Vinod Khosla

Vinod Khosla is an Indian-American venture capitalist and businessman. He began his career in the technology industry as one of the co-founders of Sun Microsystems in 1982. He served as the company's first chief executive officer and was instrumental in developing and launching the company's flagship product, the SPARC microprocessor. After leaving Sun Microsystems in 1985, Khosla worked as a venture capitalist and technology consultant, investing in and advising startups in the technology sector.

In 2004, Khosla founded Khosla Ventures, a venture capital firm focusing on investments in clean technology and biotechnology companies. The firm has invested in companies working on various technologies, including renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and energy efficiency. Through Khosla Ventures, Khosla has been an active investor in the clean technology industry and has been involved in the launch of several successful companies, including biofuels producer KiOR, energy storage company Ambri, and solar power company BrightSource Energy.

Vinod Khosla has received several awards throughout his career in recognition of his contributions to the technology and venture capital industries, as well as his advocacy for clean technology and sustainable solutions. Some of the notable awards he has received include:

• The Lifetime Achievement Award from the Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) in 2007 for his contributions to the technology industry and his support of entrepreneurship.
• The Entrepreneurial Company of the Year award from the Cleantech Group in 2010 for his work with Khosla Ventures in supporting and investing in clean technology companies.
• The Visionary of the Year award from the Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo in 2011 for his contributions to the development of the renewable energy industry and his advocacy for market-based solutions to support the growth of renewable energy.
• The Clean Energy Leadership award from the Clean Energy Trust in 2012 for his contributions to the growth of the clean energy industry through his investments and advocacy.
• The Entrepreneurial Leadership in Energy award from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in 2013 for his contributions to the development of the clean energy industry and his work with Khosla Ventures in investing in clean technology companies.

In addition to his work as a venture capitalist, Khosla is also a vocal advocate for using technology to solve environmental problems. He has been a vocal critic of government subsidies for renewable energy and has advocated for market-based solutions to support the growth of the renewable energy industry. He is also known for his work in sustainable agriculture and has invested in several companies working on innovative solutions in this area.