The investor Chamath Palihapitiya is making an unusual move: stepping out from behind the checkbook and into the chief executive's chair.
According to TechCrunch, Palihapitiya's AI coding startup, called 8090, has raised a $135 million Series A round. The financing was led by Salesforce Ventures, as reported by Techmeme citing TechCrunch's Julie Bort. Palihapitiya announced on Monday that he will lead the company as its CEO.
Palihapitiya is best known for his venture capital firm Social Capital and for co-hosting the popular All-In podcast, per TechCrunch. Founding a startup and then running it himself marks a shift for someone whose public profile has centered on investing and commentary rather than day-to-day operations.
The deal also fits a broader pattern. TechCrunch notes that venture capitalists "remain thirsty" to fund AI coding startups, and that 8090 is no exception. AI coding tools — software that helps write, review, and ship code — have become one of the hottest categories for investment as companies race to apply large language models to software development.
The source items here confirm the headline facts: the $135 million round, the Salesforce Ventures lead, the company name 8090, and Palihapitiya's decision to serve as CEO. Details beyond that, such as the product's specifics or its customers, were not included in these reports.
Why it matters: when a high-profile investor leaves the sidelines to personally run a company in a crowded, fast-moving field, it signals just how much money and conviction are pouring into AI-powered software development.