New York, NY — October 15, 2025 — Today, Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) announced it is recognizing Kentaro Kawamori, CEO & Co-Founder of Persefoni AI, Inc., as one of the Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs of 2025 at its Builders + Innovators Summit in Healdsburg, California. Goldman Sachs selected Kawamori from across multiple industries to be honored at the two-day event.
Kawamori is the CEO & Co-Founder of Persefoni AI, Inc., a leading Sustainability Management SaaS and AI platform for companies and financial institutions. Persefoni’s Climate Management & Accounting Platform is used globally to account for, disclose, and manage sustainability impact. A serial entrepreneur, his first venture-backed enterprise software company, Umbrage, was acquired by Bain & Company in 2023. Before founding Persefoni, he was an early-stage software investor at Rice Investment Group and held technical and executive roles at major technology firms, including serving as Chief Data Officer at Chesapeake Energy. He has been recognized with multiple awards, including Forbes 30 Under 30, EY Entrepreneur of the Year, and the SXSW Startup Competition.
"It’s an honor to be recognized alongside so many visionary founders,” said Kentaro Kawamori, CEO & Co-Founder of Persefoni AI. “Persefoni’s vision is to become the operating system for sustainability data — the trusted platform for organizations to measure, report, and exchange emissions information. Our strategy is to lead the market’s evolution from compliance software to a connected sustainability data ecosystem, combining focused product execution, network expansion, and AI-driven innovation."
“We are pleased to recognize Kentaro Kawamori as one of the most exceptional entrepreneurs of 2025,” said David Solomon, Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs. “The Persefoni team have not only built a successful enterprise, they are redefining industry paradigms. This year’s Summit has brought together many of the best business minds to talk about harnessing the full potential of AI and building the next generation of businesses.”
In its 14th year, Goldman’s Builders and Innovators Summit is the can’t miss gathering for Founders and CEOs of hypergrowth companies. Previous honorees have gone on to lead multi-billion dollar companies, both in the private and public markets. In addition to honoring the most exceptional entrepreneurs each year, the Summit consists of general sessions and clinics led by seasoned entrepreneurs, academics and business leaders as well as resident scholars.
About Persefoni
Persefoni AI Inc. offers businesses and financial institutions the software and AI tools to manage their organization’s sustainability data, disclosures, and performance with the same level of rigor and confidence as their financial reporting systems. With our platform, users can streamline their carbon footprint calculations, develop and oversee decarbonization strategies, and generate audit-ready sustainability reports. For more information about Persefoni, please visit https://www.persefoni.com/
About Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs is a leading global financial institution that delivers a broad range of financial services to a large and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals. Founded in 1869, the firm is headquartered in New York and maintains offices in all major financial centers around the world.
Press related questions about Persefoni, please contact press@persefoni.com
Press related questions about the Summit or Goldman Sachs, please contact Michael Bruen at Michael.Bruen@gs.com.
