Entrepreneurship

Cofounder, CTO @ Kounselor

I implemented and developed an iOS app MVP using React and Node.js by leading a team of ex-Facebook and ex-Googlers. We were able to pitch and raise seed funding from AV8 ventures. Our pressed startup aimed to connect college mentees to upperclassmen and industry mentors. Since, we have wrapped shop and merged with what is now Leland--a marketplace for ambitious people to access coaching and communities they need in order to reach their career and educational goals. In engineering and science, it is easy to get fixated on certain problems or fields, but this experience gave me the confidence to explore opportunities for me outside the traditional ecosystems I am a part of. By leveraging data analytics and machine learning, I've been to build a supportive community that fosters learning, growth, and innovation, while providing opportunities for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and networking to facilitate new ideas, perspectives, and approaches to problem-solving.

Status: Completed

Dates: August 2020-December 2021

Advisor: Kounselor Cofounders

Hours: 1000+

Project Intern @ Sublime Systems

I led a team of seven undergraduates to draft and present a research report to the founders optimizing GTM strategy and analyzing the implementation potential of their carbon-neutral cement production system with other renewable energies in the US market. Sublime Systems (Yet-Ming Chiang Lab at MIT) is developing breakthroughs to make low-carbon cement for the construction industry. This opportunity was sponsored by Duke's Energy Club. Through this experience, I've been able to work with engineers and scientists developing new materials, processes, and equipment to reduce carbon emission, which is critical for scientific discovery in the energy space. As a project manager, I've been able to exercise my engineering hat by analyzing data and developing new hypotheses and theories in the energy industry. In this way, I've been able to play a critical role in Sublime System's path to scale.

Status: Completed

Dates: September 2021-December 2021,

Advisor: Leah Ellis (CEO)

Hours: 50

Venture Partner @ VU Venture Partners and Seedscout

I have been a venture partner with VU Venture Partners and Seedscout. I developed investment theses around various industry verticals, including consumer, crypto, and frontier tech. I sourced 1000+ investment opportunities by meeting and evaluating pre-seed through growth-stage companies raising capital. I drafted and presented recommendations with waterfall modeling to make 15 strategic investments collaboratively with the general partners. I am currently working with Seedscout to fulfill their pivot to the first social network for venture capitalists. Through venture capital, I have been able to quantify the velocity of innovation ecosystems in SF, NY, Arizona, and Singapore, and that a successful innovator is not only an adept engineer but also a great businessman. By investing in promising startups developing new technologies and products, I've been able to participate in the acceleration of scientific discoveries. In evaluating these new technologies, I learned that I have the potential to transform industries and society. Through due diligence, analyzing market trends, and working closely with entrepreneurs, I've helped engineers and scientists navigate the challenges of commercializing new technologies, identified which promising products are critical for driving scientific discovery, and created networks and partnerships that facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Status: In Progress

Dates: December 2021-Present

Supervisor: J. Skyler Fernandes

Hours: 1000+

Co-Founder @ CrowdCraft

CrowdCraft is a pioneering crowdsourcing marketplace tailored for AI creatives. Originating from a modest AI art competition for a local pizzeria, it has flourished into a dynamic platform that blends gig work with crowdsourcing. This innovative space empowers businesses to initiate competitions for unique AI projects, thus fostering a diverse pool of talent ranging from amateurs to professionals. CrowdCraft's business model includes earning revenue through service fees on prize money, while also offering value-added services such as AI tool subscriptions, expert-led prompt engineering classes, and utilizing victorious submissions for impactful advertising. At the heart of CrowdCraft's operations is a competition-based approach, which not only facilitates a vibrant marketplace for AI art competitions but also encourages AI artists to conduct their own contests, enhancing both fun and brand development. The overarching mission of CrowdCraft, under my leadership as CEO and co-founder, is the democratization of AI art, making it accessible and contributable for individuals regardless of their expertise level. My firsthand experiences in this role have illuminated the profound influence that novel AI tools and breakthroughs can have on various industries. A critical aspect of this journey involves identifying and exploring innovation gaps that have emerged due to the rapid evolution of AI technologies, ensuring continuous growth and adaptation in this swiftly changing landscape.

Status: In Progress

Dates: January 2023-Present

Advisor: Self

Hours: 1000+