Laude Institute Pledges $100 Million For AI Research And Launches AI Systems Lab At UC Berkeley

Laude Institute, founded by Andy Konwinski — co-founder of Databricks and Perplexity — has launched with a $100 million personal pledge to support independent AI research. Structured as both a nonprofit and a public benefit corporation, the institute offers grant-like investments through its “Slingshots” (early-stage research) and “Moonshots” (long-horizon, high-impact labs). Its first major commitment is a $15 million, five-year grant to establish the AI Systems Lab at UC Berkeley, led by Ion Stoica. Alongside its nonprofit arm, Laude also operates a for-profit venture fund, co-founded with ex-NEA VC Pete Sonsini, which has backed startups like Arcade and includes over 50 leading researchers as limited partners. AMOUNT: $100,000,000 HQ: #SanFrancisco #California #VentureCapital #Databricks #Perplexity #AndyKonwinski #LaudeInstitute #TradedVC