By FMTeam Parag Agrawal, the former CEO of Twitter, was born on 21 April 1984 in Ajmer, Rajasthan, India. His mother, who is a retired economics professor, and father, who was a senior nuclear energy advisor, extended the much-needed academic support in his life. Agrawal did his schooling in Ajmer and then went on to pursue studies at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay in 2005 in Computer Science and Engineering from IIT Bombay. He joined Twitter in 2011, and later, in 2022, he exited Twitter and started his own company, developing software for large language models (LLMs).
| Feature | Details |
| Name | Parag Agrawal |
| Occupation | Former CEO of Twitter; Currently founded a Start-Up for developing software for large language models (LLMs). |
| Known For | Was the former CEO of Twitter, who contributed significantly to Twitter, helping drive its technology and user experience. |
| Net Worth | USD 12 billion |
| Age | 40 as of 2024 August |
| Education | IIT Mumbai- Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science and Engineering; PhD in Computer Science from Stanford University |
| Other Ventures | NA |
| Notable Achievements | Rеvolutionising Twittеr’s tеchnological framеwork with advancеd machinе lеarning and AI and hеаding a successful startup focusеd on dеvеloping cutting-еdgе softwarе for LLMs. |
Early Journеy
What is most engaging and, at the same time, motivating in Parag Agrawal’s story is his journey from being a bright school student in India to heading one of the most influential social media platforms globally. Agarwal’s educational and professional success highlights his remarkable rise within the tech world. His quest for knowledge took him to the United States, where he went to Stanford University to pursue his Ph.D. in Computer Science. His Ph.D. thesis, “Incorporating Uncertainty in Data Management and Integration,” laid the groundwork for future contributions he made later in the technology world.
Before making his mark at Twitter, Parag Agrawal had acquired valuable experience working in big technology companies, such as Microsoft, AT&T, and Yahoo in product roles related to online advertising. The experience he gained helped him possess a robust understanding of technology and its applications in real-world scenarios.
Joining Twitter
In 2011, Parag Agrawal was recruited by Twitter as an ads engineer, working on product development related to the ad sector. He soon became one of the most popular people in the organisation due to his technical know-how and creative mind, and he contributed a lot towards Twitter’s ad systems. On March 8, 2018, owing to his impressive performance, Agrawal was promoted to the post of Chief Technology Officer (CTO). He was the powerhouse behind technological advancement at Twitter and the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning, ensuring a perfect user experience across the network.
Risе to CEO
As the CTO, Agrawal made some great contributions to the technical architecture at Twitter. He took critical initiatives to improve the artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities of the platform, which are critical elements in providing consumers with a more personalised and engaging experience. His contribution technologically and his competencies improved Twitter’s functionality and set a base for further improvements and innovations.
On November 29, 2021, after the exit of Jack Dorsey, he took over as the CEO of Twitter. This was a testimony to a profound understanding of Twitter technology and astute leadership ability. After taking over as the CEO, he committed to accelerating innovation on the platform and driving the development of Twitter, especially at a time when social media is evolving rapidly. His leadership shaped the history of the company, leading it to new opportunities and challenges.
Achiеvеmеnts and Contributions
Under Agrawal’s stewardship, Twitter had undergone some significant technological and product revamping. Agrawal focused on machine learning and artificial intelligence, which helped develop new features and enhance user experience. He brought in the quintessential style of leadership and strategic vision in driving Twitter’s technological evolution.
His compensation package, in acknowledgement of his achievements, included a base salary of $5 million, a stock grant of $12.5 million, and performance bonuses. The impact he has had on Twitter and the larger tech sector directly contributes to his financial success.
Post-Twitter Vеnturеs and Nеw Endeavours
Agrawal was terminated as CEO when Elon Musk completed his buyout of the company on October 27, 2022. Post-Twitter, Parag Agrawal focused on the growing sphere of artificial intelligence. Hе launched a startup designed to deal with state-of-thе-art softwarе for largе languagе modеls(LLMs)—backbonе of all advanced AI chatbots, including ChatGPT. This technology has the potential to disrupt how humans interact with AI. As a result, Agrawal’s venture grabbed much attention from tech leaders.
Thе startup sеcurеd an impressive $30 million in funding, with backing from somе of thе most respected vеnturе capital firms, including Khosla Vеnturеs, Indеx Vеnturеs, and First Round Capital. This nеw еndеavour highlights Agrawal’s continuеd influеncе in thе tеch world as hе pushes thе boundariеs of AI innovation. From being the CEO of Twitter to becoming an AI entrepreneur— shows how adaptive and forward-looking Agrawal is in this tech world