Daniel Camilleri

This legend right here is Daniel Camilleri, this guy’s the real deal in the startup world. He’s a YC W22 alum, so he’s been through the grind, and man, he’s crushed it.

So, Daniel’s all about mixing tech and human behavior. His background? Super eclectic but totally fitting for someone building crazy AI stuff today. He’s got degrees in psychology, Masters, Postgrad, the whole nine yards, from Melbourne and Adelaide. Basically, he understands people better than most, which is gold when you’re trying to create personalized tech that actually hits home.

His process kicks off with some pretty sick gigs. He was at Uber as a UX Research Lead, where he learned how to make user experiences smooth at one of the biggest apps out there. Then he jumped into Afterpay as Head of Product Research in 2020, so he’s been right in the trenches of fintech and payments, figuring out how to make money work smarter for folks.

But here’s where it gets interesting. Before all that, Daniel was at the Defence Science and Technology Group as a VR Researcher. Yeah, he’s been messing around with virtual reality and defense tech, which proves he’s not just about startups, he’s genuinely into pushing tech boundaries. And he didn’t just stop there. He co-founded a music festival called Inca Roads from 2011 to 2016. That’s all about community, vibe, and making cool experiences, which clearly feeds into his startup hustle.

Fast forward to today, he’s the COO and CPO of Shaped, a Y Combinator-backed company based in Brooklyn. Shaped’s all about AI-powered personalization and recommendation systems, basically, making tech smarter at understanding people. And they just raised an $8 million Series A in 2024, so they’re definitely on the rise. Daniel’s role? He’s the guy making sure the product’s always on point and scaling right.

What’s the vibe here? Daniel’s story screams passion for tech that’s human-centered. He’s been in the trenches, from VR labs to fintech, to building AI that actually makes a difference. His background in psychology? That’s his secret weapon, understanding humans is what drives his innovations. Plus, he’s always hungry to learn, Harvard certs, VC experience, you name it.

Bottom line? Daniel’s the kind of founder who’s not just about the hype. He’s got deep roots in understanding people, tech, and how to build stuff that sticks. He’s a builder, a thinker, and a guy who’s always pushing the boundaries. No cap, he’s someone to watch, the future’s bright when you’ve got that mix of brains, hustle, and real-world experience.