Silicon Valley, CA, September 8th, 2025, FinanceWire
New York Tech Media has unveiled its highly anticipated list of 15 Silicon Valley Rising Stars, a select group of entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators quietly building what could be the next wave of industry-defining companies. In an environment where visibility often precedes substance, these individuals are crafting their impact deliberately before stepping into the spotlight.
“This year’s honorees represent the diversity, ambition, and resilience that fuel the Valley’s reputation as the global hub of innovation,” New York Tech noted in its announcement. “From artificial intelligence and biotech to fintech and media, these rising stars are a must-watch.”
Who Makes the List
- Omri Hurwitz: Founder of Omri Hurwitz Media, redefining how startups control narratives through PR and media ownership.
- Omri Casspi: Former NBA player turned VC, backing Israeli AI and cybersecurity startups through Sheva and Swish Ventures.
- Nina Achadjian: Index Ventures principal investing in automation-first companies like ServiceTitan and Gong.
- Daksh Gupta: 23-year-old founder of Greptile, an AI code-review platform, known for sparking debate over Silicon Valley work culture.
- Mike Duboe: Greylock general partner investing in consumer startups including Builderio, Postscript, and Magic Eden.
- Songyee Yoon: Founder of Principal Venture Partners, funding AI startups while serving on HP Inc.’s board.
- Eric Wu: Co-founder and former CEO of Opendoor, now a prolific angel investor in startups like Airtable and Roofstock.
- Nathaneo Johnson: Yale student and co-founder of Series, an AI-powered social network that raised $3.1 million pre-seed.
- Lu Zhang: Founder of Fusion Fund, investing in deep-tech spanning AI, healthcare, and space after exiting her first company at 24.
- Sarah Wang: Andreessen Horowitz general partner leading growth-stage bets in AI and enterprise software.
- Chungin “Roy” Lee: 21-year-old co-founder of Cluely, an AI productivity startup with $20 million in funding despite early controversy.
- Jordan Taylor: Ex-Nvidia engineer building an AI-driven industrial design platform with clients like Ford and New Balance.
- Hemant Taneja: CEO of General Catalyst, steering the firm’s $27 billion portfolio into healthcare, AI, and space.
- Dylan Field: Co-founder and CEO of Figma, which went public with 13 million monthly users and Fortune 500 adoption.
- Arjun Sethi: Co-founder of Tribe Capital and co-CEO of Kraken, bridging VC and crypto exchange leadership.
Why It Matters
By distilling influence across various industries, New York Tech’s list captures the breadth of today’s Silicon Valley. The honorees reflect a new kind of leadership, one that is global, adaptive, and unafraid of unconventional paths.
The Rising Stars list is less about predicting tomorrow’s unicorns than about revealing the people quietly shaping what the Valley will look like next.
About New York Tech Media
New York Tech Media is a premier digital news platform dedicated to delivering cutting-edge insights across the technology landscape. From FinTech and AI & Robotics to Cybersecurity and Startups & Leaders, the publication serves as a go-to resource for the latest developments and thought leadership in tech.