In the heart of Silicon Valley, where innovation shapes the future daily, a new generation of entrepreneurs, technologists, and visionaries is making its mark. The Silicon Valley’s Rising Stars Awards, presented by New York Tech, shine a spotlight on 15 trailblazers redefining industries, building transformative companies, and setting the tone for what’s next in tech.
This year’s honorees represent the diversity, ambition, and resilience that fuel the Valley’s reputation as the global hub of innovation. From artificial intelligence and biotech to fintech and media, these rising stars are a must-watch.
Meet the 2025 Rising Stars
1. Omri Hurwitz: Founder & CEO, Omri Hurwitz Media
A powerhouse at the intersection of PR, tech, and media ownership, Omri Hurwitz has built Omri Hurwitz Media into a generative-engine-optimized media empire. By blending PR services with ownership stakes in multiple U.S.-based outlets, Hurwitz is redefining how tech companies shape narratives. His work with global startups has made him the go-to “media whisperer” for founders and investors alike.
2. Omri Casspi: From NBA Pioneer to VC Trailblazer
The first Israeli-born player to make it to the NBA, Omri Casspi built a decade-long basketball career with teams including the Sacramento Kings, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Golden State Warriors, where he earned an NBA championship ring in 2018. Since retiring, he has launched Sheva and Swish Ventures, funds backing Israeli startups in AI, cyber, and cloud. His transition from sports to venture capital underscores the global reach of Silicon Valley’s influence.
3. Nina Achadjian: Principal, Index Ventures
Nina Achadjian invests across early to growth stages with a focus on AI, robotics, enterprise software, and vertical SaaS, especially businesses automating “forgotten” industries and replacing siloed tools. She has backed transformational companies like ServiceTitan, Gong, Intercom, and Transcend, and was featured on Forbes’ Midas Brink List in 2022 as an up-and-coming investor to watch.
4. Daksh Gupta: Innovator in Emerging Tech
At 23, Daksh Gupta leads Greptile, an AI startup based in San Francisco that helps developers understand and review code. He went viral for advocating a “9-9-6” work culture (12-hour days, six days a week), which has ignited wide debate on Silicon Valley’s grind ethos.
5. Mike Duboe: Principal, Greylock Partners
As a General Partner at Greylock, Mike Duboe backs consumer-focused tech startups in commerce, marketplaces, and vertical SaaS, helping them systematize growth strategies. His board roles include companies like Builderio, Inventa, Postscript, and Magic Eden
6. Songyee Yoon: Founder & Managing Partner, Principal Venture Partners
Songyee Yoon, previously a top executive at NCSoft, launched Principal Venture Partners in 2024, investing in AI-driven startups. In 2025, she joined the board of HP Inc., reflecting her growing influence as both a firm founder and strategic corporate investor.
7. Eric Wu: Co-founder & Former CEO, Opendoor
As the founder and former CEO of Opendoor, Eric Wu helped build one of the most disruptive real-estate iBuyer platforms. Beyond scaling Opendoor, he has become a prolific angel and seed investor in startups like Airtable and Roofstock, earning recognition on Fortune’s 40 Under 40 and Angels’ Share 100 lists.
8. Nathaneo Johnson: Venture Builder
Nathaneo Johnson is a Yale student who co-founded Series, an AI-powered social network, and raised a record-setting $3.1 million in pre-seed funding, secured in just 14 days while still a student. He coined the phrase “engineering serendipity,” positioning Series as an “anti-Facebook” platform for meaningful connection
9. Lu Zhang: Founder Partner, Fusion Fund
Lu Zhang, a Stanford alumna and serial entrepreneur, founded Fusion Fund in 2015 to back deep-tech ventures in enterprise AI, healthcare, industrial automation, and space tech. Recognized on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 and as a WEF Young Global Leader, she previously built and exited a medical-device company at age 24
10. Sarah Wang: General Partner, Andreessen Horowitz
Sarah Wang serves as a General Partner on a16z’s Growth team, focusing on AI and enterprise tech. She led investments in companies like Sourcegraph, Crossbeam, Hex, Wiz, and Character.ai. A former VP at TA Associates, she holds degrees from Harvard (BA) and Stanford GSB (MBA)
11. Chungin “Roy” Lee: Co-founder & CEO, Cluely
At just 21, Chungin “Roy” Lee co-founded Cluely, an AI-driven productivity platform that has already attracted over $20 million in funding. His path has been unconventional: after facing suspension from Columbia University over academic integrity issues, he pivoted fully into entrepreneurship. Lee’s trajectory underscores both the controversy and promise of young founders challenging traditional boundaries while building high-growth startups.
12. Jordan Taylor: Startup Builder
Jordan Taylor left a career at Nvidia to co-create a platform that uses AI to reimagine industrial design. His company has already raised $25 million in funding and counts clients like Ford and New Balance among its early adopters. By merging deep tech with physical product innovation, Taylor is bridging Silicon Valley software culture with the manufacturing world.
13. Hemant Taneja: CEO & Managing Director, General Catalyst
Hemant Taneja has redefined venture capital under his leadership, steering General Catalyst into new domains like healthcare, AI, and space tech. With over $8 billion raised and $27 billion in AUM, the firm is reshaping how VC firms operate: straddling investing, transformation, and healthcare delivery.
14. Dylan Field: Co-founder & CEO, Figma
A design prodigy turned tech leader, Dylan Field built Figma into a powerhouse used by 13 million monthly users and nearly all Fortune 500 companies. Following Figma’s IPO, his stake soared, earning him billionaire status and underscoring the design platform’s central role in digital innovation.
15. Arjun Sethi: Co-founder & Partner, Tribe Capital
Arjun Sethi co-founded Tribe Capital in 2018 and helped build it into a data-driven, top-quartile venture firm investing across crypto, space tech, fintech, and enterprise software, with notable portfolio names including Kraken, Slack, Carta, Docker, Relativity Space, and Applied Intuition. In October 2024, he was appointed Co-CEO of Kraken, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, while continuing to serve as Tribe’s Chairman and CIO.
The Next Chapter of Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley’s influence has always been defined by its people, especially the investors who spot opportunities, operators who scale them, and visionaries who question their directions. This year’s rising stars reflect a more diverse, global, and multidisciplinary ecosystem than ever before. As they rise, so does the promise of Silicon Valley that is more resilient and future-focused.
