1️⃣ Andy Koenwinski’s New $100 Million Project
Andy Koenwinski, co-founder of Databricks and Perplexity, has launched a new initiative called Laude Institute, investing $100 million of his own wealth. Announced in April 2025, Laude will provide grants to AI researchers worldwide. His goal is to help AI research grow in a responsible and socially beneficial direction — not just towards commercial profits.
2️⃣ Laude Institute: More Than Just a Research Lab
Laude is not a typical research lab — it is a funding institute that supports AI research projects through grant-based support. The Institute itself won’t conduct research but will empower researchers by providing financial resources. This fund will work as a “supporter” of independent AI research rather than competing with commercial AI labs.
3️⃣ Strong Leadership Makes Laude Credible
The Institute’s board includes highly respected experts: Dr. Dave Patterson (UC Berkeley), Jeff Dean (Google’s Chief Scientist), and Joelle Pineau (Meta’s VP of AI Research). Their combined experience in AI, academia, and industry leadership gives the Institute a high level of credibility and attracts talented researchers.
4️⃣ First Major Grant: UC Berkeley AI Systems Lab
Laude’s first major grant — $3 million per year for five years — will help establish a new AI Systems Lab at UC Berkeley. Led by Ion Stoica (Databricks & Anyscale co-founder), this lab will focus on scientific discovery, big data, and advanced AI systems. The new lab is expected to open in 2027.
5️⃣ Clear Mission: Research that Truly Matters
The mission of Laude Institute is to support research that benefits humanity. Andy Koenwinski emphasizes that AI development should focus on practical, ethical, and socially responsible applications — not just profit-driven products. The goal is to improve fields like healthcare, education, civic engagement, and worker upskilling.
6️⃣ Dual Grant Strategy: Slingshots and Moonshots
Laude divides its funding into two types:
- Slingshots: Early-stage, small experiments or new ideas
- Moonshots: Large, ambitious projects solving big societal problems
This structure ensures both young researchers and experienced teams can get the necessary support — whether they are starting small or working on bold innovations.
7️⃣ Different From OpenAI and Commercial Labs
While some may compare it to OpenAI, Laude is structured as a nonprofit with a public benefit corporation, ensuring research-first priorities. Unlike some benchmarks designed for marketing, Laude aims for transparent, neutral evaluation and ethical AI development — staying true to its mission and not drifting towards pure commercial interest.
8️⃣ Partnerships with Terminal-Bench
Laude is actively collaborating with Terminal-Bench, a project led by Stanford that evaluates the capabilities of AI agents. These benchmarks are used by major AI companies like Anthropic and OpenAI. Laude’s participation signals its commitment to unbiased research and partnerships with key players in the AI ecosystem.
9️⃣ For-Profit Venture Arm for AI Startups
Beyond grants, Laude also has a for-profit venture arm launched in 2024 with former NEA VC Pete Sonsini. It invests in AI startups, such as the $12 million invested in Arcade (an AI infrastructure company). This dual model allows Laude to support both nonprofit research and promising AI businesses.
🔟 Why Laude Matters in Today’s AI Landscape
As AI research becomes increasingly commercial, Laude fills a much-needed space by supporting independent, ethical AI research. It promotes applications in healthcare, civic discourse, workforce training, and science. With $100M in funding and top leadership, it aims to guide AI development in a socially beneficial and responsible direction.
