Frank Licea

Yo, have you heard of Frank Licea? The guy’s a total beast in the startup world. He’s the CTO and co-founder of Howdy.com, which is this killer platform that connects US companies with top software engineers from Latin America. They’re backed by YC’s W21 batch, so you know, legit as hell.

Frank’s got over 18 years of hardcore experience in software engineering and product management. Dude’s launched products for giants like Walmart.com and Target.com, so he’s been around the block, no bullshit. Before Howdy, he was at DISCO, Buzz Points, and Bazaarvoice, working on stuff used by top US law firms and leading teams in crazy high-growth environments. Basically, he’s someone who’s been deep in the trenches and knows how to build shit that scales.

But what really makes him stand out? It’s his vision. He and his co-founder raised a big part of change, nearly $19 million in total, with $2.9 million from YC, to shake up the outsourcing game. His goal? Make remote work fair and competitive, offering killer salaries and benefits to Latin American devs, while helping US companies find top talent without the bullshit. That’s some advanced thinking right there.

He’s based in Austin, Texas, which is becoming this new hub for tech innovation, and he’s recognized for bridging Silicon Valley vibes with Latin American talent. It’s like he sees the future of work, remote, diverse, expandable, and he’s building it from the ground up. Honestly, his story screams passion for startups, a deep understanding of tech, and a drive to make a real impact by connecting talented people across borders.

Long story short? Frank’s not just some engineer. He’s a visionary who’s crushing it at the intersection of tech, talent, and scaling startups. He’s proof that if you’re willing to jump into something new and fight for it, you can totally change the game. No cap.