Latest news with #Cascade
Business Wire
24-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Cascade Space Announces $5.9M Seed Funding to Build End-To-End Space Communication Platform
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cascade Space, the platform for end-to-end communication system design, test, and operation, today announced that it has raised $5.9 million in seed funding. The round included participation from Nova Threshold, Undeterred Capital, Y Combinator, Night Capital, Olive Capital, Valkyrie Ventures, Karman Ventures, Palm Drive Capital, Garage Capital, TRAC, Aurelia Foundry, Hawktail, Pioneer Fund, Liquid 2 Ventures, and others. Cascade Space is building tools to accelerate communication system design and test Share The funding will accelerate the development of the Cascade Portal, a platform for satellite communication system design. Cascade recently released the spacelink Python library open-source. This library contains functions for communication system analysis that is used in the Cascade Portal implementation. 'Our mission at Cascade Space is to provide tools and infrastructure for spacecraft communication system design, test, and operations that will allow our customers to ship faster with the highest levels of mission assurance,' said Jacob Portukalian, co-founder and CEO of Cascade. 'Communication system design, test, and operation is a major bottleneck for space companies, especially those going to lunar and deep space. We have a team of veteran space engineers from SpaceX and Astra and we are stoked to be building the end-to-end platform to accelerate space exploration.' About Cascade Space: Cascade Space is a space communication system company. Founded in 2025, Cascade Space is building the platform for design, test, and operation for space communication systems. For more information, visit
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Who is Varun Mohan? Indian-origin CEO of Windsurf faces backlash after quitting startup for Google, derailing $3B OpenAI deal
Varun Mohan, a rising star in Silicon Valley and co-founder of AI startup Windsurf, is under fire after abruptly quitting to join Google 's DeepMind, effectively tanking a $3 billion acquisition deal with OpenAI . The move triggered widespread criticism from investors, industry peers, and the public, with some branding Mohan a 'generational villain' for leaving his team behind during a crucial transition. While Windsurf was later rescued in a last-minute deal by Cognition, the controversy has cast a long shadow over Mohan's once-admired career. But who is the man at the center of this high-stakes tech saga? Varun Mohan: Windsurf Co-founder with Indian roots Varun Mohan was born and raised in Sunnyvale, California, to Indian immigrant parents. While the specific region in India remains undisclosed, his upbringing was defined by a blend of Indian cultural values and the American spirit of innovation. Encouraged to excel academically, Mohan showed an early aptitude for mathematics and computer science, regularly winning accolades in national Olympiads and competitions. Mohan's academic journey led him to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he pursued a rare dual-degree program. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo He completed a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS). He specialized in areas like operating systems, machine learning, distributed computing, and algorithms, laying the groundwork for his future in AI infrastructure and developer tools. During his time at MIT, Mohan built his technical foundation with internships at major tech firms and research institutions, including Quora, LinkedIn, Samsung, Cloudera, and UC Santa Cruz. After graduating, he joined the self-driving startup Nuro, where he quickly rose to the role of Lead Software Engineer. These experiences gave him hands-on exposure to complex AI systems and real-world applications of machine learning. Co-founding Windsurf: Building an AI-native IDE In 2021, Mohan co-founded Codeium, which was later rebranded as Windsurf, along with MIT classmate Douglas Chen. The company initially focused on GPU virtualization for deep learning but later pivoted to create Cascade, an AI-powered integrated development environment (IDE). The tool allowed developers to write, test, and refactor code with AI support, onboarding over a million users within just four months. Windsurf raised $243 million in funding and reached a $1.25 billion valuation, becoming one of the fastest-growing AI unicorns in the United States. Fallout from the Google move In 2025, OpenAI was reportedly in advanced talks to acquire Windsurf for $3 billion. But just as the deal neared completion, Mohan and Chen resigned and licensed Windsurf's technology to Google in a $2.4 billion agreement. Mohan then joined Google DeepMind, taking key team members with him. The sudden departure left Windsurf in crisis and eventually prompted a weekend-long rescue operation by AI firm Cognition. The move sparked outrage across the tech world. Backlash from investors and the public The fallout was swift and public. Venture capitalist Vinod Khosla criticized Mohan for abandoning his team, while Cognition CEO Scott Wu called the exit a betrayal of founder responsibility. On social media, users accused Mohan of prioritizing personal gain over team loyalty. One post read, 'Founders cashing out while the team's left behind isn't just bad form. It's long-term reputation damage.' Another user bluntly called him a 'generational villain. ' Despite the backlash, Mohan's contributions to AI-powered developer tools remain significant. He is widely regarded as a pioneer in agentic IDEs, which are tools that integrate AI into the entire coding process, and an influential figure in Silicon Valley's AI evolution. Now at Google DeepMind, he continues to shape the future of AI-driven software development, although under the shadow of one of the year's most controversial exits.
