Irfan Ahmad
InvestorInvestor at DCVC (Data Collective)
San Francisco Bay Area
Writes $5M – $25M checks · typically $15M
Find your path to Irfan
320 people in our graph share verified history with Irfan — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Javier SolterounlockedIrfan: together at VMware (2009–2011)
×6Irfan: together at VMware
Irfan: together at University of Waterloo
×3Irfan: together at Autodesk
About
Irfan Ahmad is founder of CloudPhysics, a SaaS IT Operations Analytics company backed by Kleiner Perkins and Mayfield Fund, and currently serves as Chairman at MagnitionIO. He is an equity partner at DCVC and early-stage investor who has developed a startup strategy approach called Validation Hacking. Ahmad previously spent nine years at VMware as tech lead for the DRS product suite and has held engineering roles at Transmeta, Autodesk, and Toronto Stock Exchange; he holds over 40 patents and has published peer-reviewed research papers.
Experience
- MagnitionIOChairmancurrent2017 — presentGlobal
- Halo RadiusChairmancurrent2017 — presentGlobal
- GTM DeltaChairmancurrent2023 — presentGlobal
- DCVC (Data Collective)Equity Partnercurrent2012 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- VariousInvestor, Advisorcurrent2011 — present
- CloudPhysicsFounder, CTO, Board Director2011 — 2016
- VMwareTech Lead, DRS Product Portfolio2002 — 2011Palo Alto, CA
- TransmetaSoftware Engineer2000 — 2002San Francisco Bay Area
- Autodesk CanadaEngineer1999
- Toronto Stock ExchangeEngineering Intern1998
Skills & more
Play Framework25Scala45C86Storage
From Irfan's professional profile.
Colleagues at DCVC (Data Collective)
Alan Cohen
General Partner at DCVC (Data Collective)
Ali Tamaseb
General Partner at DCVC (Data Collective)
Allyson Kaufman
Investor Relations Partner at DCVC (Data Collective)
Anna Fokina
Investment Director DCVC Bio at DCVC (Data Collective)
Cara Yesko
Associate at DCVC (Data Collective)
Chris Boshuizen
Partner at DCVC (Data Collective)
Christopher Meldrum
Entrepreneur In Residence, DCVC Bio at DCVC Bio
Clay Hutmacher
Operating Partner at DCVC (Data Collective)
Network5
Alan Cohen
General Partner at DCVC (Data Collective)
Ali Tamaseb
General Partner at DCVC (Data Collective)
Anna Fokina
Investment Director DCVC Bio at DCVC (Data Collective)
Chris Boshuizen
Partner at DCVC (Data Collective)
Eric Shiozaki, PhD
Partner at Revelation Partners
Investors connected to Irfan in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Irfan Ahmad?
- Irfan Ahmad is founder of CloudPhysics, a SaaS IT Operations Analytics company backed by Kleiner Perkins and Mayfield Fund, and currently serves as Chairman at MagnitionIO. He is an equity partner at DCVC and early-stage investor who has developed a startup strategy approach called Validation Hacking. Ahmad previously spent nine years at VMware as tech lead for the DRS product suite and has held engineering roles at Transmeta, Autodesk, and Toronto Stock Exchange; he holds over 40 patents and has published peer-reviewed research papers.
- Where does Irfan Ahmad work?
- Irfan Ahmad is Investor at DCVC (Data Collective).
- What check size does Irfan Ahmad write?
- Irfan Ahmad typically writes checks of $5M – $25M.
- Where did Irfan Ahmad go to school?
- Irfan Ahmad studied at University of Waterloo (Bachelor's degree, Mathematics and Computer Science); Barton Secondary.
Founder mafias
University of Waterloo mafia346
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Chamath PalihapitiyaB.A.Sc.Founded 8090Apoorva MehtaBAScFounded InstacartJon LernerBachelor of Applied ScienceFounded Textnow +2Michael LittBASc. Honours Systems Design EngineeringFounded Garage Capital +1Mike McCauleyBAScFounded Garage Capital +1Zach WaterfieldComputer EngineeringFounded Zettlor +1
+ 339 more
Autodesk mafia55
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Darius "Bubs" MonsefSenior Manager of Platform, Autodesk Consumer GroupFounded Sightbox +3Nate MitchellSenior Software EngineerFounded Mountaintop Studios +1Shail KhiyaraSr. DirectorFounded Plutoshift AI +1Michael AntonovSenior Software ArchitectFounded Deep Origin +1Ralph GooteeChief Software ArchitectFounded TigerEye +1Saaras MehanSoftware Engineer (Autodesk Research)Founded Kular +1
+ 48 more
DCVC (Data Collective) mafia9
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Matt OckoFounder and Managing PartnerFounded DcvcJason PontinGeneral PartnerFounded Totus MedicinesDr. Gloria LauEquity PartnerFounded AlphaJohn BlumenthalInvestorFounded CloudPhysicsChris BoshuizenPartnerFounded Planet LabsMichael DriscollPartnerFounded Rill Data
+ 2 more
Same school
Also attended University of Waterloo541
Chamath PalihapitiyaFounder & CEO of Social CapitalApoorva MehtaFounder of Instacart; founder of Cloud Health SystemsAchintya ChaudhariInvestor at LightbankKarim GillaniGeneral Partner at Luge CapitalRohan MongaInvestment Associate at Luge CapitalAndrew MiklasGeneral Partner at Y Combinator
+ 535 more
Shared employers
Also worked at MagnitionIO1
Also worked at CloudPhysics1
Also worked at VMware196
Martin CasadoGeneral Partner at Andreessen HorowitzMichael DellFounder & CEO of Dell TechnologiesJavier SolteroSenior Venture Partner at Felicis VenturesJob SimonVenture Partner and CTO at Monta Vista CapitalHemamAdvisor at Clear VenturesBogomil BalkanskyHome chef and food blogger, venture capital partner, and wildlife photographer
+ 190 more
