Trevor Blackwell
TL;DR Trevor Blackwell is an engineer, inventor, and entrepreneur best known as a co-founder of both Y Combinator and OpenAI, combining his deep expertise in robotics with a vision for advancing human-centered artificial intelligence.
Trevor Blackwell by Sora
Trevor Blackwell is an American computer scientist, engineer, and entrepreneur whose career spans cutting-edge robotics and the founding of two of the most influential organizations in modern technology, Y Combinator and OpenAI. His work bridges the worlds of hardware engineering and artificial intelligence, making him a rare figure equally comfortable designing robots and helping shape the future of AI research.
Blackwell earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Harvard University, specializing in dynamic systems and control theory. Early in his career, he joined Viaweb, one of the first web-based software companies, founded by Paul Graham and later acquired by Yahoo. This collaboration led to the creation of Y Combinator in 2005, the startup accelerator that would nurture groundbreaking companies such as Airbnb, Stripe, and, eventually, OpenAI.
In 2015, Blackwell became one of the co-founders of OpenAI, alongside Sam Altman, Elon Musk, Greg Brockman, Ilya Sutskever, and others. OpenAI was established with the mission of ensuring that artificial general intelligence (AGI) benefits all of humanity. Blackwell’s engineering expertise and entrepreneurial insight helped shape the organization’s early direction and research ethos.
Outside of AI, Blackwell founded Anybots, a robotics company that developed telepresence and humanoid robots, reflecting his long-standing fascination with machine intelligence and motion. His projects often combine creativity and practicality, emphasizing how technology can empower human capability rather than replace it.
Co-founder of OpenAI, a leading research organization advancing artificial general intelligence
Co-founder of Y Combinator, one of the most successful startup accelerators in the world
Founder of Anybots, a robotics company pioneering telepresence and self-balancing robots
Ph.D. in Computer Science from Harvard University, with a focus on control systems and dynamic motion
Early engineer at Viaweb, one of the first web application companies (later acquired by Yahoo)
Influential figure in the intersection of robotics, entrepreneurship, and artificial intelligence
