From Open Source Innovator to Tech Entrepreneur and Board Member
Building the Future of Streaming Data
Neha Narkhede is a technology entrepreneur best known as the co-founder and former CTO of Confluent, a leading streaming data technology company. She played a pivotal role in developing Apache Kafka, an open-source platform for real-time data streaming, which has become an industry standard used by global enterprises.
From Engineer to Entrepreneur
After co-creating Apache Kafka while working at LinkedIn, Narkhede and her co-founders saw its potential to revolutionize data infrastructure. In 2014, they launched Confluent, a company dedicated to providing enterprise-grade Kafka solutions. Under her leadership as CTO, Confluent grew into a multi-billion-dollar business, helping organizations process data in real time.
Continuing Influence in Tech
While she has stepped away from an executive role, Narkhede remains a board member at Confluent, shaping the company’s strategic direction. Her contributions to streaming data, cloud computing, and AI-driven infrastructure continue to impact the industry.
Conclusion
As a pioneer in real-time data processing, Neha Narkhede’s work with Apache Kafka and Confluent has transformed modern software architecture. From open-source innovation to entrepreneurial leadership, she remains an influential force in the world of technology.