Batch: Achievements
- Co-founded Cloudthread during Y Combinator S21 and led it as CPO until its acquisition by FinOut in 2024
- Built and implemented internal FinOps systems at Lyft, managing cloud costs during rapid growth
- Led cloud operations for gaming at Electronic Arts, focusing on cloud infrastructure for large-scale online games
- Graduated with an MBA from INSEAD, plus advanced degrees in Economics and Informatics from Saint Petersburg State University
- Over a decade of experience in cloud cost management, FinOps, and product strategy
- Active angel investor, advisor, and community builder in the FinOps space
Ever heard of Ilia Semenov
Respect the hustle of Ilia Semenov, the guy’s the real deal in the cloud and FinOps world. Basically, he’s been crushing it for over a decade, and his story is all about jumping into the deep end, figuring shit out, and then building something that actually matters.
So, Ilia’s based in SF now, but his hustle started way back with stints at EA and Lyft. At EA, he was deep in cloud ops for gaming, yeah, those giant online worlds need some serious tech wizardry behind the scenes. Then he jumped over to Lyft, where he led Data Engineering and FinOps, building systems to keep those cloud costs in check while helping the company grow fast. No bullshit, managing cloud costs at a place like Lyft is no joke. You gotta be smart, fast, and original. That’s where he really cut his teeth.
Fast forward, Ilia co-founded Cloudthread during YC’s S21 batch, a startup all about FinOps, which is basically the art of managing cloud spending smarter, better, and more strategically. The guy’s been in the trenches designing ways for companies to not blow their budgets but still move fast. And guess what? Cloudthread was so good that it got acquired by FinOut in 2024. That’s a big deal, shows he’s not just talking, he’s building real shit that the market needs.
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Talk to herWhat’s wild is, Ilia isn’t just about building startups. He’s also an angel investor, advisor, and community builder in the FinOps space. Basically, he’s out here pushing the whole scene forward, sharing what he’s learned and helping others crush it too.
And the motivation? It’s clear, he’s obsessed with making cloud costs transparent and manageable. That’s his thing. He saw a huge problem, jumped in, and turned it into a legit business. His background in economics, informatics, and a top MBA from INSEAD? Yeah, that’s him stacking his knowledge to stay ahead. He’s always been about understanding the numbers, the tech, and how to make it all work together.
Long story short, Ilia is the guy who saw a problem in the cloud world, jumped into the startup game to fix it, and kept pushing until he built something that really moves the needle. He’s not just a founder; he’s a builder, a mentor, and a legit leader in the future of FinOps. No Cap, this guy’s someone you wanna watch.
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