Ali Partovi, a renowned technology influencer and esteemed member of the Seed 100 list in 2024, has debuted a unique venture capital initiative. The fund aims to nurture a new generation of computer science luminaries in North America.
Partovi’s journey ignited in the 1980s amidst the Iran-Iraq war and a personal passion for computer science. Emigrating to the United States in 1990, he earned a scholarship from Harvard University. In the mid-1990s, Partovi co-founded LinkExchange, an internet advertising giant.
In the early 2000s, Partovi initiated two successful startups: iLike, a social music discovery platform, and Code.org, an educational non-profit dedicated to introducing computer science to the masses. These ventures amplified his status as a leading tech influencer.
In 2024, Partovi established a venture capital fund to support and mentor emergent computer science scholars financially. The venture reflects Partovi’s commitment to cultivating future innovators and leaders in the tech industry who can contribute to North America’s tech supremacy.
His early coding experiences in Tehran during a turbulent period in Iran’s history laid the foundation for his career in computer science.
Partovi’s fund to cultivate tech talents
His father, the founder of the esteemed Sharif University of Technology, recognized the transformative potential of technology and guided Partovi and his twin brother Hadi to coding on a Commodore 64 computer, a rarity at that time in Iran.
Partovi developed an advocacy for education, mentorship, and continual learning, all values inherited from his father. He found tranquility in code lines amidst social upheavals, a testament to his indomitable spirit and thirst for knowledge.
Upon moving to the U.S. in 1984 with dual degrees in computer science from Harvard, Partovi embarked on a successful venture that resulted in a $265 million exit. Contributing significantly to leading firms Facebook, Airbnb, and Uber, he has now set his sights on a novel project named Neo.
Neo, established in 2017, stands apart from standard venture funds and acts as a learning institution. It aims to nurture budding computer science talents and provide them unparalleled access to Silicon Valley’s enigmatic minds. Strategic early investments in dynamic companies like Ramp, Vanta, and MosaicML underline Neo’s acumen for potential growth.
Partovi envisions Neo as an educational institution akin to Sharif University. His belief in fostering a vibrant community for top computer science students in North America resonates with his own journey, from honing programming skills amidst warfare to morphing into a leading figure in tech entrepreneurship. His story exemplifies the profound influence of education and mentorship.