Economic Times
19-07-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
From intern to ₹2,00,00,00,00,000: How a 28-yr-old techie who interned for 4 years triggered a Google-OpenAI war
Synopsis From interning at five tech firms during college to building a billion-dollar AI startup, 28-year-old Varun Mohan's journey triggered a ₹20,400 crore deal with Google after he rejected OpenAI's ₹25,500 crore offer. His voice-based coding tool, Cascade, sparked a high-stakes rivalry between Google and OpenAI, making him one of the youngest and richest immigrant tech founders today. Varun Mohan Windsurf A 28-year-old Indian-American techie, Varun Mohan, has signed a ₹20,400 crore ($2.4 billion) deal with Google DeepMind after rejecting OpenAI's ₹25,500 crore ($3 billion) offer. The deal sparked a fresh wave of rivalry between the two AI giants and has placed Mohan among the richest immigrant entrepreneurs in the Mohan, born to Indian immigrants in Sunnyvale, California, interned at eight companies -- Quora, LinkedIn, Samsung, Cloudian, and Databricks -- while studying at MIT. These four years of hands-on experience in machine learning, cloud systems, and infrastructure helped him build a strong technical base before he entered the startup space. After graduation, he joined the autonomous vehicle startup Nuro, where he rose to the position of Lead Software 2021, Varun Mohan co-founded Windsurf with his MIT batchmate Douglas Chen. Their company launched Cascade, an AI-native coding platform that allows developers to write and test code by simply speaking to the gained rapid adoption, with over a million developers using it within months. Windsurf raised $240 million and reached a valuation of $1.25 billion. It was later named among Forbes' top 50 AI companies globally. Google and OpenAI were both interested in acquiring Varun Mohan's startup, Windsurf, because of its breakthrough product, Cascade—an AI-native coding environment that allows developers to write, test, and refactor code using natural language. The tool had gained rapid adoption among developers and posed a potential shift in how software is built, making it a strategic asset in the race for dominance in agentic coding and AI-assisted development. OpenAI was close to acquiring Windsurf for $3 billion. However, its primary investor, Microsoft, raised concerns over possible overlaps with GitHub Copilot. As a result, the deal stalled midway. Varun Mohan then accepted Google's $2.4 billion offer. The agreement is not an acquisition. It is a licensing and talent deal, which gives Google DeepMind non-exclusive rights to key Windsurf technologies. Windsurf continues to function as an independent company and can license its tools to other the deal, Mohan, Chen, and a select group from Windsurf's R&D team have joined Google DeepMind to work on agentic coding projects and integrate their systems with Google's Gemini the deal, Forbes added Varun Mohan and Douglas Chen to its 2025 list of richest immigrants. They join a group that includes Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, Raj Sardana, and Nikesh Arora.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
From intern to ₹2,00,00,00,00,000: How a 28-yr-old techie who interned for 4 years triggered a Google-OpenAI war
A 28-year-old Indian-American techie, Varun Mohan , has signed a ₹20,400 crore ($2.4 billion) deal with Google DeepMind after rejecting OpenAI 's ₹25,500 crore ($3 billion) offer. The deal sparked a fresh wave of rivalry between the two AI giants and has placed Mohan among the richest immigrant entrepreneurs in the US. Four years of internships built the foundation Varun Mohan, born to Indian immigrants in Sunnyvale, California, interned at eight companies -- Quora, LinkedIn, Samsung, Cloudian, and Databricks -- while studying at MIT. These four years of hands-on experience in machine learning, cloud systems, and infrastructure helped him build a strong technical base before he entered the startup space. After graduation, he joined the autonomous vehicle startup Nuro, where he rose to the position of Lead Software Engineer. