Early Life and Education
Michael Intrator earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Binghamton University and later a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. His educational background in political science and public administration may have seemed unconventional for a future tech leader, but it provided him with a strong understanding of systems, governance, and strategic planning, which proved valuable in his subsequent career.
Rise to Success
Intrator's career began in the financial sector. He served as a Principal Portfolio Manager at Natsource Asset Management, where he focused on global environmental markets and energy products. Later, he co-founded and served as CEO of Hudson Ridge Asset Management, a natural gas hedge fund. In 2017, Intrator co-founded CoreWeave, originally as Atlantic Crypto, a cryptocurrency mining company. Recognizing the potential of GPUs beyond crypto, he pivoted the company to provide cloud computing infrastructure for AI workloads, marking a pivotal moment in his career. CoreWeave quickly grew, securing major deals with companies like Microsoft and OpenAI.
Key Business Strategies
Intrator's strategy centered on leveraging the power of GPUs for AI and advanced computing. He acquired GPUs and scaled them into CoreWeave's cloud platform. This involved securing innovative financing, including a $2.3 billion GPU-backed loan led by Blackstone in 2023. By 2024, CoreWeave had over 250,000 GPUs and reported $1.9 billion in revenue. CoreWeave's focus on AI-specific infrastructure set it apart, as it was designed from the ground up for AI workloads, giving it an edge in the market.
Philanthropy
While specific philanthropy amounts are unavailable, Intrator's focus on sustainability, including a $2 billion investment in data centers powered by renewable energy, suggests an interest in environmental initiatives.