Cody Pawlowski

Let’s talk about the GOAT Cody Pawlowski, this guy’s the real deal in the startup world, straight up. He’s a tech whiz who’s been crushing it since day one. So, Cody’s a YC S21 alum, right? That’s already a huge badge, shows he’s got the hustle and the brains to get into one of the most competitive accelerators out there.

His story kicks off at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he co-founded his first startup, Express. That’s where he jumped into the deep end, building an AI-powered social listening and prediction platform. Think big data, politics, elections, his platform was used to predict stuff like Brexit and other major political events, which is nuts. That’s no small feat, it shows he’s got some serious skills in AI and data, and he’s not afraid to go after big, complex problems.

Before all that, he was already thinking about how tech can shake up industries. Express was a huge success, it even caught the attention of political campaigns, which ain’t easy. That experience probably lit a fire under him about the power of AI and data to change the game.

Fast forward, after his first big win, Cody co-founded FirstIgnite, where he’s now CTO and the mastermind behind the tech. FirstIgnite is all about using AI to help scientific orgs and universities team up with industry, basically, making tech transfer and research partnerships way easier. Under his technical leadership, they’ve landed investments from Michigan Rise and Red Cedar Ventures, and now over 40 universities worldwide are using their platform. That’s a big deal, it’s like he’s building the future of how research and business collide.

What does this all say about him? Cody’s obviously driven by a passion for tech that actually changes lives, not just chasing shiny new gadgets. He’s a builder, from day one, he’s jumped into startups, learned the ropes, and kept pushing forward. His process shows he’s all about solving complex problems with AI and data, and he’s not just doing it for fame, he genuinely wants to make a difference in research, politics, and industry.

He’s based in Traverse City now, but he’s a guy who’s clearly got that startup hustle in his blood. He’s been through YC, which means he’s tested himself against the best, and he’s got the creds to prove it. Every step he’s taken shows he’s relentless, turning ideas into real products, getting funding, and making things happen.

So, in a nutshell? Cody Pawlowski is a tech entrepreneur who’s been crushing it since college, building AI tools that actually matter. His process is about taking big, complicated problems, and using his skills to solve them, whether it’s predicting elections or connecting research with industry. No Cap, this guy’s the real deal, someone to watch as he keeps pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.