This month, Case Western Reserve University hosts its annual homecoming celebration, bringing together students, families and alumni on campus. In honor of the many graduates who have helped shape the university and their respective industries, we will highlight a few of our outstanding alumni this month.
If you’re reading this message on Gmail today, you’ve got an alumnus to thank. Paul Buchheit (CWR ’98; GRS ’98, computer engineering) created and led the development of Gmail, a free email service launched publicly in 2004.
Buchheit became Google’s 23rd employee in 1999, and in addition to his work on Gmail, made the first prototype for AdSense.
Today, he is a partner at venture capitalist firm Y Combinator.
Buchheit gave the 2012 commencement address at Case Western Reserve.