Latest news with #ShyamSankar
The Hindu
a day ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Shyam Sankar: Disruptor-in-chief
In Silicon Valley, where startups often burn bright and vanish fast, Palantir Technologies has defied the odds. Over the past year, the software company's stock has soared more than 600%, making it the best-performing AI name in the S&P 500 and one of the decade's biggest tech-success stories. On August 9, shares closed a record $186.96, pushing the company's market cap north of $443 billion. At the centre of this rise is Shyam Sankar, Palantir's Mumbai-born Chief Technology Officer. On July 25, his net worth crossed $1.3 billion as the company's stock soared. Raised in Orlando, Mr. Sankar earned a BS in electrical and computer engineering from Cornell University and an MS in management science and engineering from Stanford University. Known as a 'slayer of bureaucracy', he has spent over two decades building disruptive software and AI solutions for government and private clients. Mr. Sankar first learned about Palantir when a friend mentioned a small, stealthy, yet exciting software start-up looking for its first business hire in a largely technical role. The friend introduced him to one of the founders, and after seeing version 0.7 of the app, meeting a team of 'brilliant' people, and hearing about the company's mission, Mr. Sankar knew exactly where he wanted to be. Founded in 2003 by Peter Thiel — a crucial backer of Donald Trump's first presidential campaign — along with Alex Karp, Joe Lonsdale, and Stephen Cohen, the Silicon Valley unicorn was initially funded by In-Q-Tel, the CIA's venture capital arm. It built its early reputation serving the U.S. government, particularly national security agencies, with a founding vision of harnessing man–machine symbiosis to help American and allied intelligence communities share data securely and prevent another 9/11 without compromising civil liberties. Since joining Palantir in 2006 as its 13th employee, Mr. Sankar has pioneered the 'forward deployed engineer' model — embedding engineers directly with clients to tackle urgent, real-world challenges in real time. This approach was key to the success of Palantir's business model. Now headquartered in Denver, Palantir's platforms include Gotham, Foundry, and its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP). Its name, drawn from J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, refers to 'seeing stones' that reveal hidden truths. Inside the company, the unofficial motto — 'Save the Shire' — reflects its mission in plain terms: protect America from threats. Palantir's technology centralises and analyses large and disparate datasets, with applications ranging from tracking enemy drones for soldiers to monitoring ship parts for sailors, to assisting health officials in processing drug approvals. In 2020, it went public via a direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange. When the company's profile and operations expanded, so did Mr. Sankar's role. Leadership role In January 2023, he was made the CTO and executive vice-president. 'Under his leadership, Palantir transformed from a Silicon Valley start-up to a global, industry leading software and AI company,' reads Mr. Sankar's profile on his Substack page. Today, Palantir counts more than 30 U.S. federal agencies and a group of Fortune 500 companies as clients. In the second quarter of 2025, it posted $1 billion in revenue — up 48% from a year earlier — beating Wall Street forecasts. In the first half of 2025, it pulled in more than $322 million from federal contracts, a 12% increase from two years earlier. The U.S. Army, once an adversary in a contracting dispute, has become one of its biggest customers. In June, Mr. Sankar himself was commissioned into the Army Reserve, a symbolic move that underscored Palantir's alignment with military priorities. Some Pentagon officials have voiced concern about over-reliance on a single contractor for core data-processing needs. Palantir's reputation as a rapid-response problem solver was cemented during crises. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it built systems to track the virus and vaccine distribution. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Palantir's technology got integrated into multiple Ukrainian government and military agencies. Similarly, days after the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023, Mr. Karp — who is Jewish — flew with senior executives to Tel Aviv. Following a January 10 meeting with Israel's Defence Ministry officials, Palantir entered a strategic partnership with Israel to provide technology to aid its war efforts. The move drew criticism from pro-Palestinian activists in the U.S. At home, Palantir drew flak for a government contract to build an app that integrates data from across the government to assist with immigration enforcement. With debates still simmering, Palantir is looking beyond U.S. borders. It is pursuing lucrative contracts in Saudi Arabia, from overhauling the country's healthcare system to helping build Neom, a futuristic megacity in the desert that has collided with practical and financial challenges. But for Mr. Sankar and Mr. Karp, controversies are part of Palantir's DNA. Regarding working with different government agencies on data processing and other projects, Mr. Sankar once said, it's like 'shining a light on the battle space'. 'The things that you couldn't see before, you could see now...'
