Luana Lopes Lara

Here’s why you should know about Luana Lopes Lara, this girl is straight-up next level. She’s a total tech nerd turned startup legend. So, she went to MIT, right? Not just casually, she crushed it there with a Bachelor’s and a Master’s in Computer Science and Math. Think about that, MIT’s no joke, and she’s deep in the trenches of AI, cognitive science, and all that brainy shit.

But here’s where it gets crazy, she didn’t just stick to academics. She’s got serious hustle. Started out doing research at MIT’s Brain and Cognitive Science Center, CSAIL, Media Lab, basically swinging at the cutting edge of tech and brain stuff. This isn’t just about making money; it’s about truly understanding how things tick.

Then she jumped into the finance world, working at Citadel Securities and Five Rings Capital as a quant trader. She was crunching numbers, making plays in the markets. Not just that, she also worked at Bridgewater as a software engineer, so she’s got serious coding chops. All this tells me she’s got a brain built for both code and markets, a rare combo.

But wait, there’s more. She’s also got a background in ballerina training at Escola do Teatro Bolshoi in Brazil and even performed at Salzburger Landestheater in Austria. Holy shit, talk about discipline and artistry. That kind of background? It’s all about focus, dedication, and pushing yourself to be the best, traits that clearly carried over into her tech and business life.

And guess what? She’s also super analytical, won a gold medal in the Brazilian Astronomy and Astronautics Olympiad. That’s not just a trophy, that’s a sign she’s got mad problem-solving skills from way back.

So, with all this in her bag, she co-founded Kalshi, a regulated event contract exchange, with her MIT classmate Tarek Mansour. And get this: they got over $36 million in seed funding right out of the gate. That’s not easy, shows she’s got the vision and the network to turn ideas into real shit. And they jumped into Y Combinator’s W19 batch, so she’s been recognized as one of the real deal in startups.

Now she’s based in NYC, fluent in multiple programming languages, and totally plugged into the tech and finance worlds. She’s also done some biz development at Anheuser-Busch InBev and even participated in ZX Ventures’ startup accelerator. That’s like, she’s not just about tech, she’s about building and scaling businesses.

What’s the vibe here? Luana’s story is all about crossing boundaries, from brain science to finance, from ballet to startups. She’s someone who’s never afraid to jump into new worlds, learn mad skills, and then crush it. Her process shows that real innovation comes when you combine crazy brainpower with hustle, discipline, and a willingness to take risks.

Bottom line? Luana Lopes Lara is one of those rare founders who’s got the brains, the grit, and the vision to change the game. She’s living proof that if you’re curious enough and work your ass off, you can turn wild ideas into the future. No Cap, keep an eye on her.