Rajeev Motwani, Google founders’ professor and early investor, dies

June 5, 2009 | Camille Ricketts | Comments | |

Rajeev Motwani, the Stanford professor of computer science known best for advising Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, passed away today unexpectedly. Widely praised for his investing acumen — having backed both Google and PayPal early on — he will be remembered for his genuine passion for teaching and technology.

Prior to his involvement with Google, Motwani founded the Mining Data at Stanford project (MIDAS), an umbrella organization for several groups looking into new and innovative data management concepts. As an academic, he was also very interested in data privacy, web search, robotics, computational drug design and theoretical computer science. He co-authored a book titled Randomized Algorithms, as well as a textbook, and produced numerous technology patents. For his work, he received a long list of awards, including the prestigious Godel Prize, the Okawa Foundation Research Award and the Arthur Sloan Research Fellowship. He was still teaching classes as recently as last quarter.

Motwani was a nurturing force for many startups, according to close friend and GigaOm editor Om Malik. As an investor and advisor, he sat on the boards of Google, Kaboodle, Mimosa Systems, Adchemy, Baynote, Vuclip and Stanford Student Enterprises, among many others. He was also active in the Business Association of Stanford Engineering Students (BASES).

Originally from New Delhi, Motwani earned his bachelor’s degree in computer science from IIT Kanpur in 1983, and his doctorate from UC Berkeley in 1988. He arrived at Stanford shortly thereafter. As a pillar of the Silicon Valley and Bay Area academic communities, he will be dearly missed.

In his farewell post, Malik writes, “I am sure I am not the only one who has benefited from [Motwani's] generosity of time and knowledge and his ability to create connections and help others.”

VentureBeat would like to echo his condolences and warm wishes for Motwani’s family.

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About the Author, Camille Ricketts

Camille is the lead writer for GreenBeat. She came to VentureBeat from Google where she worked on its traditional platforms team, particularly in TV. Before that, she was a reporter for the Wall Street Journal in New York and London. Follow her on Twitter at @camillericketts, and follow VentureBeat on Twitter at @venturebeat.

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  • cantab
    Very sad. Rajeev was one of the world's smartest researchers as well as being prominent in industry. He was a role model for computer science faculty around California and the world.
  • CAguy
    A gifted intelelctual with a passion for helping human beings succeed, a great friend. May his family find solace from the goodwill that he has created over the pst 20 eyars.

    Friends, step up and help his kids succeed just as he has helped all of us!
  • This is real sad news. Rajeev was definitely one of the names we associate Silicon Valley with. May hi soul rest in peace.
  • Anand
    i just finished his cs154 class this quarter. he was one of the most lucid of professors. am still reeling from this tragic news...
  • Michael
    I agree. To think that we were in his last lecture this past Tuesday is still chilling. He was a great professor and taught very well. It was an honor to take CS154 with Motwani and it is sad to see him go. My deepest condolences go to his friends and family.
  • BASES = Business Association of Stanford Entrepreneurial Students. I believe the "E" in BASES used to stand for "Engineering."

    I never knew Motwani, but he sounded like a great guy.
  • Its really sad news for all Indians. Rajeev jee was definitely one of the name who belongs to the great personality of India. he was one of the most lucid professor. May his soul rest in peace.
  • It sounds like he was definitely someone very receptive to new companies, something this industry really needs right now.
  • sridhar sourirajan
    I knew Rajeev before he was famous....After his IITK days and before he became a Silicon Valley legend. We were together at a software company in Delhi for a few months before he decamped to UC Berkeley and I went to Washington State. Sadly, I lost touch him with him after his Berkeley days, but have followed his awesome accomplishments through mutual friends and press. All the warm tributes I've been reading -- no one deserved them more. "Moat-wane" as we used to call him -- I will miss you so dearly. You've left a lasting legacy in probably the most competetive arena in the world and I can never google anything anymore without thinking of your seminal contribution to the underlying search engine.

    Motwane, rest in peace....
  • Gowtham
    I am big fan of 'Theory of computation'. He is an expert in that field, I infact wanted to a course under him next season when ever offered. This is just to explain how much I am fan of this great person. He will be missed, very badly :( May his soul rest in peace.
  • P.K. Garg MD
    I learned about this tragic loss when my son called me very upset and said. Apparantly he met Mr Motwani day before. More I learned about Mr Rajiv Motwani more I got saddened.
    He seems to have served BharatMata well by doing and creating good things and people for the betterment of the whole human kind. Our family pray for Shanti of his soul. Our heartfelt condolenses to the family of Mr Motwani.
    P.K.Garg
  • Born on March 26, 1962 - a short lived life that influenced many and even the world.
  • He is in God's hands now. Sad to hear that another highly renowned individual with a great intellectual gift has passed away. I admire him for passing his knowledge to Sergey Brin and Larry Page. Rajeev Motwani, you're truly a legend!