Economic Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
Trump orders NASA to kill 2 satellites that can function for many more years - the reason will shock all
Trump NASA satellite shutdown: The White House has directed NASA to shut down two carbon-tracking satellites. These satellites monitor carbon dioxide levels. The satellites provide crucial data for understanding climate change. Scientists, farmers, and energy companies use this data. One satellite is on the International Space Station. The other will burn up in the atmosphere if shut down. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Satellites Tracking Carbon Emissions To Face Early Shutdown What Are the Orbiting Carbon Observatories? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Former NASA Scientist Raises Concerns What Are the Orbiting Carbon Observatories? Lawmakers Push Back, Call Cuts 'Catastrophic' Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads FAQs A decision that has left many scientists and space lovers scratching their heads is that the White House has ordered NASA to shut down two important satellites that are still working perfectly and could keep doing so for years, as per a report. These satellites track carbon dioxide levels in Earth's atmosphere, which helps to understand climate change and how it affects everything from farming to energy industries, as per a Futurism Trump administration's officials have reached out to NASA to draw up plans for terminating the two missions, called the Orbiting Carbon Observatories , as reported by Futurism. Both of them have been used to collect widely used data, which provide information to oil and gas companies and farmers about the distribution of carbon dioxide and how it can affect crop health, according to the READ: When is Labor Day 2025 in US and what should you know before celebrating? One of the satellites is attached to the International Space Station, and the other is collecting data as a stand-alone satellite, as reported by Futurism. The latter would see its permanent demise after burning up in the atmosphere if the mission gets terminated, according to the Trump administration's move to end the missions comes at a time when the two observatories had been expected to function for many more years, and a 2023 review by NASA found that the data they'd been providing had been "of exceptionally high quality," as reported by review also found that the observatories give detailed carbon dioxide measurements across various locations, which let scientists get a detailed glimpse of how human activity is affecting greenhouse gas emissions, according to the READ: Another Indian-American shakes up Silicon Valley - Meet Shyam Sankar, Palantir's CTO powering company's meteoric rise An ex-NASA employee, David Crisp, who worked on the Orbiting Carbon Observatories' instruments, revealed that current staffers reached out to him, saying, "They were asking me very sharp questions," adding, "The only thing that would have motivated those questions was [that] somebody told them to come up with a termination plan," as quoted by explained that it "makes no economic sense to terminate NASA missions that are returning incredibly valuable data," pointing out that it costs just $15 million per year to maintain both observatories, which is a small fraction of the agency's $25.4 billion budget, as reported by other scientists who have used data from the missions have also been asked questions about terminating the missions, as per the the two observatories are just two of dozens of space missions that are currently facing existential threats due to the Trump administration's proposed 2026 fiscal year budget, according to the reasons for terminating these missions are not known yet, but there is only speculation given US president Donald Trump's staunch climate change denial and his administration's efforts to deal the agency's science directorate a potentially existential blow, as per the has led many scientists to argue that the move could precipitate an end to the United States' leadership in space, according to the Futurism report. Many lawmakers have also drawn up a counteroffer that would keep NASA's budget almost in line with this year's budget, as per the and top appropriator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) had siad in a July, "We rejected cuts that would have devastated NASA science by 47 percent and would have terminated 55 operating and planned missions," as quoted in the representative and Committee on Science, Space and Technology ranking member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) said thar, "Eliminating funds or scaling down the operations of Earth-observing satellites would be catastrophic and would severely impair our ability to forecast, manage, and respond to severe weather and climate disasters," adding, "The Trump administration is forcing the proposed cuts in its FY26 budget request on already appropriated FY25 funds. This is illegal," as quoted in the Futurism farmers, environmentalists, energy companies, anyone needing detailed carbon emission will burn up in the atmosphere, and the other will stop collecting data, ending their missions prematurely.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Trump orders NASA to kill 2 satellites that can function for many more years - the reason will shock all
