Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora 之女 Ayesha 筹备超1亿美元 AI 风投基金，其父仅任顾问，与上市公司经营无直接关联

Ayesha is targeting raising over $100 million for the fund to back AI companies, from startups developing AI applications to those making the infrastructure that powers and runs AI, one of the people said. And she’s already made her first investment, the person added, though which startup she backed couldn’t be learned.

Nikesh has plenty of experience with startups and investment firms. Before joining Palo Alto Networks, he served as president and chief operating officer of SoftBank when the Japanese conglomerate made an effort to invest in emerging markets like India, backing companies including ride-hailing service Ola and e-commerce marketplace Snapdeal.

He’s now the chair and CEO of Palo Alto Networks, a frequent buyer of startups. Most recently, Nikesh [has been on the hunt for new cybersecurity startups](https://www.theinformation.com/articles/inside-nikesh-aroras-deals-hunt-palo-alto-networks), a search undergirded by the belief that the sophistication of AI agents will reshape how companies protect their IT systems against cyberthreats.

And in April, megafund [General Catalyst appointed Nikesh](https://www.theinformation.com/briefings/general-catalyst-appoints-palo-alto-networks-arora-board) to serve as the firm’s first lead independent director on its board.

Ayesha previously worked at VC firm S32, which she left in July, and has invested in companies including [coding agent Factory](https://www.theinformation.com/newsletters/dealmaker/behind-factory-founders-spat-cognition-key-hire), legal tech startup Legora and chip designer Etched, according to her LinkedIn.

Ayesha isn’t the first child of a tech executive to launch their own investment firm. In 2023, Reed Jobs, the eldest son of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, founded his own venture fund, [Yosemite](https://www.theinformation.com/articles/reed-jobs-to-start-400-million-vc-fund-testing-appetite-for-new-funds), to focus on investments in cancer-related startups.

[Jobs’ VC firm](https://www.theinformation.com/articles/can-reed-jobs-son-steve), now three years old, initially set out to raise $400 million and has accumulated $1.2 billion in assets under management, according to data firm PitchBook.

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