Founders in our network — from podcast guests to friends running things worth watching.
Founder of LEARN-X · Co-Host
FounderPersonalized AI learning — teaches each student using what they actually care about (basketball, gaming, the domain they love) as the source of examples.
Computer engineering at Iowa State (econ + business minor). Building LEARN-X — RAG pipelines, pgvector, Canvas LMS integration, 84 beta users. Co-hosts TechNolgia.
CEO of Throwly · Co-Host
FounderThe first agentic marketplace for cashless bartering — list an item, an AI prices it in points, no money changes hands.
CEO of Throwly. MS in AI on top of a BS in software engineering. Co-hosts TechNolgia and ships agentic infrastructure on the side.
Founder of Souvenir
FounderOne workspace for the world's leading AI models — persistent memory, intelligent routing, and workflows that compound your work over time.
HCI master's at Iowa State, studio assistant at the AI Innovation Studio, ex co-founder/CDO at Throwly. Background spans fintech, accessibility, and AI design across Akounto, Syska, and Decathlon FLX.
Founder of Fapply
FounderAI job application co-pilot - Helping Job seekers land interviews Website https://www.fapply.ai
Software Engineer, Data Scientist, and Founder of fapply, an AI-powered job-application automation tool. Based in the Greater Chicago Area, Sami has experience in Generative AI development at Toyota North America, specializing in AI security, red-teaming, and building guardrail systems for LLMs. He previously worked at John Deere on computer vision pipelines, dashboards, and data engineering, and held software engineering internships at Danfoss and Deere. Sami also served as a Head Teaching Assistant at Iowa State University, where he studied Software Engineering and Data Science.
Founder of Brik · Scalar News
FounderA compact wallet/organizer with an integrated multi-phone tracking chip — the AirTag alternative that works on Android too.
Iowa State CS senior, patent holder, president of ISU's Algorithmic Trading Club. Self-described 6× hackathon winner, 8× pitch competition winner, 1× exited founder.
Founder of SupperSquad
FounderAllergy-friendly restaurant menus + an iMessage app for group voting — so people with food allergies can pick a place the whole table can eat at.
Iowa State CS senior from Gurnee, IL. Eagle Scout, content creator since 8th grade, three-startup founder, Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute alum.
Founder/Partner of OAVAO
FounderAutonomous drone-swarm systems for commercial operations — built at the intersection of robotics, control engineering, and disciplined execution.
builder at heart—of businesses, systems, content, and moments that leave a lasting impact. Right now, I am leading a startup focused on research and development of autonomous drone swarms for commercial use cases. My background blends hands-on engineering with a love for storytelling and entrepreneurship. I’m drawn to work that requires ownership, discipline, and vision—always looking for the edge between structure and creativity. Whether I’m building a drone, designing a controller, or brainstorming new business ideas, my goal is simple: To build things that connect people, reflect purpose, and to serve Him.
CEO of CoralX
FounderAI-powered bioinformatics + climate-engineering tools protecting global coral ecosystems through data-driven intervention.
a Climate Engineer and Bioinformatics Research Scientist. My academic and professional journey, spanning from Iowa State University to leading the CoralX Foundation, has been driven by one core passion: making a tangible impact on both regional and global scales. I believe in the power of merging biology with technology to address some of the world's most pressing challenges. Whether it's advocating for the health of our coral reefs or delving deep into the intricacies of DNA genome data, my mission is to harness science and innovation for the greater good. I'm on LinkedIn to connect with other forward-thinking leaders and changemakers worldwide. If you're as passionate about creating meaningful change as I am, I'd love to collaborate and amplify our collective impact. Let's connect!
CEO of Amarium
FounderA personal-style intelligence app that helps people build better wardrobes — combining outfit curation, closet organization, and AI-powered recommendations into one streamlined fashion experience. Amarium learns your style, understands what you already own, and suggests looks that fit your aesthetic, your budget, and your day-to-day life.
currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, with a strong passion for mechanical design and innovative technology. My experiences, including internships and involvement in organizations like NSBE, have equipped me with leadership, communication, and technical skills. I have also gained extensive knowledge in SolidWorks through my coursework. Outside of my academic pursuits, I enjoy building things, reading, working out, and traveling.
Senior Consultant @IBM
FounderSenior Consultant @IBM
Rising technology and financial professional with experience in data analytics, financial management, application support, and technical troubleshooting. Strong financial analytical skills with exceptional critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills. Proficient and exposed in multiple financial and technological software such as: MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS: JAVA, C#, DATABASE MANAGEMENT(MySQL), PROJECT MANAGEMENT FINANCE: BLOOMBERG,BANK MATE, PRINCIPIA, DATAWAREMHOUSE,TRADEWEB,SIMCORP, HUB,ONBASE
Senior Engr. @LinkedIn
FounderSenior Engr. @LinkedIn
Passionate Systems and Infrastructure Software Engineer, driven to bring innovation into the world 🚀🔥 Experienced with all the newest and coolest: Rust, AWS, GoLang and Kubernetes. Also familiar with more long standing tooling and languages: Java, C, C++, Python, and more. A sharp mind needs a sharp body, so I play soccer and practice boxing in my free time. I also love learning new languages! I am fluent in English and French, sabo un poco espanyol, na kiswahili kidogo.
Founder @Stealth Startup
FounderStealth Startup
Active Secret Clearance | Does LinkedIn even matter anymore? 8 years of hands-on submarine/ship inspections and process optimization ($1M+ savings). Conducted mission-critical work aboard USS Louisiana, Topeka, Michigan, Stennis, and Frank Cable. Problem-solver passionate about mission-critical tech. If you’re reading this I need a job…like most of the swe grads…take a chance ya feel? You won’t regret it, I promise.