# Naveen Rao: CEO, Nervana Systems

Canonical ID: `0cab5c1c-9d7f-4a69-9309-e5b41e25d2e2`

Neuroscientist-turned-entrepreneur who co-founded [Nervana Systems](/companies/nervana-systems) in 2014 to build AI-optimized hardware and software. After Intel acquired Nervana for ~$408M in 2016, Rao led Intel's AI Products Group as VP & GM until 2020. He then co-founded MosaicML, a generative-AI training platform acquired by Databricks for ~$1.3B in 2023, where he served as VP of Generative AI until 2025. He now leads Unconventional AI.

- **Nationality:** American
- **Verification posture:** verified

## Former / Previously (3)

- [Nervana Systems](https://registry.deploy.report/companies/nervana-systems.md) CEO & Co-founder (? to 2016-08-09) (secondary-verified)
- [Nervana Systems](https://registry.deploy.report/companies/nervana-systems.md) Co-founder (? to 2016-08-09) (secondary-verified)
- [Intel Corporation](https://registry.deploy.report/companies/intel.md) VP & GM, AI Products Group (? to 2020-02-01) (secondary-verified)

## Sources (3)

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nervana_Systems
2. https://techcrunch.com/author/naveen-rao/
3. https://www.crn.com/news/components-peripherals/top-intel-ai-exec-naveen-rao-departs-after-nervana-pivot


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