Cole Rise

Yo, so let me tell you about Cole Rise – the dude’s a legit legend in the tech and photography worlds. Dude’s been around the block a bunch, and he’s the kind of guy who’s just all about pushing boundaries and making shit that sticks. Born in Oyster Bay, NY, back in ’85, the guy studied film and cinematography at Emerson – so he’s got that visual vibe running deep.

His process? It’s like a rollercoaster of hustling, experimenting, and crushing it. Started out with big names-Microsoft, Apple, Yahoo-and you can tell he’s always been wired to innovate. But what really put him on the map? That’s his run with startups, especially in the Y Combinator scene. He jumped into YC W06 with Flagr – a platform where people could share places with photos, videos, and all that cool visual storytelling stuff. Flagr’s now gone, but that’s where he cut his teeth on building social apps that actually make a difference.

And here’s the kicker – he’s not just a founder, he’s a designer at heart. He designed the original Instagram filters and icon, which is a big deal because that’s what made the platform’s look and feel iconic. You know how everyone loves those filters? Yeah, he’s the guy behind that. That’s some real-deal influence right there.

Then he went all-in on photography tech. He founded a company called Particle, which Apple bought in 2013. That’s huge – it’s not every day you see startups getting snapped up by Apple. After that, he launched Litely, a top-rated photo editing app that’s still used by tons of folks today. So, basically, he’s been shaping how we shoot and edit photos forever.

But wait, it gets even cooler. He was also the founder and chief creative at Polaroid Swing – a social photo app that Microsoft ended up acquiring in 2017. This guy’s got a track record of building stuff that big players want to buy. And on top of that, he’s worked with the likes of Polaroid, Apple, Microsoft, Instagram, Yahoo, and even NatGeo – all huge names, all trusting him with their visual storytelling.

Right now, he’s running Space Camera Co., and he’s even working on a documentary about lunar cameras – dude’s got a passion for the history of photography and tech that goes way beyond just making apps. It’s about understanding the roots and pushing the limits.

What does all this tell you about him? This guy’s driven by pure curiosity and a deep love for visuals and storytelling. He’s the kind of entrepreneur who’s not just in it for the fame or money – he genuinely wants to shape how we see and share the world. His story’s all about jumping into new tech, experimenting with design, and never settling. He’s a creator at heart, and his process proves that if you’re passionate and willing to jump into the unknown, you can really make a dent.

So yeah, Cole Rise? He’s the real deal – a designer, a tech innovator, a storyteller. And he’s still out there, pushing boundaries and creating the future of visual tech. No Cap.