He foresaw the parallel processing capabilities of GPUs extending beyond gaming to accelerate scientific computing and artificial intelligence, a strategic pivot that has positioned NVIDIA at the forefront of the modern technological revolution.
Heather Redman is a highly respected figure in the technology and venture capital ecosystems, known for her deep expertise in new technologies, corporate governance, and investment strategies. She co-founded Flying Fish Partners, a venture capital firm focused on artificial intelligence in the Pacific Northwest.Before co-founding Flying Fish Partners, Redman held significant leadership roles at various prominent technology companies, including executive positions at Sumo Logic, Synapse Product Development, Atom Entertainment (MTV), and Getty Images. Her career trajectory showcases a strong blend of operational experience and strategic investment insight.Redman is also a champion for the technology community, serving on numerous boards and engaging in policy discussions that shape the future of innovation. Her commitment to fostering growth in the tech sector, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, is a hallmark of her professional identity.

Lan Xuezhao is the founder and managing partner of Basis Set Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on early-stage AI-first companies. She is known for her deep expertise in artificial intelligence and her ability to identify promising startups in the technology sector.Before founding Basis Set Ventures, Lan was an early employee at Dropbox, where she played a crucial role in the company's growth and success. She also held a significant position as a founding member of a data science team at a major hedge fund, gaining invaluable experience in applying data-driven strategies to complex financial problems.Lan's career trajectory showcases her strong technical background and her keen eye for innovation. Her transition from an operational role at a leading tech company to a venture capital leader demonstrates her commitment to fostering the next generation of technological advancements, particularly in the AI space.

Louis Beryl is an accomplished American entrepreneur and investor, widely recognized for his significant contributions to the fintech industry. He is best known as the co-founder and former CEO of Earnest, a pioneering financial technology company that revolutionized student loan refinancing and personal lending. Under his leadership, Earnest grew rapidly before its acquisition by Navient in 2017 for $155 million.Following his success at Earnest, Beryl transitioned into a prominent role as an investor and advisor, focusing on early-stage companies across various sectors, including fintech, artificial intelligence, and software-as-a-service (SaaS). His keen eye for disruptive technologies and strong operational expertise makes him a sought-after mentor for burgeoning startups. He continues to shape the future of finance and technology through his strategic investments and board positions.

Martin Casado is a renowned figure in the technology and venture capital landscapes, best known for his pioneering work in Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and his influential role as a General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). His career is characterized by a unique blend of deep technical expertise, entrepreneurial success, and strategic investment prowess.Before venturing into venture capital, Casado held significant academic and industry positions. He was a co-founder and CTO of Nicira Networks, a company that revolutionized network virtualization and was acquired by VMware for $1.26 billion in 2012. His contributions at Nicira laid the groundwork for modern cloud networking architectures.At a16z, Casado has solidified his reputation as a keen investor, particularly in enterprise, cloud, and infrastructure technologies. He leverages his hands-on experience as an entrepreneur and technologist to identify and nurture disruptive companies, making him a sought-after advisor and partner for founders.

Martin Mignot is a highly regarded venture capitalist and a Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, where he focuses on early-stage investments across Europe. With a career spanning over a decade in technology and venture capital, Mignot has established himself as a keen identifier of disruptive innovation and promising founders.Before joining Lightspeed, he was a Principal at Index Ventures, playing a pivotal role in their European investment activities. His experience extends from advising startups on growth strategies to leading significant funding rounds that have propelled numerous companies to unicorn status and beyond. Mignot is particularly known for his deep insights into the enterprise software, fintech, and consumer sectors.Mignot's investment philosophy emphasizes long-term partnerships with visionary entrepreneurs, providing not just capital but also strategic guidance and operational support. He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and a thought leader on the European tech ecosystem.

Dr. Quinn Li is a prominent figure in the venture capital landscape, serving as the Senior Vice President and Global Head of Qualcomm Ventures. He leads the strategic investment arm of Qualcomm Incorporated, focusing on early-stage companies in wireless, AI, automotive, IoT, and other transformative technologies. Under his leadership, Qualcomm Ventures has become a key player in fostering innovation across various sectors globally.With a deep technical background and extensive experience in corporate development, Dr. Li has been instrumental in identifying and nurturing companies that are shaping the future of connectivity and intelligent systems. His expertise spans from semiconductors to software, making him a versatile investor with a keen eye for disruptive technologies and market trends.
