David Okao

This legend right here is David Okao-this dude’s the real deal in the AI and startup world. So, he’s a YC W24 batch guy, which already says a lot – that’s some top-tier startup grind. But what really makes him stand out is his process.

He started out at Georgia Tech, building that solid CS foundation, then jumped into the industry. First, he was at Cruise, working on robotics simulation. That’s some advanced stuff-trying to make cars smarter, safer, more autonomous. But while he was there, he kept hitting a wall: sourcing good scenario videos for testing those autonomous cars was a pain in the ass. That challenge stuck with him.

Instead of whining about it, he decided to do something. That’s when he co-founded EdgeTrace. The company’s all about high-precision video search using AI-think about how much video data we generate every day. EdgeTrace’s platform lets you find exactly what you need in massive video libraries just by asking in plain language. No bullshit, just natural language semantic search. Retailers, law enforcement, transportation-they all need this to make smarter decisions, faster.

What’s dope is, this isn’t just some random project. It’s built on David’s deep tech background and his firsthand experience in autonomous vehicles. He saw the problem, knew how to fix it, and jumped into the startup game to make it happen. That’s the kinda person who’s not just dreaming-he’s out here solving real-world problems with AI, like a true innovator.

His process shows he’s all about turning tough industry problems into opportunities. He’s motivated by making data more accessible and useful, especially video data, which is a goldmine but super hard to organize. His work at Cruise gave him the inside scoop on what’s needed, and now he’s crushing it with EdgeTrace.

Long story short, David Okao isn’t just another founder. He’s someone who took his frustrations and expertise, then built a company that could totally change how industries use video. He’s driven, smart, and not afraid to jump into the messy middle of tech problems to create something that actually matters. That’s why he’s worth watching.