Trump NASA satellite shutdown: The White House has directed NASA to shut down two carbon-tracking satellites. These satellites monitor carbon dioxide levels. The satellites provide crucial data for understanding climate change. Scientists, farmers, and energy companies use this data. One satellite is on the International Space Station. The other will burn up in the atmosphere if shut down. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Satellites Tracking Carbon Emissions To Face Early Shutdown What Are the Orbiting Carbon Observatories? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Former NASA Scientist Raises Concerns What Are the Orbiting Carbon Observatories? Lawmakers Push Back, Call Cuts 'Catastrophic' Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads FAQs A decision that has left many scientists and space lovers scratching their heads is that the White House has ordered NASA to shut down two important satellites that are still working perfectly and could keep doing so for years, as per a report. These satellites track carbon dioxide levels in Earth's atmosphere, which helps to understand climate change and how it affects everything from farming to energy industries, as per a Futurism Trump administration's officials have reached out to NASA to draw up plans for terminating the two missions, called the Orbiting Carbon Observatories , as reported by Futurism. Both of them have been used to collect widely used data, which provide information to oil and gas companies and farmers about the distribution of carbon dioxide and how it can affect crop health, according to the READ: When is Labor Day 2025 in US and what should you know before celebrating? One of the satellites is attached to the International Space Station, and the other is collecting data as a stand-alone satellite, as reported by Futurism. The latter would see its permanent demise after burning up in the atmosphere if the mission gets terminated, according to the Trump administration's move to end the missions comes at a time when the two observatories had been expected to function for many more years, and a 2023 review by NASA found that the data they'd been providing had been "of exceptionally high quality," as reported by review also found that the observatories give detailed carbon dioxide measurements across various locations, which let scientists get a detailed glimpse of how human activity is affecting greenhouse gas emissions, according to the READ: Another Indian-American shakes up Silicon Valley - Meet Shyam Sankar, Palantir's CTO powering company's meteoric rise An ex-NASA employee, David Crisp, who worked on the Orbiting Carbon Observatories' instruments, revealed that current staffers reached out to him, saying, "They were asking me very sharp questions," adding, "The only thing that would have motivated those questions was [that] somebody told them to come up with a termination plan," as quoted by explained that it "makes no economic sense to terminate NASA missions that are returning incredibly valuable data," pointing out that it costs just $15 million per year to maintain both observatories, which is a small fraction of the agency's $25.4 billion budget, as reported by other scientists who have used data from the missions have also been asked questions about terminating the missions, as per the the two observatories are just two of dozens of space missions that are currently facing existential threats due to the Trump administration's proposed 2026 fiscal year budget, according to the reasons for terminating these missions are not known yet, but there is only speculation given US president Donald Trump's staunch climate change denial and his administration's efforts to deal the agency's science directorate a potentially existential blow, as per the has led many scientists to argue that the move could precipitate an end to the United States' leadership in space, according to the Futurism report. Many lawmakers have also drawn up a counteroffer that would keep NASA's budget almost in line with this year's budget, as per the and top appropriator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) had siad in a July, "We rejected cuts that would have devastated NASA science by 47 percent and would have terminated 55 operating and planned missions," as quoted in the representative and Committee on Science, Space and Technology ranking member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) said thar, "Eliminating funds or scaling down the operations of Earth-observing satellites would be catastrophic and would severely impair our ability to forecast, manage, and respond to severe weather and climate disasters," adding, "The Trump administration is forcing the proposed cuts in its FY26 budget request on already appropriated FY25 funds. This is illegal," as quoted in the Futurism farmers, environmentalists, energy companies, anyone needing detailed carbon emission will burn up in the atmosphere, and the other will stop collecting data, ending their missions prematurely.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Who is Shyam Sankar? The billionaire technologist driving Palantir's AI-boom