Wei Guo is a prominent venture capitalist and the Founding Partner of Uphonest Capital and Wei Fund. He is recognized for his early and strategic investments in cutting-edge technologies, particularly within the Web3, AI, and developer tools sectors. Guo has a strong track record of identifying disruptive startups with global potential.With a unique background bridging Silicon Valley and Asian markets, Wei Guo has successfully facilitated cross-border investments and helped numerous companies expand their reach. His expertise lies in early-stage funding, where he provides not only capital but also invaluable mentorship and strategic guidance to founders.Prior to his venture capital career, Wei Guo gained experience in various technology roles, which honed his understanding of market trends and technological advancements. He is a respected figure in the startup ecosystem, known for his forward-thinking approach and ability to foresee emerging industry shifts.
Sam Altman is a prominent American entrepreneur, investor, and programmer, best known as the CEO of OpenAI, a leading artificial intelligence research and deployment company. His journey in the tech world began early, co-founding Loopt, a location-based social networking mobile application, which was acquired in 2012 for $43.4 million.Altman's influence significantly expanded during his tenure at Y Combinator, the prestigious startup accelerator. He initially joined as a partner in 2011 and later served as its President from 2014 to 2019. Under his leadership, Y Combinator saw explosive growth and invested in thousands of startups, solidifying its reputation as a launchpad for successful tech companies. His strategic vision and deep understanding of the startup ecosystem have made him a revered figure in Silicon Valley.Beyond his executive roles, Altman is an active and insightful investor, with a diverse portfolio spanning numerous groundbreaking technology companies. His investments often reflect a keen eye for disruptive innovation and a commitment to shaping the future of technology, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and clean energy.
Vinod Khosla is a prominent Indian-American venture capitalist and entrepreneur, widely recognized for co-founding Sun Microsystems in 1982. He also established Khosla Ventures, a Menlo Park-based venture capital firm, in 2004, focusing on a broad range of sectors including sustainable energy, emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, and healthcare.Khosla’s career is marked by his visionary approach to technology and his strong belief in the potential of disruptive innovation. He has consistently advocated for technological solutions to address global challenges, particularly in clean energy and artificial intelligence, positioning himself as a thought leader in these fields.

Masayoshi Son is the founder and CEO of SoftBank Group Corp., one of the world's most influential technology conglomerates. Often described as Asia's most daring tech investor, Son has spent over four decades building SoftBank from a small software distribution company in Japan into a global technology powerhouse with investments spanning telecommunications, AI, semiconductors, and internet platforms.Son is widely recognized for his prescient early bets, most notably his $20 million investment in Alibaba in 2000 — which grew into one of the most profitable venture investments in history, peaking at over $100 billion in value. He also orchestrated the $32 billion acquisition of ARM Holdings in 2016, positioning SoftBank at the center of the global semiconductor ecosystem.In recent years, Son has pivoted SoftBank's strategy decisively toward artificial intelligence, declaring that AI is the defining technology of the century. Through the SoftBank Vision Fund and the Stargate Project, a joint venture with OpenAI and Oracle to build massive AI data centers in the United States, Son continues to shape the global AI landscape at an unprecedented scale.
Geoffrey Everest Hinton CC FRS FRSC is a British-Canadian computer scientist and cognitive psychologist, most noted for his work on artificial neural networks. He is widely regarded as the "Godfather of Deep Learning" and has been instrumental in making neural networks a central technology in modern artificial intelligence.Hinton received his BA in Experimental Psychology from King's College, Cambridge in 1970, and his PhD in Artificial Intelligence from the University of Edinburgh in 1978. His doctoral thesis explored the use of relaxation in neural network models, laying the groundwork for decades of subsequent research.In 2024, Hinton was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics alongside John Hopfield for foundational discoveries and inventions that enable machine learning with artificial neural networks. He had previously received the ACM A.M. Turing Award in 2018, shared with Yann LeCun and Yoshua Bengio, for conceptual and engineering breakthroughs in deep neural networks.
