Mike Speiser, managing partner at Sutter Hill Ventures, is one of Silicon Valley’s most influential venture capitalists, known for backing category-defining enterprise software and infrastructure companies at their earliest stages. Since joining the storied firm in the late 1990s, Speiser has led or co-led investments in transformative businesses such as Snowflake, Pure Storage, and NVIDIA-backed platforms, helping founders scale from technical breakthroughs to global market leaders. Renowned for Sutter Hill’s concentrated, long-term approach, Speiser combines deep technical insight with board-level stewardship, making him a central figure in the evolution of modern enterprise technology.

Mike Bingle is a cofounder of Silver Lake, the technology-focused private equity firm that helped define large-scale investing in software, semiconductors, and digital infrastructure. In the firm’s early years, Bingle played a key role in shaping Silver Lake’s thesis-driven approach to backing category-defining technology companies, laying the groundwork for what would become one of the most powerful platforms in global private equity. Silver Lake’s model—deep sector expertise combined with long-term capital—went on to influence an entire generation of technology investors.

Miguel McKelvey, cofounder and former chief culture officer of WeWork, is the design-driven entrepreneur who helped redefine how a generation thinks about workspaces. Partnering with Adam Neumann, McKelvey translated architectural training and brand intuition into a global coworking phenomenon, shaping WeWork’s distinctive aesthetic, community ethos, and rapid international expansion. After stepping back from day-to-day operations, he has focused on new ventures at the intersection of design, culture, and entrepreneurship, continuing to influence how physical spaces support creativity, collaboration, and modern work.

Michael Rubin, founder and CEO of Fanatics, has transformed licensed sports merchandise into a data-driven global commerce and collectibles powerhouse, expanding into trading cards, sports betting, and live fan experiences. A serial entrepreneur who previously built and sold GSI Commerce to eBay, Rubin now sits at the center of the sports business ecosystem, leveraging deep league partnerships and technology to redefine how fans engage with teams and athletes. His high-profile leadership across commerce, culture, and philanthropy has made him one of the most influential figures in modern sports entrepreneurship.

Michael Rees, co-CEO of Blue Owl Capital, helped build one of the fastest-growing alternative asset managers by combining strategic credit, private equity, and direct lending platforms into a unified scale investment franchise. Since launching the firm’s predecessor units and ultimately merging with Owl Rock and Dyal Capital, Rees has expanded Blue Owl into a multibillion-dollar public powerhouse serving institutional clients worldwide. Known for disciplined capital deployment and tailored solutions across private markets, he has positioned Blue Owl as a leading voice in credit and private investing in the post-crisis era’s evolving financial ecosystem.

Michael Arougheti, cofounder and CEO of Ares Management, is one of the most influential figures in global alternative investing, having helped build Ares into a multi-hundred-billion-dollar asset management powerhouse. After beginning his career in leveraged finance at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, Arougheti cofounded Ares in 1997 with a focus on credit markets—long before private credit became a dominant asset class. Under his leadership, Ares expanded across private equity, real estate, infrastructure, and secondaries, establishing itself as a core capital partner to corporations and institutions worldwide. Known for his strategic foresight, disciplined risk management, and ability to scale complex investment platforms, Arougheti has been central to shaping the modern private credit and alternatives landscape.

Max Levchin, cofounder of PayPal and CEO of Affirm, is one of Silicon Valley’s most influential fintech architects, having helped define digital payments, online identity, and modern consumer credit. As PayPal’s original CTO, Levchin built the company’s core anti-fraud and risk systems, laying the groundwork for one of the internet’s most successful financial platforms. He later founded Affirm to reinvent consumer lending with transparent, installment-based payments that challenge traditional credit cards. A prolific angel investor and cofounder of the Founders Fund, Levchin has backed and shaped dozens of iconic tech companies, earning a reputation for deep technical rigor, product-driven leadership, and long-term conviction.

