Sven Strohband
InvestorFounderManaging Director at Khosla Ventures · Board director at AIM Intelligent Machines · Board director at Zendar · Board director at Compound Eye, Inc.
Mountain View, California
Writes $500K – $50M checks · typically $25M
About
Sven Strohband is a rare VC technical lead—Stanford Stanley's lead engineer on the winning 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge—offering deep robotics/autonomy expertise and CTO-style help on architecture and simulation frameworks.
Invests in
AI & Machine LearningBiotechCleantechClimate TechDeep TechEnterprise SoftwareHealthtechRobotics
Beyond investing
- Founded
- Strohband co-founded and was CEO of the AI company Metamind, which became a key component of Salesforce's Einstein AI product.
- Education
- Studied at Purdue University (BS, Mechanical Engineering) Studied at Stanford University (PhD, Mechanics and Computation)
- Communities
- Strohband regularly serves as a mentor for Stanford's E245 'Lean Launchpad' class.
- Hobbies
- In his spare time Strohband enjoys teaching his kids to code, flying autonomous drones and cycling.
- Family
- Strohband teaches his kids to code in his spare time.
- More
- Strohband was lead engineer and project lead for Stanford's autonomous car Stanley, which won the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge and is now displayed at the Smithsonian Museum. During his PhD, funded by IBM and Intel, Strohband researched the simulation of failure in semiconductor structures using high-performance computing clusters. Strohband served as system administrator for Purdue's mechanical engineering department computer network to finance his studies.
From Sven's own website — common ground for a warm intro.
Board director at AIM Intelligent Machines
Intro paths
In turn, Sven can intro founders to AIM Intelligent Machines's investors below.
AIM Intelligent Machines's investors · 2
Board director at ZendarYC S17
Intro paths
Sven went through Y Combinator (Summer 2017) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
In turn, Sven can intro founders to Zendar's investors below.
Zendar's investors · 6
Co-founders at Zendar
Board director at Compound Eye, Inc.
Intro paths
In turn, Sven can intro founders to Compound Eye, Inc.'s investors below.
Compound Eye, Inc.'s investors · 4
Co-founders at Compound Eye, Inc.
Experience
- Khosla VenturesManaging Directorcurrent2018 — present
- Khosla VenturesPartner, CTO2012 — 2018
- MetaMindCEO2014 — 2015Palo Alto
- Mohr Davidow VenturesPartner, CTO2010 — 2012
- Mohr Davidow VenturesPartner2006 — 2010
- Stanford UniversityLead Engineer Stanford Racing Team2005 — 2006
- Volkswagen of AmericaSenior Engineer2003 — 2006
Education
- Stanford UniversityDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Mechanics & Computation1998 — 2003
- Purdue UniversityBachelor of Science (BS)
Skills & more
Languages French · German · Spanish
From Sven's professional profile.
Deals · 7
Compound Eye, Inc.Board seat
via Khosla Ventures · filed May 2025 · $13M raise
AIM Intelligent MachinesBoard seat
via Khosla Ventures · filed Jan 2025 · $41.1M raise
Adyton PBCBoard seat
via Khosla Ventures · filed May 2022 · $12M raise
ZendarBoard seat
via Khosla Ventures · filed Mar 2019 · $10.9M raise
Alveo EnergyBoard seat
via Khosla Ventures · filed Nov 2017 · $12M raise
Momentum MachinesBoard seat
via Khosla Ventures · filed Jun 2017 · $21.8M raise
Rocket LabLed round
via Khosla Ventures
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Other disclosed investments
Led
Berkshire GreyGitLabHermeus
Board seats
Sources: the firm's website · SEC Form D filings.
Colleagues at Khosla Ventures
Network1
Investors connected to Sven in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Sven Strohband?
- Sven Strohband is a rare VC technical lead—Stanford Stanley's lead engineer on the winning 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge—offering deep robotics/autonomy expertise and CTO-style help on architecture and simulation frameworks.
- Where does Sven Strohband work?
- Sven Strohband is Managing Director at Khosla Ventures and Board director at AIM Intelligent Machines and Board director at Zendar and Board director at Compound Eye, Inc..
- What does Sven Strohband invest in?
- Sven Strohband invests in AI & Machine Learning, Biotech, Cleantech, Climate Tech, Deep Tech, Enterprise Software, Healthtech, Robotics.
- What check size does Sven Strohband write?
- Sven Strohband typically writes checks of $500K – $50M.
- What boards does Sven Strohband sit on?
- Sven Strohband holds tracked board seats at Adyton PBC, AIM Intelligent Machines, Alveo Energy, Alveo Energy, Compound Eye, Inc., Hermeus Mach 5 engine, Momentum Machines, Opentrons, ThoughtSpot, ThoughtSpot.
- What companies has Sven Strohband invested in?
- Investments tracked here include Berkshire Grey, GitLab, Hermeus, Rocket Lab.
- Where did Sven Strohband go to school?
- Sven Strohband studied at Stanford University (Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Mechanics & Computation); Purdue University (Bachelor of Science (BS)).
- Does Sven Strohband lead rounds?
- Yes — Sven Strohband has led 4 tracked investments.
Same school
Also attended Stanford University2,000
+ 1,994 more
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Shared employers
Also worked at Khosla Ventures83
+ 77 more
Also worked at Mohr Davidow Ventures24
+ 18 more
Also worked at Stanford University668
+ 662 more
Also worked at Volkswagen of America8
+ 2 more