David Friedberg is a prominent American entrepreneur and investor renowned for his pioneering work in agriculture technology, climate tech, and biotech. He is the founder and CEO of The Production Board (TPB), a holding company that develops and operates businesses at the nexus of food, agriculture, human health, and the environment. Friedberg's career arc showcases a consistent drive to tackle some of the world's most pressing challenges through innovative technological solutions and strategic business building.Before founding TPB, Friedberg made a significant impact as the founder and CEO of The Climate Corporation, an agricultural technology company that provided farmers with data-driven insights to improve crop yields and manage risk. Under his leadership, The Climate Corporation was acquired by Monsanto for approximately $1.1 billion in 2013, a landmark exit that validated the immense potential of agritech. His early experiences also include roles at the investment bank Jefferies Broadview and at Google, where he focused on corporate development and financial product efforts.Today, Friedberg continues to be an influential figure in the venture capital landscape, known for his long-term vision and his ability to identify and nurture companies poised to disrupt traditional industries. Through The Production Board, he actively seeds, operates, and scales companies addressing global resource challenges, aiming for both significant financial returns and profound societal impact. His work extends to being a regular co-host on the popular podcast "All-In Podcast," where he shares insights on technology, markets, and geopolitics, further cementing his status as a thought leader.
Sarah Guo is a highly respected figure in the venture capital landscape, best known as the Founding Partner of Conviction, a venture firm focused on early-stage enterprise software and AI companies. Prior to launching Conviction, she was a prominent General Partner at Greylock Partners, where she led significant investments across various stages. Her career trajectory underscores a deep expertise in identifying transformative technologies and supporting disruptive founders in the enterprise sector.Guo's investment philosophy is characterized by a keen understanding of technical innovation, particularly in areas like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and developer tools. At Greylock, she was instrumental in backing companies that would go on to achieve significant success. Her transition to founding Conviction marked a strategic move to double down on her investment thesis, creating a firm specifically designed to partner with category-defining companies from their earliest stages. Her work at Conviction has quickly established the firm as a key player in the competitive early-stage tech investment arena, often focusing on the future of work and intelligence augmentation through software.Sarah Guo is not only an investor but also a thoughtful commentator on technology trends. She frequently shares her insights on market dynamics, the future of enterprise, and the impact of AI through various platforms, making her a sought-after voice in the industry. Her commitment to fostering innovation and her proactive engagement with the startup ecosystem solidify her position as a leading venture capitalist shaping the next generation of enterprise technology.
Shaun Maguire is a distinguished partner at Sequoia Capital, a renowned venture capital firm. With a profound expertise in artificial intelligence, enterprise software, and fintech, Maguire has established himself as a key figure in the investment landscape. Prior to joining Sequoia in 2019, he honed his skills as a partner at Google Ventures (GV), where he led investments in several groundbreaking companies across various sectors.Before his venture capital career, Maguire was a successful entrepreneur, co-founding two startups: TxVia, a payments processing company acquired by Google for over $200 million, and Momentus Software, an enterprise software company in the computer vision space. His entrepreneurial background provides him with a unique perspective, enabling him to deeply understand the challenges and opportunities faced by founders. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Stanford University, specializing in artificial intelligence and computer vision, and a B.S. in Mathematics and Computer Science from UCLA. His extensive academic and professional experience underpins his strategic insights and investment prowess.Currently, Maguire is at the forefront of identifying and supporting the next generation of transformative companies, particularly in areas like AI infrastructure, developer tools, and vertical AI applications. He is known for his hands-on approach, working closely with portfolio companies to navigate product-market fit, accelerate growth, and scale successfully. His contributions have significantly impacted the growth of numerous startups, securing his reputation as a visionary investor and a valuable mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs.
Dr. Ali Yahya is a distinguished General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z Crypto), where he focuses on pioneering investments in web3, cryptocurrency, and blockchain technologies. His expertise spans a broad spectrum, including artificial intelligence, distributed systems, and decentralized networks. Before his significant contributions to the venture capital landscape, Yahya built a foundational career at Google. There, he was instrumental in developing large-scale distributed systems and advanced artificial intelligence technologies, including self-driving cars and drone delivery systems, showcasing his forward-thinking approach to technological innovation.Ali Yahya has a profound academic background that complements his practical experience, holding a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His doctoral research delved into the intricacies of distributed systems, a field that has since become central to the architecture of blockchain and web3. His tenure at Google and subsequent leadership role at a16z Crypto underscore his ability to identify and nurture transformative technologies from early stages through to market adoption, solidifying his reputation as a visionary investor and technologist.
Neeraj Arora is a highly respected investor and strategic advisor with a proven track record of scaling technology companies. He is best known for his pivotal role as the Business Head at WhatsApp, where he was instrumental in the company's hyper-growth phase and its $19 billion acquisition by Facebook. His expertise spans product development, business strategy, and global expansion.Before his tenure at WhatsApp, Arora held significant positions at Google, contributing to key business development initiatives. Post-WhatsApp, he transitioned into a full-time investor and advisor role, backing numerous promising startups across various sectors, including AI, SaaS, fintech, and consumer internet. His deep operational experience and strategic insights make him a valuable partner to founders navigating rapid growth and market disruption.
