Aravind Srinivas: From IIT Madras And OpenAI Researcher to AI Mogul and Perplexity Co-Founder

Electrical Engineering At IIT Madras: Aravind Srinivas began his academic journey in electrical engineering at IIT Madras between 2013 and 2017. His undergraduate education provided a strong technical foundation before he moved into computer science and artificial intelligence research. The experience at one of India’s leading engineering institutions marked the beginning of a career that would later span global technology companies, advanced AI research and entrepreneurship.

PhD In Computer Science At Berkeley: After completing his engineering degree, Srinivas pursued a PhD in computer science at the University of California, Berkeley. His doctoral studies strengthened his expertise in computing, machine learning and artificial intelligence research. The Berkeley experience also placed him within a major global academic ecosystem, helping him develop the technical knowledge and research perspective that later became important during his work with leading AI organisations.

Research Experience At DeepMind: In 2019, Srinivas worked as a research intern at DeepMind, gaining exposure to advanced artificial intelligence research. The experience provided an opportunity to work within one of the world’s best-known AI research organisations. This stage represented an important transition from academic learning to practical research, allowing him to deepen his understanding of machine learning while working alongside researchers focused on developing cutting-edge artificial intelligence systems.

Research Experience At Google: Srinivas continued developing his research experience through a role at Google between 2020 and 2021. Working within the technology giant gave him exposure to large-scale research and engineering environments. His experience at Google complemented his academic background and previous work at DeepMind, strengthening the technical foundation that would eventually support his transition into entrepreneurship and help him build an AI-focused company.

OpenAI Research Scientist: Between 2021 and 2022, Srinivas worked as a research scientist at OpenAI. His role placed him at the forefront of rapidly developing artificial intelligence technologies and research. The experience added another major chapter to his technical career, following his academic work and research roles at DeepMind and Google. It also preceded his move toward entrepreneurship and the eventual creation of Perplexity.

Co-Founding Perplexity: In 2022, Srinivas co-founded Perplexity, an AI-powered search platform designed to provide users with direct answers and information. The company quickly gained attention as generative AI transformed the search landscape. By 2024, the infographic showed Perplexity reaching a $1 billion valuation, followed by an $18 billion valuation in June 2025, highlighting its rapid growth and investor interest.

AI Investments And Growing Wealth: Beyond Perplexity, Srinivas has also become an angel investor in AI companies including Cursor, ElevenLabs, Pika Labs and Suno. The infographic reports a net worth exceeding ₹270 crore, alongside 15 million monthly active users and $148 million in annual recurring revenue for Perplexity. These figures highlight the scale of his entrepreneurial journey and growing influence across the artificial intelligence ecosystem.

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