Michal Valko
InvestorVenture Partner at KAYA · Venture Partner at Formula VC
Greater Paris Metropolitan Region
About
Michal Valko is a founding researcher at Isara Labs and a tenured researcher at Inria, where he also serves as a lecturer in the MVA master's program at ENS Paris-Saclay. His research focuses on algorithms requiring minimal human supervision, including deep reinforcement learning, bandit algorithms, and self-supervised learning, with recent work on representation learning and large language model fine-tuning and alignment. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh and has previously contributed to establishing Google DeepMind Paris alongside Rémi Munos.
Experience
- Isara LabsFounding Researchercurrent2025 — presentParis, Île-de-France, France
- InriaTenured Senior Scientistcurrent2013 — presentParis, Île-de-France, France
- InriaTenured Junior Scientist2012 — 2013Greater Lille Metropolitan Area
- InriaPostdoctoral Researcher2011 — 2012Greater Lille Metropolitan Area
- École normale supérieure Paris-SaclayExternal Lecturer (CEV)current2013 — presentFrance
- MetaPrincipal Llama Scientist2024Paris, Île-de-France, France
- Google DeepMindSenior Staff Research Scientist2021 — 2024Greater Paris Metropolitan Region
- Google DeepMindStaff Research Scientist2019 — 2021Greater Paris Metropolitan Region
- University of PittsburghResearch Assistant2006 — 2011Greater Pittsburgh Region
- University of PittsburghTeaching Assistant2005
- IntelGraduate Research Intern2010
- IntelIntel Research Grad Intern2009
- Slovak Academy of SciencesResearch Assistant2003 — 2006
Education
- University of PittsburghPhD., Machine Learning2005 — 2011
- ENS Paris-SaclayHabilitation à Diriger des Recherches (HdR), Bandit theory2015 — 2016
- Universidade Nova de LisboaErasmus Exchange, Machine Learning2005
- Univerzita Komenského v BratislaveMSc., Computer Science2000 — 2005
- Alejová High SchoolGymnasium Diploma, Mathematics1992 — 2000
- Carnegie Mellon UniversityVisiting Student (Cross-registered from University of Pittsburgh), Machine Learning2007 — 2009
Skills & more
Social Network Analysis1Bayesian OptimizationGame TheoryLarge Language Models (LLM)Deep LearningMachine Learning99Artificial Intelligence18Algorithms70Pattern Recognition37Computer Science22Graph Theory4Programming35
+12 more
Data MiningStatisticsApplied MathematicsResearchMathematicsStatistical ModelingAnomaly DetectionBioinformaticsLaTeXC++CSQLLanguages Czech · English · French · Portuguese · Slovak
From Michal's professional profile.
Same school
Also attended ENS Paris-Saclay3
Also attended Universidade Nova de Lisboa28
Pedro Ribeiro SantosManaging Partner at Armilar Venture PartnersPaulo RosadoSenior Advisor at Armilar Venture PartnersRicardo JacintoManaging Partner at Shilling VCDaniel NascimentoPrincipal at Semapa NextRoberto BrancoCo-Founder and CEO at Beta CapitalHeitor BenfeitoManaging Director at Critical Ventures
+ 22 more
Also attended Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave6
Kristina VulganCo-Founder & Managing Partner at Ferocity CapitalAndy TothVenture Partner, Berlin at Scale CapitalSimon BecicaFund Operations Director at 3TS Capital PartnersKatarina HudakovaFinancial Manager at 3TS Capital PartnersRadoslav TausingerPartner at CVI Dom Maklerski sp. z o.oTomáš VyšnýInvestor at 365.fintech
Also attended Carnegie Mellon University209
Javier SolteroSenior Venture Partner at Felicis VenturesAvi BharadwajInvestment Director at Intel CapitalTejAdvisor at Clear VenturesOren EtzioniVenture Partner at Madrona Venture GroupDiana HuGeneral Partner at Y CombinatorVlad LoktevInvestor at Index Ventures
+ 203 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Inria8
Sandeep BhadraGeneral Partner at Vertex VenturesKathy PhamInvestor at Blue Tulip VenturesJean KrivineInvestor at ATKAProf. Sandeep ShuklaProfessor & Director, IIIT Hyderabad at T-HubLaurent KottVenture Partner at ElaiaGemma GarrigaInvestor at AV8 Ventures
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+ 2 more
Also worked at École normale supérieure Paris-Saclay1
Also worked at Meta123
TinaInvestments & Portfolio Services Team Member at Clear VenturesMike ArpaiaComputer scientist working on machine learning and data infrastructureKevin ColleranManaging Director at Slow VenturesJon ChuInvestor at Khosla VenturesRyan ScottInvestor at Khosla VenturesDavid YangPartner at Lux Capital
+ 117 more
Also worked at Google DeepMind24
Jeff RoseAdvisor at AI CapitalVishal MainiFounder & Managing Partner at Mythos Ventures Management, LlcChris WatkinsHead of Data & Analytics at Asymmetric Capital PartnersBeliz GunelExperts | Advisor at 212Steve CrossanVenture Partner at firstminute capitalRoy TimorPrincipal AI Engineering Manager at 25Madison
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+ 18 more
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