In a landmark move in the escalating AI talent race, Google has secured a $2.4 billion deal to license technology from Windsurf, a fast-rising AI coding startup, and onboard its visionary CEO, Varun Mohan, along with co-founder Douglas Chen and key researchers to its DeepMind division. This strategic coup, which disrupted OpenAI’s reported $3 billion acquisition bid for Windsurf, underscores the growing influence of Indian-origin technologists in shaping global innovation.
Varun Mohan, born to Indian immigrant parents in Sunnyvale, California, has emerged as a central figure in Silicon Valley’s AI revolution. A math prodigy and MIT graduate with both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Computer Science, Mohan’s journey began at The Harker School in San Jose, where he excelled in math and computing Olympiads. His early career included impactful stints at tech giants like LinkedIn, Quora, Databricks, and Nuro, where he honed his expertise in GPU virtualization and machine learning systems. In 2021, Mohan co-founded Windsurf (initially named Codeium) with Douglas Chen, transforming it into a powerhouse for AI-driven software development tools.
Under Mohan’s leadership, Windsurf developed an AI-powered integrated development environment (IDE) that streamlines coding workflows, enabling over a million developers worldwide to move beyond repetitive tasks and focus on high-level problem-solving. The startup’s “vibe coding” approach, which leverages AI to make coding more intuitive, caught the attention of both OpenAI and Google. While OpenAI was in advanced talks to acquire Windsurf as recently as June 2025, Google’s $2.4 billion deal secured a non-exclusive license to Windsurf’s technology and brought Mohan, Chen, and key R&D staff to its DeepMind team, tasked with advancing “agentic coding” for Google’s Gemini AI model.
“We are excited to be joining Google DeepMind along with some of the Windsurf team” Mohan and Chen said in a joint statement, emphasizing their commitment to accelerating AI-driven coding innovation. Google’s move not only bolsters its AI coding capabilities but also positions it ahead in the fierce talent war among tech giants like OpenAI and Meta, who are vying for dominance in AI innovation.
Windsurf, now under interim CEO Jeff Wang, will continue to operate independently, licensing its technology to other enterprise clients. This hybrid model of talent integration and tech licensing is seen as a blueprint for future collaborations between startups and tech behemoths. “Windsurf’s enterprise AI coding tools aren’t going anywhere” Wang assured in a post on X, signaling the company’s ongoing growth trajectory.
Mohan’s ascent reflects the broader impact of Indian immigrants in driving technological and economic progress in the United States. His story adds to the narrative of Indian-origin leaders shaping Silicon Valley, from executives like Sabih Khan, Apple’s new COO, to those topping Forbes’ 2025 Richest Immigrants List. As Mohan steps into his role at Google DeepMind, his work on autonomous coding solutions could redefine how software is built, cementing his legacy as a trailblazer in AI.
Read more about the contributions of Indian immigrants to global innovation: Indian Immigrants Drive USA Wealth Creation: Top Forbes’ 2025 Richest Immigrants List
Apple Names Indian-American Executive Sabih Khan as New COO
Join the NRI News Club for the latest updates on the Indian diaspora’s global impact.