Eric Mao

Yo, have you heard of Eric Mao? Dude’s the real deal in the startup scene. He’s one of those guys who jumped into the game early and just crushed it. So, here’s the scoop: he’s a co-founder of Clado, a slick company outta San Francisco, and he did this all while rolling with Y Combinator’s X25 batch. Yeah, that’s the big leagues, man.

Before all that, Eric was at Telora, doing his thing. But what’s crazy is his backstory – he was actually studying at the University of Pennsylvania in their M&T program, which mixes Computer Science and Business. Sounds fancy, right? But he didn’t even finish – he bailed after one semester to jump straight into YC. That move? That’s pure guts. Shows he’s got that fire to build, no bullshit, no waiting around.

What’s his mission? He’s all about increasing “the serendipity of the world” – making those chance encounters, those moments of unexpected magic, happen more often. Think about it: he’s trying to connect people, ideas, opportunities, in ways nobody’s really cracked yet. That’s some advanced thinking, aiming to make the world a more connected, surprising place.

Diving deeper, it’s clear Eric’s not just in this for the money or fame. It’s about the love of building something that actually moves the needle, that makes life more interesting for everyone. His process – from studying at Penn, to working at Telora, to jumping into YC, and now leading Clado – is all about chasing that big, bold idea of making serendipity happen more often. It’s like he’s got this innate drive to connect dots, to find the magic in randomness, to shake up how we meet and discover stuff.

Honestly, you gotta respect how he’s playing the long game. Starting up, especially in YC, is no joke. Most people get cold feet or get bogged down. But Eric? He’s out here, building something meaningful. That’s why he’s worth watching. He’s not just another founder – he’s the kind of guy who’s trying to change the way we all experience the world, one unexpected connection at a time.