Matthew Roszak, cofounder and chairman of Tally Capital, is one of the earliest and most influential institutional investors in blockchain and digital assets. A former private equity executive, Roszak pivoted to crypto in the early 2010s, backing foundational projects such as Ethereum, Blockstack, and numerous Web3 infrastructure companies before the sector entered the mainstream. Beyond investing, he has played a key policy and advocacy role as chairman of the Chamber of Digital Commerce, helping shape regulatory dialogue around blockchain adoption in the United States. Known for his long-term conviction, ecosystem-level thinking, and bridge-building between technology and policy, Roszak remains a central figure in the maturation of the crypto economy.

Matthew Prince, cofounder and CEO of Cloudflare, is one of the most influential figures in modern internet infrastructure, building a company that now protects and accelerates a significant share of global web traffic. After cofounding Cloudflare in 2009, Prince led its transformation from a security startup into a critical platform providing content delivery, DDoS mitigation, zero-trust security, and edge computing services to millions of websites worldwide. Under his leadership, Cloudflare has become a publicly traded company trusted by governments, enterprises, and developers alike, known for its principled stance on internet resilience, free expression, and cybersecurity. Prince’s blend of technical insight, public advocacy, and long-term vision has positioned him as a central architect of the modern, secure internet.

Matthew Calkins, founder and CEO of Appian, built one of the most enduring low-code software companies by betting early on automation, workflow, and enterprise speed. Launching Appian in 1999, Calkins steered the company through multiple technology cycles, positioning it as a core platform for digital transformation across government and large enterprises. Under his leadership, Appian went public in 2017 and became a recognized leader in low-code development and process automation. Known for his long-term vision, intellectual rigor, and independent thinking, Calkins has maintained founder control while shaping how organizations build and deploy software at scale.

Markus Persson, known as “Notch,” is the creator of Minecraft, the best-selling video game of all time, which he developed as an independent project before it became a global cultural phenomenon. Launched in 2009, Minecraft’s open-ended, user-driven design attracted hundreds of millions of players and redefined sandbox gaming. In 2014, Persson sold Mojang, the studio behind Minecraft, to Microsoft for $2.5 billion, instantly making him one of the most successful game developers in history. Since then, he has remained largely outside the industry spotlight, becoming a symbol of the rare solo creator who built a generation-defining product.

Marcelo Claure, entrepreneur and investor, is best known for building Brightstar into one of the world’s largest wireless distribution companies and for his high-profile leadership roles in global telecommunications. After founding Brightstar in 1997, Claure expanded it into a multibillion-dollar enterprise operating in more than 50 countries, later selling a majority stake to SoftBank. He went on to serve as CEO of Sprint, where he led a multiyear turnaround, and later became chief operating officer of SoftBank Group, overseeing global investments across technology, telecom, and startups. Known for his intense execution style and dealmaking acumen, Claure remains a central figure in international business and private investment.

Marc Andreessen, cofounder of Netscape and venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, is one of Silicon Valley’s most influential architects, shaping both the early internet and the modern startup ecosystem. After creating Mosaic, the first widely adopted web browser, and helping launch Netscape, Andreessen turned to investing, backing industry-defining companies across software, crypto, AI, and consumer technology. Through Andreessen Horowitz, he helped institutionalize venture capital as a full-service platform, supporting founders with capital, talent, and strategic insight. Known for his bold technological manifestos and conviction in software’s transformative power, Andreessen remains a central voice in global innovation.

Kevin Plank, founder and executive chairman of Under Armour, transformed an idea born from sweat-soaked T-shirts into a global performance apparel brand that redefined athletic wear. Launching Under Armour in 1996 from his grandmother’s basement, he introduced moisture-wicking compression gear to football teams and quickly expanded the brand across professional sports, retail, and international markets. Plank led Under Armour through explosive growth, celebrity partnerships, and a high-profile IPO, while cultivating a bold, challenger culture. After stepping back from the CEO role, he remains the company’s strategic force and a major investor in real estate and hospitality through Sagamore Ventures.