Saurabh Gupta is a distinguished Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, where his expertise is primarily directed towards transformative investments in enterprise software, fintech, and artificial intelligence. His career trajectory showcases a profound understanding of technology's impact on businesses, stemming from a rich background in both engineering and strategic roles prior to his venture capital career. Gupta is recognized for his insightful approach to identifying and nurturing high-growth companies that are poised to disrupt traditional markets.Before joining Lightspeed, Saurabh Gupta honed his skills at Microsoft and McKinsey & Company, invaluable experiences that provided him with a comprehensive grasp of both large-scale enterprise operations and strategic advisory. These foundational roles equipped him with a unique perspective on technology adoption and market dynamics, which he now leverages to guide his investment decisions. His leadership and strategic vision have been instrumental in the success of numerous portfolio companies, helping them navigate complex technical and market challenges.At Lightspeed, Saurabh Gupta has been a key driver in investments totaling hundreds of millions of dollars across various stages, focusing on companies that demonstrate strong product-market fit and significant growth potential. His portfolio reflects a keen eye for innovation in areas such as cloud infrastructure, data platforms, and next-generation financial services. He is deeply committed to supporting founders in scaling their businesses, offering not only capital but also strategic guidance and access to a vast network of industry experts.
Miles Grimshaw is a distinguished General Partner at Benchmark, a top-tier venture capital firm renowned for its early-stage investments. With a profound expertise in artificial intelligence, enterprise software, and fintech, Grimshaw has established himself as a keen identifier of transformative technologies and disruptive business models. His journey into venture capital followed a foundational period at Airbnb, where he played a pivotal role in the company’s product and growth initiatives, contributing significantly to its global expansion and marketplace innovation.Grimshaw’s career is marked by a consistent pursuit of understanding the fundamental shifts in technology and their implications for new markets. Before his tenure at Airbnb, he honed his analytical skills and strategic thinking, which now serve as the bedrock of his investment philosophy. At Benchmark, he has been instrumental in backing a new generation of companies that leverage cutting-edge AI to redefine industries, streamline enterprise operations with sophisticated software solutions, and innovate financial services for a digital-first world. His approach blends deep technical insight with a pragmatic understanding of market dynamics, making him a trusted advisor to founders navigating the complexities of hyper-growth.
Brian Singerman is a distinguished partner at Founders Fund, a prominent venture capital firm based in San Francisco. Known for his keen eye for transformative technologies and companies, Singerman has built a formidable reputation as an early and impactful investor in some of the most innovative and disruptive companies of our time. His investment philosophy often gravitates towards ambitious projects that aim to solve fundamental problems or create entirely new industries, particularly in areas like artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and aerospace.Before joining Founders Fund in 2008, Singerman had a notable career in software engineering and product development. He was an early employee at Google, where he played a crucial role in developing AdSense, a product that revolutionized online advertising. His deep technical background and operational experience provide him with a unique perspective, enabling him to identify promising ventures and guide their growth effectively. At Founders Fund, he has been instrumental in backing companies that have achieved multi-billion dollar valuations, solidifying his standing as one of Silicon Valley's most influential investors.
Sriram Krishnan is a distinguished Indian-American investor, entrepreneur, and former technology executive, widely recognized for his significant contributions to some of the world's leading tech companies and his insightful commentary on the industry. Currently, Sriram serves as a General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), a prominent venture capital firm, where he focuses on investments in early-stage consumer startups. His career trajectory showcases a remarkable blend of product leadership, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of market dynamics, making him a pivotal figure in the technology ecosystem.Sriram's career began at Microsoft, where he worked on various product initiatives, laying the groundwork for his future successes. He then moved to Facebook (now Meta), playing a key role in the development of advertising products and contributing to the social media giant's monetization strategies. His expertise in building and scaling consumer products further deepened during his tenure at Snap (Snapchat) and Spotify, where he led crucial product teams. Most notably, Sriram held a senior product leadership role at Twitter during a period of significant change and product evolution, directly influencing the platform's direction and feature set.Beyond his investment and executive roles, Sriram Krishnan is also a well-known media personality. Together with his wife, Aarthi Ramamurthy, he co-hosts "The Aarthi and Sriram Show," a popular podcast and Clubhouse show where they interview prominent figures in technology, business, and culture. Through this platform, Sriram shares his perspectives on emerging trends, entrepreneurship, and the future of the internet, solidifying his reputation as a thought leader and connecting with a broad audience interested in the intersection of technology and society.
