Javed Karim is the co-founder of Y Ventures. Karim is also the founder of PayPal. He was a co-founder and advisor to YouTube. He graduated from Central High School and attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He left the university before graduation to become one of PayPal’s first employees, but continued his studies, earning a bachelor’s degree in computer science in 2004. After starting the company and developing the YouTube concept and website with Chad Hurley and Steve Chen, he enrolled in Stanford University’s graduate program in computer science while serving as a YouTube advisor.

Professional Experience

Co-Founder & Technology Advisor | 2005 – 2006

YouTube

• Co-founded the pioneering video-sharing platform that revolutionized online content sharing
• Created and uploaded the first video to the platform (“Me at the zoo”)
• Developed initial concept and website architecture alongside co-founders
• Served as informal advisor while pursuing graduate studies
• Contributed to company’s growth leading to successful $1.65B acquisition by Google
• Received 137,443 shares of stock following Google acquisition

Software Engineer | 2002 – 2005

PayPal

• Designed core components of the payment processing system
• Developed real-time anti-fraud system
• Collaborated with future YouTube co-founders Steve Chen and Chad Hurley
• Contributed to platform security and payment processing infrastructure

Intern | During University

Silicon Graphics, Inc.

• Worked on 3D voxel data management for large data sets
• Managed volume rendering projects
• Contributed to the Visible Human Project
• Developed solutions for handling very large data sets

Jawed Karim Investment Portfolio

• Corgea
  • Stage: Seed
  • Date: November 2024
  • Round Size: $3M
  • Total Raised: $3M
• Double
  • Stage: Seed
  • Date: May 2024
  • Round Size: $3M
  • Total Raised: $16M
• Socket

• • Stage: Series A
  • Date: August 2023
  • Round Size: $20M
  • Total Raised: $77M

• Formatech

• • Stage: Seed
  • Date: January 2020
  • Round Size: $7M
  • Total Raised: $7M
  • Co-investors: Steve Chen

• Rocket Money
  • Stage: Series B & Series A
  • Dates: October 2019 (Series B), October 2018 (Series A)
  • Round Size: $15M (Series B), $5M (Series A)
  • Total Raised: $67M
• Gustav
  • Stage: Seed
  • Date: January 2017
  • Round Size: $980K
  • Total Raised: $1.6M
• Circle Medical

• • Stage: Seed
  • Date: November 2015
  • Round Size: $3M
  • Total Raised: $11M

• Ambronite

• • Stage: Seed
  • Date: September 2015
  • Round Size: $600K
  • Total Raised: $600K

Education

Stanford University

• Master’s Degree in Computer Science

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science
• Returned as youngest commencement speaker in school history (136th commencement)
• Delivered lecture on YouTube’s growth at ACM Conference

Skills

• Software Engineering
• Platform Architecture
• Anti-Fraud Systems
• 3D Data Management
• Start-up Development
• Technology Innovation
• System Design
• Multiple Languages: English, German (native), Bengali

Notable Achievements

• Created first YouTube account (“jawed”)
• Uploaded first video to YouTube platform
• Youngest commencement speaker at University of Illinois (2008)
• Key contributor to PayPal’s anti-fraud systems

Contact Information

Website – www.jawed.com

Youtube channel – https://www.youtube.com/user/jawed