Sam Kanawati

Respect the hustle of Sam Kanawati, dude’s the real deal in tech startup land. So, he’s the founder of Simple Strips, a company he kicked off after jumping into YC W20, yeah, that’s Winter 2020, right in the thick of it. Basically, he’s all about making blood glucose testing way cheaper and easier, using just a smartphone camera. Crazy original, no cap.

But here’s the thing, Sam’s been grinding in hardware and systems engineering way before that. He’s had roles at some big names like Qualcomm as a Software Engineer Intern, and he also did some solid research at Carnegie Mellon. So, he’s not just a guy with ideas; he’s got the skills to back it up. Plus, he was Head of Hardware Engineering at Nimbus and worked at Texas Instruments, so he knows his way around designing stuff that actually works.

His academic path is no joke either, a Master’s in Electrical and Computer Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin, plus a Bachelor’s from the American University of Beirut. Basically, he’s the dude who’s been deep in tech since day one, always pushing boundaries.

What’s wild is how his process shows what kind of guy he is, super motivated, always curious, and not afraid to jump into big problems. From research labs to mega corporations, then jumping into YC to build something that could really change healthcare, that’s a move of someone who’s all about solving real problems. Starting Simple Strips wasn’t just a business move; it’s about making healthcare more accessible, no bullshit. That’s a guy who sees a problem, gets the skills, then goes all in to fix it.

So yeah, Sam’s the kind of founder who’s been building tech with purpose, bridging the gap between hardcore engineering and real-world impact. For anyone who’s into startups and tech, he’s a reminder that with the right skills and a big vision, you can crush it and make a difference. No Cap.