Global AI Frontier LabAdvisory Council Member
Jan 2026 — Present
William Falcon is founder and CEO of Lightning AI and the creator of PyTorch Lightning, the open-source framework for training deep-learning models. Before Lightning, he co-founded NextGenVest as CTO, worked on Goldman Sachs’ Marquee Strategy Studio, and conducted deep-learning research at Columbia and NYU, including a research internship at Facebook AI. He earned a BA in statistics and computer science from Columbia and pursued an AI PhD at NYU before taking leave.
William Falcon is founder and CEO of Lightning AI and the creator of PyTorch Lightning, the open-source framework for training deep-learning models. Before Lightning, he co-founded NextGenVest as CTO, worked on Goldman Sachs’ Marquee Strategy Studio, and conducted deep-learning research at Columbia and NYU, including a research internship at Facebook AI. He earned a BA in statistics and computer science from Columbia and pursued an AI PhD at NYU before taking leave.
Career
Lightning AIFounder and CEO
Apr 2019 — Present
New York UniversityDeep-learning PhD researcher (later on leave)
Aug 2018 — Mar 2023
Facebook AI ResearchResearch Scientist Intern
Jun 2019 — Dec 2019
NextGenVestCo-founder and CTO
Dec 2016 — Aug 2018
Columbia UniversityDeep Learning Researcher, Paninski Lab
Sep 2016 — Jun 2018
Goldman SachsSoftware Engineer, Marquee Strategy Studio
Aug 2015 — Jul 2016
FreelanceFounding Product Manager and iOS Lead
Jun 2013 — Aug 2015
Merrill LynchInternational Financial Advisor
Jul 2011 — Jun 2013
US Navy, Naval Special Warfare CommandNaval Officer; BUD/S candidate and SRT-1 support assignment
Jan 2008 — Jun 2011