Karthik Sarma, founder of SRS Investment Management, is the hedge fund manager who turned a concentrated activist position in Avis Budget Group into one of the most spectacular investment wins of the past decade. After founding SRS in 2006, the former Tiger Cub built a reputation for deep, research-driven conviction, long time horizons, and strategic influence behind the scenes. His most famous trade—SRS’s stake in Avis—generated multibillion-dollar gains as the company’s market value surged, making Sarma one of the top-earning hedge fund managers in America. Known for his low profile, analytical intensity, and disciplined patience, he has become a defining figure in modern activist investing.

Justin Ishbia, founder and managing partner of Shore Capital Partners, has built one of the fastest-growing private equity firms in the lower middle market, backing healthcare, business services, and food companies through a disciplined strategy of operational improvement and platform roll-ups. Under his leadership, Shore has completed hundreds of acquisitions and created scaled national platforms across dental, veterinary, behavioral health, and specialty manufacturing, while consistently generating strong returns. A former practicing attorney with a sharp eye for founder-led businesses, Ishbia is also a major investor in sports as co-owner of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury alongside his brother, Mat Ishbia. His combination of analytical rigor, deal intensity, and strategic focus has made him a rising force in private equity.

Joseph Bae, co-CEO of KKR, is one of the most powerful private equity leaders of his generation, having played a central role in transforming the firm from a classic buyout shop into a diversified global investment powerhouse. Joining KKR in 1996, he spearheaded the firm’s expansion across Asia—building its offices, teams, and flagship funds—before taking on broader leadership of global private equity, growth, credit, and infrastructure platforms. As co-CEO, Bae oversees hundreds of billions in assets and helps set the strategic direction of one of the world’s most influential alternative asset managers. Known for his global mindset, disciplined dealmaking, and talent-building leadership, he remains a defining voice in the evolution of modern private equity.

José E. Feliciano, cofounder and managing partner of Clearlake Capital, is one of the most influential private equity investors of his generation, helping build Clearlake into a top-tier global firm focused on technology, industrials, and consumer businesses. Since launching the firm in 2006 with Behdad Eghbali, Feliciano has overseen a disciplined strategy combining operational transformation with data-driven value creation, driving assets under management to well over $70 billion. A leader in expanding Latino representation in finance, he is also a major philanthropist through the SUPERB and Somos foundations, supporting education, entrepreneurship, and social mobility. Feliciano’s blend of investment rigor, cultural leadership, and long-horizon thinking has made him a defining force in modern private equity.

Jon Oringer, founder and executive chairman of Shutterstock, is one of the earliest pioneers of the digital content marketplace economy. In 2003, he launched Shutterstock as a one-man operation—personally shooting the site’s first 30,000 stock photos—before scaling it into a global platform offering millions of images, videos, and creative assets to customers in more than 150 countries. Oringer took Shutterstock public in 2012, becoming New York’s first tech billionaire, and has since focused on building Pareto Holdings, an investment firm backing early-stage startups in Miami and beyond. Known for his product intuition and bootstrap discipline, he remains a central figure in the evolution of digital media licensing.

Jonathan Gray, president and chief operating officer of Blackstone, is one of the most influential investors in modern finance, credited with building the firm’s real estate arm into the world’s largest private property platform. Joining Blackstone in 1992, he pioneered the company’s massive expansion into opportunistic real estate, logistics, hospitality, and large-scale global acquisitions, including the Hilton Hotels deal—one of the most profitable private equity investments in history. As COO, Gray now helps steer Blackstone’s multi-trillion-dollar asset management strategy across private equity, credit, infrastructure, and insurance. Known for his analytical discipline, bold dealmaking, and philanthropic leadership in cancer research, Gray is a central architect of the firm’s rise to global dominance.