Top AI Executives in California To Watch in 2025 - Senior Executive
MAR 2025

Top AI Executives in California To Watch in 2025

Presented by Forbes Technology Council in collaboration with Senior Executive Media, this list highlights 34 AI founders transforming the industry in California.

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Presented by Forbes Technology Council, in partnership with Senior Executive Media, this Top AI Executives in California To Watch in 2025 list honors 34 AI Founders and CEOs redefining the future of business. These trailblazing CEOs are at the forefront of AI innovation, driving breakthroughs that are reshaping industries, enhancing efficiency, and setting new standards for leadership in an era of unprecedented technological change.

Their impact extends far beyond their own companies. These executives are fueling California’s reputation as the global epicenter of AI, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in machine learning, automation, and data-driven decision-making. Their work is revolutionizing technology and shaping policy, ethics, and the way we interact with intelligent systems.

In a landscape where agility, innovation, and visionary leadership are essential, the CEOs on this list are leading the charge. By harnessing AI, advanced analytics, and automation, they’re building companies that drive productivity, create new market opportunities, and redefine how businesses operate in an increasingly digital world. Their expertise is paving the way for a smarter, more efficient, and more ethical AI-powered future.

Senior Executive Media is committed to recognizing industry leaders across specialized fields. Through curated lists like this, we aim to showcase groundbreaking entrepreneurs, foster connections among like-minded professionals, and track the key trends shaping the future of AI and business leadership.

Forbes Technology Council, an exclusive community for senior-level technology executives, proudly includes many of California’s most influential AI founders and CEOs. Selected for their deep expertise and proven leadership, these individuals exemplify the qualities celebrated on this prestigious list.

To suggest an update to this list or nominate a California CEO leading in AI, please contact our editors at editor@seniorexecutive.com.

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Top AI Executives in California To Watch in 2025

Gurjeet Arora

Gurjeet Arora

Gurjeet Arora is Co-Founder of Observo AI, a Software Development company headquartered in Palo Alto, California. With a team of 11-50 employees, the company is a prominent player in its field.

  • Observo AI
  • Co-Founder
  • Software Development
  • 11-50
Trip Adler

Trip Adler

Trip Adler, Founder & CEO of Created by Humans, drives the vision for a company in the Technology, Information and Internet industry. The company employs 2-10 people and continues to thrive under their leadership.

  • Created by Humans
  • Founder & CEO
  • Technology, Information and Internet
  • 2-10
Sasan Amini

Sasan Amini

Sasan Amini holds the role of Co-founder at Clear Labs, a company with 51-200 employees in the Biotechnology Research sector. Headquartered in San Carlos, California, United States, the company is recognized for its impactful work.

  • Clear Labs
  • Co-founder
  • Biotechnology Research
  • 51-200
Puneet Anand

Puneet Anand

Puneet Anand holds the role of Co-Founder and CEO at Aimon Labs, a company with 2-10 employees in the Software Development sector. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, United States, the company is recognized for its impactful work.

  • Aimon Labs
  • Co-Founder and CEO
  • Software Development
  • 2-10
Ronit Belson

Ronit Belson

As CEO & Co-Founder of Sawmills, Ronit Belson plays a critical role in overseeing initiatives in the Data Infrastructure and Analytics space. The company, located in Los Altos, California, employs 2-10 professionals.

  • Sawmills
  • CEO & Co-Founder
  • Data Infrastructure and Analytics
  • 2-10
Jim Benedetto

Jim Benedetto

As the leader at Salt AI, Jim Benedetto manages a team of 11-50 employees in the Technology sector. The company, based in Los Angeles, California, continues to make strides in its field.

  • Salt AI
  • Co Founder
  • Technology
  • 11-50
Tanguy Chau

Tanguy Chau

With 11-50 employees, Paxton stands out in the Software Development industry. Tanguy Chau leads as Co-Founder & CEO, contributing to the company’s success from their office in Palo Alto, California.

  • Paxton
  • Co-Founder & CEO
  • Software Development
  • 11-50
Dawson Chen

Dawson Chen

Leading the efforts at Martin, Dawson Chen serves as Co Founder, steering the company’s growth in the Technology industry. The company, based in Mountain View, California, has 11-50 employees.

