Linden Li
Linden Li is a machine learning systems engineer and entrepreneur who worked at OpenAI on machine learning systems and infrastructure for reinforcement learning training, and later co-founded Applied Compute, an AI company that trains and deploys specialized models for enterprises, with Yash Patil and Rhythm GargRhythm GargRhythm Garg is an artificial intelligence researcher and entrepreneur who worked on reasoning models at OpenAI and was listed as a core contributor to the o1 model, and who later co-founded Applied Compute, an AI company that helps businesses train and improve models they own, with Yash Patil and Linden Li.Open the full entry.
Contents7 sections
Key facts
2025Leaving OpenAI to Found Applied Compute
According to ForbesForbesForbes is an American business media brand that began with Forbes magazine, founded by B.C. Forbes in 1917. It is known for rankings such as the Forbes 400, the World’s Billionaires list and 30 Under 30, and operates Forbes.com, ForbesLive events and licensed editions in 81 countries. Since 2014 a majority stake has been held by the Hong Kong investment group Integrated Whale Media; a 2021 plan to list on the New York Stock Exchange through a special purpose acquisition company was terminated in 2022. It is headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey.Open the full entry, he focused on machine learning systems at OpenAI and later left together with fellow OpenAI researchers Yash Patil and Rhythm Garg to found Applied Compute; the three had met at Stanford University. The company raised a $20 million seed round in June 2025.[1]
A company post says he was a core contributor at OpenAI to machine learning systems and infrastructure for reinforcement learning training.[2]
October 29, 2025Applied Compute Goes Public
On October 29, 2025, he and his two co-founders published a signed post introducing Applied Compute, saying the company had raised $80 million from investors including Benchmark, Sequoia, Lux and Elad Gil.[2]
March 24, 2026Co-Authoring a Post on Speeding Up Reinforcement Learning
The company blog shows that in March 2026 he co-wrote a research post with Agastya Goel on speeding up reinforcement learning with high-leverage samples, and in April of that year co-wrote a post with Oam Patel benchmarking inference engines on agentic workloads.[3]
April 8, 2026Closing an $80 Million Funding Round
On April 8, 2026, Applied Compute announced $80 million in new financing led by Kleiner Perkins at a $1.3 billion post-money valuation, bringing total funding to $160 million; Latham & WatkinsLatham & WatkinsLatham & Watkins is an international law firm founded in Los Angeles in 1934 by Dana Latham and Paul R. Watkins. Starting from tax and labor law, it grew into a full-service firm covering M&A, capital markets, finance, litigation and regulatory work; by 2025 revenue it is the world’s second-highest-grossing law firm.Open the full entry, which advised the company, also announced the round.[4][5]
September 2026Reported Talks on a New Funding Round
Forbes reported in September 2026 that Applied Compute was in talks to raise $350 million at a $3.25 billion valuation, led by Elad Gil; the company cautioned that the figures could still change before the round closed.[1]
Related Organizations, Websites, and Public Accounts
OpenAI: Official website: https://openai.com/ (opens in a new window)[1]
Applied Compute: Official website: https://www.appliedcompute.com/ (opens in a new window)[2]