Name: Daniel Gross
Role:
Co-founder of Safe Superintelligence Inc., Pioneer, and Cue; Former Partner at Y Combinator; AI Investor.
Net Worth:
As of March 2025, Daniel Gross’s net worth is estimated at $100 million.
Profile Overview:
Daniel Gross is an Israeli-American entrepreneur, investor, and AI innovator recognized for his contributions to artificial intelligence and startup acceleration. He co-founded Cue, an AI-powered search engine acquired by Apple, and Pioneer, a global startup accelerator aimed at identifying and supporting talented individuals. Gross has played a significant role in advancing AI technologies through investments in companies like Uber, Instacart, GitHub, Figma, CoreWeave, and Perplexity AI. He is also a co-founder of Safe Superintelligence Inc., focusing on developing safe AI systems. TIME Magazine named him one of the “Most Influential People in AI” in 2023.
Bio:
Born in Jerusalem in 1991, Daniel Gross moved to the United States as a teenager. At the age of 18, he became the youngest founder ever accepted into the Y Combinator program. He launched Greplin (later renamed Cue), a search engine that allowed users to search through their online accounts from one location. Cue raised $4 million from Sequoia Capital and was acquired by Apple in 2013 for an estimated $40–60 million. At Apple, Gross led AI and search projects until 2017.
In 2017, Gross joined Y Combinator as a partner and created its AI vertical to support startups focused on artificial intelligence. In 2018, he founded Pioneer, an accelerator that identifies talented individuals globally and provides funding and mentorship. By 2024, Pioneer had supported over 200 founders from more than 50 countries.
Gross has also made significant contributions to AI infrastructure through the creation of Andromeda Cluster in partnership with Nat Friedman. This supercomputer cluster provides startups with access to cutting-edge GPUs for training AI models.
Daniel Gross’s Role in Artificial Intelligence:
Daniel Gross has been at the forefront of artificial intelligence innovation for over a decade. His work began with Cue’s predictive search features and continued at Apple, where he led machine learning projects across iOS and macOS platforms. At Y Combinator, Gross created initiatives to fund and mentor AI-focused startups.
In 2023, Gross co-developed Andromeda Cluster with Nat Friedman—a supercomputer consisting of 2,512 H100 GPUs—to provide startups with computational resources in exchange for equity. This bold move addressed the growing demand for specialized chips required to train advanced AI models.
Gross’s current venture, Safe Superintelligence Inc., aims to build safe and ethical superintelligent systems alongside collaborators like Ilya Sutskever.
Nationality:
Israeli-American
Age:
33 years old (as of March 21, 2025).
Educational Qualification:
- High School: Completed studies in Jerusalem before moving to the U.S.
- Y Combinator: Youngest founder accepted into the program at age 18.
Sources of Wealth:
- Cue: Co-founder; acquired by Apple for $40–60 million.
- Pioneer: Founder of a global startup accelerator.
- Safe Superintelligence Inc.: Co-founder focusing on ethical AI systems.
- Andromeda Cluster: Co-developer of a supercomputer for AI startups.
- Investments: Early-stage investor in companies like Uber, Instacart, Figma, GitHub, Airtable, Rippling, CoreWeave, Perplexity AI.
- Y Combinator: Partner focusing on AI verticals.
Random Fact:
Daniel Gross describes Pioneer as a platform designed to discover “Lost Einsteins”—creative individuals worldwide who have talent but lack opportunity.
Daniel Gross’s entrepreneurial journey reflects his passion for innovation and mentorship within the tech industry. From founding Cue to advancing global AI infrastructure through Andromeda Cluster and Safe Superintelligence Inc., his contributions continue to shape the future of artificial intelligence globally.
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