  • Martin
  • Co Founder
  • Technology
  • 11-50
Mahmoud Felfel

Mahmoud Felfel

Mahmoud Felfel holds the role of Co-Founder & CEO at PlayAI, a company with 11-50 employees in the Technology, Information and Internet sector. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, United States, the company is recognized for its impactful work.

  • PlayAI
  • Co-Founder & CEO
  • Technology, Information and Internet
  • 11-50
Karan Goel

Karan Goel

Karan Goel is Founder / CEO of Cartesia, a Software Development company headquartered in Stanford, California. With a team of 11-50 employees, the company is a prominent player in its field.

  • Cartesia
  • Founder / CEO
  • Software Development
  • 11-50
Vinay Goel

Vinay Goel

Vinay Goel holds the role of Co Founder at Wald.ai, a company with 11-50 employees in the Technology sector. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, United States, the company is recognized for its impactful work.

  • Wald.ai
  • Co Founder
  • Technology
  • 11-50
Boris Iskrev

Boris Iskrev

Leading the efforts at UVIONIX, Boris Iskrev serves as Co-Founder | CEO, steering the company’s growth in the Automation Machinery Manufacturing industry. The company, based in Los Angeles, California, has 11-50 employees.

  • UVIONIX
  • Co-Founder | CEO
  • Automation Machinery Manufacturing
  • 11-50
Mario Karras

Mario Karras

As the leader at Osta, Mario Karras manages a team of 51-200 employees in the Technology, Information and Internet sector. The company, based in Los Angeles, California, continues to make strides in its field.

  • Osta
  • Founder & CEO
  • Technology, Information and Internet
  • 51-200
Dean Leitersdorf

Dean Leitersdorf

Dean Leitersdorf, Co-Founder & CEO of Decart, drives the vision for a company in the Technology, Information and Internet industry. The company employs 11-50 people and continues to thrive under their leadership.

  • Decart
  • Co-Founder & CEO
  • Technology, Information and Internet
  • 11-50
Jordan Long

Jordan Long

With 11-50 employees, Nectir stands out in the Education industry. Jordan Long leads as Co-Founder, CTO, contributing to the company’s success from their office in Los Angeles, California.

  • Nectir
  • Co-Founder, CTO
  • Education
  • 11-50
Jayanth Madheswaran

Jayanth Madheswaran

Jayanth Madheswaran, Founder & CEO of Eve, drives the vision for a company in the Technology, Information and Internet industry. The company employs 11-50 people and continues to thrive under their leadership.

  • Eve
  • Founder & CEO
  • Technology, Information and Internet
  • 11-50
Dylan McDonnell

Dylan McDonnell

Dylan McDonnell holds the role of Founder and CEO at Foodini, a company with 11-50 employees in the Technology, Information and Internet sector. Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, United States, the company is recognized for its impactful work.

  • Foodini
  • Founder and CEO
  • Technology, Information and Internet
  • 11-50
Todd Michaud

Todd Michaud

With 11-50 employees, HuLoop Automation, Inc. stands out in the Software Development industry. Todd Michaud leads as CEO, contributing to the company’s success from their office in Auburn, California.

  • HuLoop Automation, Inc.
  • CEO
  • Software Development
  • 11-50
Haziq Muhamma

Haziq Muhamma

Haziq Muhamma holds the role of Co-Founder & Head of Technology at Marvis, a company with 2-10 employees in the Technology, Information and Internet sector. Headquartered in San Jose, California, United States, the company is recognized for its impactful work.

  • Marvis
  • Co-Founder & Head of Technology
  • Technology, Information and Internet
  • 2-10
Tom Quisel

Tom Quisel

Tom Quisel, Founder & CEO of Musubi, drives the vision for a company in the Technology, Information and Internet industry. The company employs 2-10 people and continues to thrive under their leadership.

  • Musubi
  • Founder & CEO
  • Technology, Information and Internet
  • 2-10
Gabriel Rene

Gabriel Rene

Operating from Los Angeles, California, VERSES has 51-200 employees. Gabriel Rene, Founder, is responsible for leading the company’s advancements in the Software Development sector.

