Michael Intrator, the CEO of CoreWeave, has become one of the most talked-about leaders in the AI cloud industry. His journey from studying political science and public administration to running one of the fastest-growing GPU cloud companies in the world is nothing short of remarkable. Today, he stands at the center of CoreWeave’s rapid rise, guiding the company’s transformation from a crypto-mining experiment into a global powerhouse in AI infrastructure.
Early Life and Education
Michael Intrator earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Binghamton University before pursuing a Master of Public Administration at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. His education in policy and analysis may not have seemed like a traditional path to technology, but it gave him a sharp understanding of systems, governance, and long-term planning skills that shaped his later career.
Career Beginnings: Finance and Hedge Funds
Before co-founding CoreWeave, Intrator built a strong career in finance. He spent over 15 years at Natsource Asset Management as Principal Portfolio Manager, where he specialized in global environmental markets and energy products. In 2013, he co-founded Hudson Ridge Asset Management, a natural gas hedge fund, and served as its CEO until 2018. These experiences in high-stakes trading sharpened his risk management instincts and prepared him to navigate the unpredictable tech world.
Founding CoreWeave
In 2017, Intrator co-founded CoreWeave, originally called Atlantic Crypto, with two partners. What began as a cryptocurrency mining business soon evolved into something much larger. When the crypto market weakened, Intrator seized the opportunity to repurpose GPU resources into high-performance cloud infrastructure. This decision marked the turning point that would push CoreWeave into the AI spotlight.
Strategic Vision: Scaling with GPUs
Intrator’s strategy centered on a bold bet: GPUs would be the lifeblood of artificial intelligence and advanced computing. He capitalized on a market downturn, acquiring GPUs at discounted prices and scaling them into CoreWeave’s cloud platform. By securing innovative financing most notably a $2.3 billion GPU-backed loan led by Blackstone in 2023 he expanded CoreWeave’s capacity and positioned the company as a leader in AI computing. By 2024, CoreWeave had over 250,000 GPUs and reported $1.9 billion in revenue.
Recognition and Achievements
Under Intrator’s leadership, CoreWeave has attracted major partners like Nvidia, which invested $100 million for a stake in the company, and Microsoft, which partnered on cloud expansion. In 2024, Intrator received EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award in Technology Infrastructure for his visionary leadership. He has also overseen the company’s push toward renewable energy and sustainable operations, ensuring CoreWeave’s growth aligns with global climate goals.
CoreWeave Today and Future Outlook
Today, CoreWeave operates over 32 data centers across the U.S. and Europe, including one of the world’s fastest AI supercomputers in Texas built with Nvidia. The company powers AI applications for top developers and enterprises, delivering advanced compute solutions at massive scale. With global expansion underway, CoreWeave is poised to become one of the most influential cloud players in the AI era.
Why His Story Stands Out
Michael Intrator’s journey resonates because it combines risk-taking with strategic vision. He turned a volatile crypto venture into a thriving AI infrastructure company. His leadership shows how unconventional backgrounds like policy studies and energy finance can create fresh approaches to technology leadership. For anyone watching the AI revolution, following Intrator’s next moves will be both insightful and inspiring.
Looking Forward
Michael Intrator’s role as CEO of CoreWeave highlights the power of foresight and adaptability. From academia to hedge funds, and from crypto mining to AI infrastructure, his path is proof that innovation often begins at the intersection of unexpected experiences. As CoreWeave continues to scale, Intrator’s influence on the AI industry will only grow stronger.
