Andrej Karpathy

Overview

Andrej Karpathy is a Slovak-Canadian AI researcher and angel investor known for his contributions to deep learning and computer vision. He co-founded OpenAI in 2015, where he served as a research scientist until 2017. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in developing foundational AI models and advancing the field of artificial intelligence. In 2017, Karpathy joined Tesla as the Senior Director of AI, leading the computer vision team for Tesla's Autopilot system. Under his leadership, Tesla's Autopilot vision team achieved significant advancements in autonomous driving technology. In 2024, Karpathy founded Eureka Labs, an AI education platform aimed at democratizing AI literacy through hands-on tools and globally accessible courses. The platform's first course, LLM101n: Let's Build A Storyteller, offers undergraduate-level technical education on training and developing AI models. As an angel investor, Karpathy has backed over 15 startups, focusing on companies that are rethinking fundamental assumptions about how software can work in an AI-first world. His investment philosophy emphasizes technical excellence, product-market fit, transformative potential, exceptional founders, continuous learning, and long-term vision. Notable investments include Lambda, a cloud-based development platform for AI agents, and Adept, a startup developing AI assistants capable of understanding and executing complex tasks. Karpathy's unique blend of technical expertise and strategic vision has made him a significant figure in both AI research and investment, contributing to the growth and development of the AI industry through his educational initiatives and support for innovative startups.

Investment Focus

• Exceptional technical teams
• Clear product vision
• Strong execution capabilities
• Deep understanding of user needs
• Commitment to building AI systems responsibly

Portfolio Companies