In a digital world overwhelmed by misinformation and content overload, one Indian founder is quietly changing the way we search for truth: Aravind Srinivas, the CEO and co-founder of Perplexity AI — an answer engine now being called the “next Google challenger.”
But Srinivas didn’t start at the top. His story begins in Chennai, India — where academic brilliance and global ambition laid the foundation for a billion-dollar AI revolution.
From IIT Madras to the World’s Best Labs
Born in 1994, Aravind Srinivas graduated from IIT Madras with a dual degree in Electrical Engineering (B.Tech + M.Tech) in 2017. While his initial dream of Computer Science didn’t materialize, he embraced the challenge — proving that drive matters more than labels.
He earned a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley, one of the world’s leading AI institutions, and built a formidable research resume with stints at OpenAI, DeepMind, Google Brain, and Tesla AI. His focus: how machines perceive the world, learn representations, and generate intelligent responses — themes that would later define his entrepreneurial journey.
The Birth of Perplexity AI
In 2022, Aravind co-founded Perplexity AI with Denis Yarats, Johnny Ho, and Andy Konwinski. Their mission was clear: build an AI-powered answer engine that cuts through clutter and delivers concise, cited responses — not just a list of links.
Unlike traditional search engines, Perplexity is conversational, context-aware, and transparent. It blends the simplicity of chat with the reliability of sourced information — a response to the “black-box” nature of many modern AI systems.
In Srinivas’s words:
“We don’t want users to ‘trust the model.’ We want them to trust the source.”
The Growth: From Startup to AI Powerhouse
In just two years, Perplexity raised over $100 million, reaching a reported valuation between $1 billion and $3 billion. Investors include:
- Jeff Bezos (Amazon)
- NVIDIA
- Elad Gil
- NEA
- Databricks
Perplexity’s clean UX, citation-first design, and real-time web access have earned it massive attention — especially among developers, researchers, and journalists.
As of 2025, it’s one of the top emerging AI companies, competing with giants like Google, Microsoft-backed OpenAI, and Anthropic.
Indian Roots, Global Vision
Despite being based in San Francisco, Aravind remains deeply connected to India. He recently announced:
- A $1 million personal commitment to support Indian AI founders.
- A hiring drive to grow Perplexity’s India team, focusing on Bengaluru and emerging tech hubs.
- A vision to make India a global hub for open-source LLMs, similar to how ISRO led the space race.
His long-term dream? “Create an ISRO moment for Indian AI.”
Why His Story Matters
Aravind Srinivas embodies what India’s tech future can look like:
- Home-grown brilliance.
- Global exposure.
- Purpose-led innovation.
He didn’t just build a company — he built a product that answers questions with integrity, in a time when clarity is rare.
Key Highlights
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1994 | Born in Chennai, India |
| 2017 | Graduated from IIT Madras |
| 2021 | Completed PhD at UC Berkeley |
| 2022 | Co-founded Perplexity AI |
| 2024 | Secured funding from Bezos & NVIDIA |
| 2025 | Committed $1M to Indian AI ecosystem |
