Jitendra Mohan, Sanjay Gajendra and Casey Morrison from the United States named EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2026
Jitendra Mohan, Sanjay Gajendra and Casey Morrison, co-founders of Astera Labs, were named EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 winners at an awards ceremony held at the Salle des Étoiles in Monaco. They were selected from nearly 5,000 program participants, including 58 winners from 46 countries and regions who competed for the global title. He is the fourth winner from the United States in the award's 26-year history.
Jitendra Mohan, Sanjay Gajendra and Casey Morrison have built their careers on a shared belief: connectivity is the key to unlocking the full potential of AI. Working together at a leading global semiconductor company, they concluded that overcoming the limitations of data transfer and performance is critical to the next level of innovation in AI.
In 2017, they stepped down from their roles to found Astera Labs, with the goal of creating software-defined connectivity solutions built specifically for AI-dedicated data centers. Starting out of a garage in Silicon Valley, the company overcame many initial challenges, including new technical standards, identifying the right talent, an unprepared ecosystem, and attracting funding in a highly competitive environment.
The founders overcame these difficulties through a firm commitment to customer satisfaction and a constant focus on innovation, and the company has since become a trusted partner to major players in the technology sector. Today, Astera Labs has more than 1,000 employees in 13 offices globally, a market capitalization of $54 billion and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 120% starting in 2022. Following a successful IPO in 2024, Astera Labs has continued to operate at the forefront of AI infrastructure, guided by a vision for technological advancement that can transform industries and improve lives.
Romania was represented by Laurentiu Bălașa, CEO of Bible Chat, and Marius Iordache, CTO of Bible Chat, winners of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Romania 2025 competition. Bible Chat is an innovative company in the field of religious technology, dedicated to using artificial intelligence to bring people closer to God and help them develop spiritually, emotionally and mentally.
Bogdan Ion, Country Managing Partner EY Romania and Moldova: “This year's edition shows very clearly that artificial intelligence is already a central factor in how companies with a global impact are built. Both the winners of the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 and Romania's representatives, Bible Chat, demonstrate that innovation around AI can generate scalable and internationally relevant business models. It is a strong signal that the entrepreneurs who build
technology-based business models can accelerate quickly and have an impact beyond the markets in which they started.”
“We thank EY for the privilege of being part of this community of exceptional entrepreneurs. For us, the simple participation is an important recognition of a path built with perseverance, risk and the belief that technology must produce not only growth, but also real value for people”, said Laurentiu Bălașa and Marius Iordache.
Global organization EY annually hosts the World Entrepreneur Of The Year event to celebrate the achievements of visionary leaders who confidently shape the future, contribute to economic growth and respond to global challenges. The event brings together founders, CEOs and business leaders for networking opportunities and workshops, culminating in the announcement of the global winner.
The winner of the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 was selected by an independent jury based on four criteria: entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth and impact. This year's jury included acclaimed entrepreneurs from around the world and was chaired by Asif Ramji, Founder and CEO of Venture Worx.
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About EY Romania
EY is one of the largest global professional services firms, with 406,209 employees in more than 700 offices in 150 countries and revenues of approximately $53.2 billion in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Their network is the most integrated globally and the resources within it help them provide clients with services to take advantage of opportunities around the world.
Present in Romania since 1992, EY provides, through its more than 1,000 employees in Romania and the Republic of Moldova, integrated audit services, fiscal, legal, strategy and transaction assistance, consulting to multinational and local companies.
We have offices in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, Iasi and Chisinau. In 2014, EY Romania joined the only worldwide competition dedicated to entrepreneurship, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year. The winner of the local edition represents Romania in the world final that takes place every year, in June, in Monte Carlo. In the world final, the title of World Entrepreneur Of The Year is awarded. For more information, visit www.ey.com.
Article supported by EY Romania
