PeopleofSuperintelligence

Builder

Douglas Chen

Douglas Chen co-founded Codeium, the AI coding startup that later became Windsurf. Before that, he helped build software tools for VR headsets at Meta, and in 2021 he and Varun Mohan started the company as Exafunction. The company turned toward generative coding in 2022 and raised a $150 million Series C at a $1.25 billion valuation in August 2024. In July 2025 Google DeepMind hired him and Mohan, and Cognition agreed to acquire Windsurf. He is at Google DeepMind, where the team works on Gemini efforts for coding agents and tool use.

Timeline

  1. By 2021

    Building VR software at Meta

    Before co-founding Codeium in 2021, he helps build software tools for VR headsets like the Oculus Quest at Meta.

  2. 2021

    Co-founding Exafunction

    He and Varun Mohan, a childhood friend and fellow MIT graduate, start the company in 2021 as Exafunction, a GPU virtualization software company.

  3. 2022

    A pivot to generative coding

    In 2022 he and Mohan pivot toward generative coding and rebrand the company.

  4. August 2024

    A $1.25 billion valuation

    In August 2024 Codeium, the AI coding startup he co-founded, closes a $150 million Series C that values the company at $1.25 billion.

  5. July 2025

    Joining Google DeepMind

    In July 2025 Google DeepMind hires him and Varun Mohan, the Windsurf CEO, along with some of the startup's top researchers. Demis Hassabis welcomes them and ties their work to Gemini efforts on coding agents.

  6. July 2025

    Cognition acquires Windsurf

    Cognition signs a definitive agreement in July 2025 to acquire Windsurf, formerly known as Codeium.

  7. Since 2025

    A role at Google DeepMind

    He is at Google DeepMind, where Demis Hassabis says the team works on Gemini efforts in coding agents and tool use.

Sources and credits

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  1. GitHub Copilot competitor Codeium raises $150M at a $1.25B valuation | TechCrunch techcrunch.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  2. Windsurf: Transforming how software is built | Kleiner Perkins kleinerperkins.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  3. Windsurf's CEO goes to Google; OpenAI's acquisition falls apart | TechCrunch techcrunch.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  4. OpenAI's Windsurf Deal is Dead — Google just Poached the CEO Instead maginative.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  5. Google hires Indian origin Windsurf CEO Varun Mohan to boost Gemini’s AI coding ambitions - BusinessToday businesstoday.in. Checked 15 October 2026.
  6. Cognition agrees to buy what's left of Windsurf | InfoWorld infoworld.com. Checked 15 October 2026.