Shyam Sankar, the son of Indian immigrants who once ran a souvenir shop in Orlando, is now a billionaire at the helm of one of the most influential AI companies in the world. Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar reacts as President Donald Trump delivers remarks during the 'Winning the AI Race' Summit in Washington.(Reuters) As Palantir Technologies Inc. continues its meteoric rise, with its stock up more than 500% in the past year, Sankar, the company's Chief Technology Officer, has emerged as a key architect behind its success. On July 25, the data analytics giant's shares hit an all-time high of $158.80, lifting Sankar's net worth to $1.3 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.c and defence innovation but has become one of its most important public voices. Mumbai to Silicon Valley Born in Mumbai and raised in Orlando, Florida, Sankar's life mirrors the quintessential American immigrant success story. His father, born in a mud hut in Tamil Nadu, was the first in the family to attend college. After a brief stint in Nigeria, the Sankars moved to the US, where they ran souvenir and dry-cleaning businesses - the latter eventually went bankrupt. Despite these ups and downs, Sankar pursued academics rigorously, earning an undergraduate degree in electrical and computer engineering from Cornell University and a master's in management science and engineering from Stanford. Early in his career, he turned down a consulting job to join a startup on his father's advice, before signing on at Palantir as employee #13 in the mid-2000s. Building Palantir from the inside Founded in 2003 by Peter Thiel, Alex Karp, Stephen Cohen, and Joe Lonsdale, Palantir started as a stealthy defence-focused software startup. Sankar joined during these early days and played a critical role in shaping its culture and technology. He pioneered Palantir's "forward deployed engineer" model — sending engineers to embed with clients on-site to solve complex problems in real-time. This customer-centric approach became a cornerstone of Palantir's government and commercial business and helped distinguish it from other Silicon Valley software firms. Over the years, Sankar's role expanded, culminating in his appointment as Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President in January 2023. Sankar and Palantir's meteoric rise Sankar's ascent has coincided with a period of explosive growth for Palantir. The company, once considered a dark horse among defence contractors, has benefited immensely from the global AI arms race. In Q2 2025, Palantir reported a 48% jump in revenue to over $1 billion, citing the 'astonishing impact' of artificial intelligence. Sales in the US surged 68%, while revenue from US commercial contracts nearly doubled. The company's stock has skyrocketed over 500% in the past year - making it the best-performing stock on the S&P 500 by percentage growth. Sankar himself has become more vocal, pushing for a renaissance in US defence innovation. In 2024, he authored a widely discussed treatise arguing for the breakup of dominant military contractors to allow more agile and technologically advanced firms to thrive. He was recently inducted into the US Army Reserve's Executive Innovation Corps - a unit designed to integrate private-sector expertise into national defence initiatives. The aim: make the military 'leaner, smarter, and more lethal.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Palantir Explodes 525%--CTO Becomes Billionaire, Insiders Dump Billions
Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:PLTR) has been on an absolute tearup 525% over the past yearmaking it the top gainer in the S&P 500 by percentage. That rally just turned Chief Technology Officer Shyam Sankar into a billionaire, joining co-founders Alex Karp, Peter Thiel, and Stephen Cohen at the top of the leaderboard. Shares recently hit an all-time high of $158.80 after the company locked in a massive 10-year U.S. Army agreement worth up to $10 billion. The AI and defense software specialist is also riding a tidal wave of retail investor demandranking third in net retail buying activity behind only Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) and Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), per June data from Vanda Research. Sankar's journey is a classic tech underdog story. He joined Palantir as employee #13 after stints at Xoom Corp. and Stanford, helping build out the firm's on-the-ground engineer deployment model. Since becoming CTO in early 2023, his public profile has grownand so has his influence in the national security space. In June, Sankar was tapped to join the U.S. Army Reserve's Executive Innovation Corps, a new initiative aimed at modernizing defense through private-sector expertise. About two-thirds of his Palantir holdings are in Class B shares, giving him 10x the voting rightsbut still well below the control retained by Karp, Thiel, and Cohen via Palantir's controversial three-class structure. But not everything is blue skies. Sankar offloaded nearly $370 million worth of shares in late 2024his largest sale evercontributing to a $4 billion insider selling spree across Palantir leadership last year. While he still holds options that could be worth over $210 million, those moves have raised fresh questions about timing and long-term confidence. With Q2 earnings due soon, investors are watching whether Palantir's operational momentum can keep pace with its soaring stockand whether the next leg up is powered by fundamentals or just hype. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