AI investing has become the dominant theme in venture capital. In 2025, artificial intelligence startups attracted over 48% of all venture capital funding globally, a dramatic increase from just 15% five years earlier. This surge has been driven by breakthroughs in large language models, generative AI, and the rapid enterprise adoption of AI-powered tools.
The AI investor landscape spans a wide range — from dedicated AI funds like Sarah Guo's Conviction and Vinod Khosla's Khosla Ventures to mega-funds like SoftBank Vision Fund led by Masayoshi Son. Many of the most successful AI investors have deep technical backgrounds: Geoffrey Hinton is a pioneer of deep learning, Sam Altman leads OpenAI, and Jensen Huang built NVIDIA into the infrastructure backbone of the AI revolution.
Early-stage AI investors like Elad Gil have been particularly influential, having backed over 40 unicorns including OpenAI, Airbnb, and Stripe. These investors often serve as connectors between the research community, big tech companies, and the startup ecosystem, providing founders with not just capital but also talent pipelines and go-to-market expertise.
AI investors focus on different layers of the AI technology stack and application landscape. Here are the key investment themes driving capital allocation.
Investments in LLM development, GPU infrastructure, training optimization, and the core compute layer powering the AI revolution.
AI-native SaaS products, industry-specific AI solutions for healthcare, legal, finance, and other verticals transforming knowledge work.
Next-generation AI systems that can plan, reason, and take action autonomously — from coding agents to robotics and self-driving vehicles.
AI investors are inundated with pitches — the space is extremely competitive. To stand out, you need a clear technical moat and a compelling answer to the question: "Why can't OpenAI, Google, or an incumbent build this?"
Leading AI investors like Sarah Guo (Conviction) look for founders with deep technical expertise — ideally with research backgrounds from top AI labs, universities, or companies like Google DeepMind, Meta FAIR, or OpenAI. A published paper, open-source project, or demonstrated technical breakthrough can be more compelling than a polished pitch deck.
For infrastructure-layer startups, investors want to see unique approaches to the cost and performance challenges of AI: novel architectures, efficient training methods, or specialized hardware. For application-layer startups, the focus is on proprietary data advantages, strong distribution, and clear evidence that AI creates measurable value for customers.
Many AI investors are active on Twitter/X and publish research-driven content. Sriram Krishnan (a16z) and Elad Gil regularly share AI market analysis. Engaging with their content and attending AI-focused events like NeurIPS, ICML, or AI-specific VC summits can open doors to investor conversations.
AI seed rounds typically range from $3M–$10M, Series A from $15M–$40M, and later stages can reach hundreds of millions. Foundation model companies have raised billions, though application-layer AI startups raise more conventional amounts.
Among the most active are Sarah Guo (Conviction), Elad Gil (independent), Vinod Khosla (Khosla Ventures), Ali Yahya and Martin Casado (a16z), and institutional funds like Lightspeed, Sequoia, and Benchmark with dedicated AI practices.
No — while the foundation model layer is increasingly consolidated, the application layer, vertical AI, AI agents, and AI infrastructure are still wide open. Investors are actively seeking AI companies with clear differentiation and strong distribution strategies.
AI-native companies build AI as the core product (e.g., an AI coding assistant), while AI-enabled companies add AI features to existing products. Most AI investors prefer AI-native companies because they tend to have stronger technical moats and higher margins.
Discover profiles and contact information for leading angel investors worldwide. These investors back early-stage startups with personal capital, offering mentorship and strategic connections alongside funding.
a16z InvestorsAndreessen Horowitz (a16z) is one of Silicon Valley's most influential venture capital firms, founded in 2009 by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz. With over $42 billion in assets under management, a16z has backed transformative companies like Facebook, Airbnb, Coinbase, and GitHub. Their philosophy — "software is eating the world" — continues to drive investments across AI, crypto, bio, and enterprise software.
Y Combinator InvestorsY Combinator is the world's most prominent startup accelerator, having funded over 5,000 companies including Airbnb, Stripe, Dropbox, and Coinbase. Browse profiles of YC partners and investors who shape the next generation of startups.
Sequoia InvestorsSequoia Capital is one of the world's most storied venture capital firms, founded in 1972 by Don Valentine. Known for early investments in Apple, Google, YouTube, and WhatsApp, Sequoia manages a multi-stage, global fund structure across the US, Europe, India, and Southeast Asia.