Alexander Strunkin

Yo, so you gotta hear about Alexander Strunkin. This guy’s the real deal, like one of those serial founders who just keeps crushing it. He’s from the W16 batch at YC, which means he jumped into the startup scene super early, and you can tell he’s been all about building stuff that actually matters.

First off, he’s been around the block a few times, big names like Indeed and Microsoft in product and engineering roles, so he’s got that big tech cred. But what really lights him up is founding stuff himself. Like, he’s not just riding the corporate wave; he’s out there creating new things.

Take Deako, for example. He was the CPO and on the board, and he helped turn that into the go-to smart-home lighting company. Now, their switches are in like every 8th new home in the U.S., no cap. They raised over $22 million, so they’re not just some garage project. That’s a legit success story, and it shows he’s got the product chops and the hustle to back it up.

Before that, he co-founded GradeEdge, an edtech startup that was all about making school performance transparent. He handled everything, product, data integration from 150+ agencies. That’s some deep work, showing he’s got the brain for data and how to make it work for real people.

He’s also been involved with Pioneer Fund and dabbled in health and wellness products, cloud apps, you name it. Basically, he’s all about jumping into new spaces, figuring out what works, and making stuff that sticks.

And he’s not just a builder, he’s a mentor too. He advised startups at YC’s Startup School Online, helping new founders get started. That shows he’s got that entrepreneurial spirit, not just for himself but for the community.

What’s wild is, looking at his process, it’s clear he’s driven by a real passion to build things that change the game. He’s not in it for just the money, though, obviously, he’s smart enough to make that happen, it’s about having an effect. Whether it’s smart homes, education, or health, he’s all about solving real problems with tech.

And he’s got the academic creds too, with a BS from SUSU, but honestly, that’s just the foundation. His real education’s been on the ground, building, failing, learning, and then crushing it again.

Bottom line? Alexander’s a guy who’s been through the trenches, learned what works, and keeps coming back stronger. His whole vibe? Building stuff that sticks, helping others do the same, and always pushing the boundary. That’s why he’s someone you gotta keep an eye on, he’s the kind of founder who’s shaping the future, no bullshit.