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo Windsurf and the making of Cascade In 2021, Varun Mohan co-founded Windsurf with his MIT batchmate Douglas Chen. Their company launched Cascade, an AI-native coding platform that allows developers to write and test code by simply speaking to the system. Cascade gained rapid adoption, with over a million developers using it within months. Windsurf raised $240 million and reached a valuation of $1.25 billion. It was later named among Forbes' top 50 AI companies globally. Live Events Why Google and OpenAI engaged into an acqusition war? Google and OpenAI were both interested in acquiring Varun Mohan's startup, Windsurf, because of its breakthrough product, Cascade—an AI-native coding environment that allows developers to write, test, and refactor code using natural language. The tool had gained rapid adoption among developers and posed a potential shift in how software is built, making it a strategic asset in the race for dominance in agentic coding and AI-assisted development. Why OpenAI's ₹25,500 crore offer failed OpenAI was close to acquiring Windsurf for $3 billion. However, its primary investor, Microsoft, raised concerns over possible overlaps with GitHub Copilot. As a result, the deal stalled midway. Varun Mohan then accepted Google's $2.4 billion offer. The agreement is not an acquisition. It is a licensing and talent deal, which gives Google DeepMind non-exclusive rights to key Windsurf technologies. Windsurf continues to function as an independent company and can license its tools to other clients. Under the deal, Mohan, Chen, and a select group from Windsurf's R&D team have joined Google DeepMind to work on agentic coding projects and integrate their systems with Google's Gemini platform. Now among America's top immigrant tech entrepreneurs Following the deal, Forbes added Varun Mohan and Douglas Chen to its 2025 list of richest immigrants. They join a group that includes Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, Raj Sardana, and Nikesh Arora.
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Business Standard
12-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Who is Varun Mohan, Windsurf CEO hired by Google to boost Gemini AI project
Tech giant Google has brought in Varun Mohan, co-founder and CEO of Windsurf, as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. According to Analytics India Magazine, Google signed a $2.4 billion agreement for a 'nonexclusive license to certain Windsurf technologies'. This allows Windsurf to continue offering its tools to other companies despite the Google deal. Before striking a deal with Google, Windsurf was reportedly in talks with OpenAI over a potential $3 billion acquisition, according to CNBC. Google's acquisition of key Windsurf talent underlines the growing rivalry between tech giants in the space of AI-assisted developer tools and agentic coding. Both Mohan and his Windsurf co-founder Douglas Chen have joined Google's AI division, DeepMind, and are expected to contribute to the advancement of its Gemini platform. Experts see Google's hiring of Windsurf's key figures as another sign of the fierce competition in the AI sector. Companies like Google and OpenAI are racing to attract the best minds and secure proprietary technologies to lead the next wave of software innovation. Who is Varun Mohan? Varun Mohan studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he combined engineering skills with entrepreneurial ambition. According to LinkedIn, he has led teams focused on AI-powered software development. In 2025, he and several senior members from Windsurf's research and development team joined Google DeepMind to help shape the future of its Gemini AI project. Jeff Wang, now serving as Windsurf's interim CEO, offered reassurance about the company's direction following the leadership changes. 'Most of Windsurf's world-class team will continue to build the Windsurf product to maximise its impact in the enterprise,' Wang said. He also confirmed that the startup remains committed to developing advanced AI tools for developers and businesses. Windsurf's origins and rapid growth In 2021, Varun Mohan co-founded Codeium, later renamed Windsurf, alongside his MIT classmate and long-time friend Douglas Chen. The startup originally focused on GPU virtualisation infrastructure but later pivoted to building an AI-native integrated development environment (IDE), including an IDE plugin. Under Mohan's leadership, Windsurf attracted over one million developers within just four months of launching its product. The company raised $243 million in funding, pushing its valuation to $1.25 billion. Championing agentic IDEs Mohan is seen as one of the pioneers behind the agentic IDE concept, which merges large language models with structured agentic workflows like Cascade. He believes that AI will take over routine programming tasks, enabling engineers to concentrate on identifying problems and designing systems. Earlier in his career, Mohan worked at major tech firms such as Nuro, Quora, LinkedIn, Databricks, and Samsung, according to a report by The Indian Express. These roles gave him a solid foundation in software engineering, systems development, and algorithm implementation. He has been widely praised for his analytical skills and ability to convert complex algorithms into real-world applications.