  • VERSES
  • Founder
  • Software Development
  • 51-200
Vishal Shukla

Vishal Shukla

With 51-200 employees, Aviz Networks stands out in the Computer Networking Products industry. Vishal Shukla leads as Founder & CEO, contributing to the company’s success from their office in San Jose, California.

  • Aviz Networks
  • Founder & CEO
  • Computer Networking Products
  • 51-200
Ashwin Singhania

Ashwin Singhania

Unwrap.ai is a key player in the Software Development industry with 11-50 employees. As Co-Founder, Ashwin Singhania oversees company strategy from their headquarters in Santa Barbara, California.

  • Unwrap.ai
  • Co-Founder
  • Software Development
  • 11-50
Aeron Sullivan

Aeron Sullivan

Aeron Sullivan holds the role of Founder & CEO at Pangea, a company with 11-50 employees in the Financial Services sector. Headquartered in San Diego, California, United States, the company is recognized for its impactful work.

  • Pangea
  • Founder & CEO
  • Financial Services
  • 11-50
Keith Teare

Keith Teare

With 2-10 employees, SignalRank Corporation stands out in the Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals industry. Keith Teare leads as Founder and CEO, contributing to the company’s success from their office in Palo Alto, California.

  • SignalRank Corporation
  • Founder and CEO
  • Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals
  • 2-10
Roman Teslyuk

Roman Teslyuk

Roman Teslyuk is Founder and CEO/CTO of EARTH AI, a Mining company headquartered in San Mateo, California. With a team of 11-50 employees, the company is a prominent player in its field.

  • EARTH AI
  • Founder and CEO/CTO
  • Mining
  • 11-50
Ari Tuchman

Ari Tuchman

Leading the efforts at Quantifind, Ari Tuchman serves as CEO and Co-founder, steering the company’s growth in the Software Development industry. The company, based in Palo Alto, California, has 51-200 employees.

  • Quantifind
  • CEO and Co-founder
  • Software Development
  • 51-200
Gaku Ueda

Gaku Ueda

As the leader at MODE, Gaku Ueda manages a team of 51-200 employees in the Software Development sector. The company, based in Los Altos, California, continues to make strides in its field.

  • MODE
  • Co-founder & CEO
  • Software Development
  • 51-200
Anna Vorobyov

Anna Vorobyov

Operating from Los Angeles, California, Camouflet has 11-50 employees. Anna Vorobyov, CEO, is responsible for leading the company’s advancements in the Technology, Information and Internet sector.

  • Camouflet
  • CEO
  • Technology, Information and Internet
  • 11-50
Susie Wee

Susie Wee

Susie Wee is Co-Founder & CEO of DevAI, a Software Development company headquartered in Palo Alto, California. With a team of 2-10 employees, the company is a prominent player in its field.

  • DevAI
  • Co-Founder & CEO
  • Software Development
  • 2-10
Constantine Yaremtso

Constantine Yaremtso

As the leader at Self Inspection, Constantine Yaremtso manages a team of 2-10 employees in the Technology, Information and Internet sector. The company, based in San Diego, California, continues to make strides in its field.

  • Self Inspection
  • Founder & CEO
  • Technology, Information and Internet
  • 2-10
Charles Yeomans

Charles Yeomans

Operating from Moraga, California, AtomBeam has 11-50 employees. Charles Yeomans, Founder & CEO, is responsible for leading the company’s advancements in the Software Development sector.

  • AtomBeam
  • Founder & CEO
  • Software Development
  • 11-50
Maria Zhang

Maria Zhang

Leading the efforts at Palona AI, Maria Zhang serves as CEO, steering the company’s growth in the Software Development industry. The company, based in Palo Alto, California, has 11-50 employees.

  • Palona AI
  • CEO
  • Software Development
  • 11-50
Jared Zhao

Jared Zhao

As the leader at Athenic Al, Jared Zhao manages a team of 2-10 employees in the Data Infrastructure and Analytics sector. The company, based in Berkeley, California, continues to make strides in its field.

  • Athenic Al
  • Founder & CEO
  • Data Infrastructure and Analytics
  • 2-10