Vinod Khosla
InvestorFounderFounder at Khosla Ventures · Founder of Khosla Ventures; Co-founder of Sun Microsystems at Surge · Board director at Ghost Locomotion · Founder, Khosla Ventures and Co-Founder, Sun Microsystems at AliveCor · Board director at Glydways
Menlo Park, CA
Writes $500K – $50M checks · typically $25M
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About
Vinod Khosla co-founded Sun Microsystems, spent 18 years at Kleiner Perkins, and started Khosla Ventures in 2004 to back what he calls high-risk, high-consequence technology bets. His firm was the first venture investor in OpenAI, a position that put him at No. 1 on the 2026 Forbes Midas List. He is a longtime advocate for technology-driven solutions in climate, healthcare, and AI.
Invests in
AI & Machine LearningBiotechCleantechClimate TechCybersecurityEnterprise SoftwareFoodTechHealthtech
Beyond investing
- Founded
- Khosla co-founded Sun Microsystems in 1982. Khosla founded Khosla Ventures in 2004. Khosla attempted to start a soy milk company in India in 1975 to provide a milk alternative for households without refrigeration.
- Education
- Studied at Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (BTech, Electrical Engineering, 1976) Studied at Carnegie Mellon University (MS, Biomedical Engineering) Studied at Stanford University (MBA, 1980) Studied at Mount St Mary's School
- Charities
- Khosla was an early signatory to the Giving Pledge.
- Awards
- Khosla received the Champions of the Earth award. Khosla received the Great Immigrants Award. Khosla was ranked No. 10 on the 2026 Forbes 250 list of America's Greatest Innovators. Khosla was ranked 14th on Forbes' inaugural 2026 '250: America's Most Successful Living Immigrants' list. Red Herring called Khosla 'The No. 1 VC on the Planet' in 2001.
- Family
- Khosla married Neeru Khosla in 1980 and they have four children. Khosla was born in Pune to a Punjabi Indian family; his father was an officer in the Indian Army.
- More
- Khosla entered into a binding agreement to purchase the Seattle Seahawks as of July 11, 2026. Khosla became interested in entrepreneurship after reading about the founding of Intel as a teenager.
Mentioned above: the Khosla Ventures mafia →
From Vinod's own website — common ground for a warm intro.
Board director at Ghost Locomotion
Intro paths
In turn, Vinod can intro founders to Ghost Locomotion's investors below.
Ghost Locomotion's investors · 1
Co-founders at Ghost Locomotion
Founder, Khosla Ventures and Co-Founder, Sun Microsystems at AliveCor
Intro paths
In turn, Vinod can intro founders to AliveCor's investors below.
AliveCor's investors · 4
Co-founders at AliveCor
Board director at Glydways
Intro paths
In turn, Vinod can intro founders to Glydways's investors below.
Glydways's investors · 5
Co-founders at Glydways
Deals · 1
Ghost LocomotionBoard seat
via Khosla Ventures · filed Mar 2023 · $50M raise
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Other disclosed investments
Led
Investor
Cerent CorporationCommonwealth Fusion SystemsExciteGo CorporationImpossible FoodsJuniperJuniper NetworksNexgenOpenAISiara
Sources: the firm's website · SEC Form D filings · curated public sources.
Podcasts & interviews
featuring Vinod KhoslaAll-In Summit: In conversation with Vinod Khosla
All-In Podcast
Vinod Khosla and Keith Rabois on Building and Investing in Enduring Companies | Ep. 40
Uncapped with Jack Altman
Nikhil Kamath x Vinod Khosla, Iconic Silicon Valley VC | People by WTF | Ep. 12 Trailer
Nikhil Kamath
Vinod Khosla Predicting the Future | Ep. 15
Uncapped with Jack Altman
Colleagues at Khosla Ventures
Network10
Investors connected to Vinod in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Vinod Khosla?
- Vinod Khosla co-founded Sun Microsystems, spent 18 years at Kleiner Perkins, and started Khosla Ventures in 2004 to back what he calls high-risk, high-consequence technology bets. His firm was the first venture investor in OpenAI, a position that put him at No. 1 on the 2026 Forbes Midas List. He is a longtime advocate for technology-driven solutions in climate, healthcare, and AI.
- Where does Vinod Khosla work?
- Vinod Khosla is Founder at Khosla Ventures and Board director at Ghost Locomotion and Founder, Khosla Ventures and Co-Founder, Sun Microsystems at AliveCor and Board director at Glydways.
- What does Vinod Khosla invest in?
- Vinod Khosla invests in AI & Machine Learning, Biotech, Cleantech, Climate Tech, Cybersecurity, Enterprise Software, FoodTech, Healthtech.
- What check size does Vinod Khosla write?
- Vinod Khosla typically writes checks of $500K – $50M.
- What boards does Vinod Khosla sit on?
- Vinod Khosla holds tracked board seats at Ghost Locomotion.
- What companies has Vinod Khosla invested in?
- Investments tracked here include OpenAI, Cerent Corporation, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Excite, Go Corporation, Impossible Foods, Juniper, Juniper Networks, Nexgen, OpenAI, Siara.
- What awards has Vinod Khosla received?
- Khosla received the Champions of the Earth award. Khosla received the Great Immigrants Award. Khosla was ranked No. 10 on the 2026 Forbes 250 list of America's Greatest Innovators. Khosla was ranked 14th on Forbes' inaugural 2026 '250: America's Most Successful Living Immigrants' list. Red Herring called Khosla 'The No. 1 VC on the Planet' in 2001.
- Does Vinod Khosla lead rounds?
- Yes — Vinod Khosla has led 1 tracked investment.
Paths to reach Vinod
People who overlapped with Vinod at the same organization — a shared school or employer with one of them is a warm way in.
Together at Khosla VenturesVinod: Founder
Together at Ghost LocomotionVinod: Director
Together at SurgeVinod: Founder of Khosla Ventures; Co-founder of Sun Microsystems
Together at GlydwaysVinod: Director
Together at AliveCorVinod: Founder, Khosla Ventures and Co-Founder, Sun Microsystems
Founder mafias
Khosla Ventures mafia14
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
+ 7 more
Ghost Locomotion mafia2
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Surge mafia2
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
