John Hiesey

Major props to John Hiesey – the dude’s a legit startup OG. He jumped into the scene back in YC S11, which is like 2011, so he’s been around the block. That’s the same batch that saw a lot of the early movers in tech, so he’s no rookie.

He co-founded Vapor, yeah, the company all about in-video advertising. Think of it as trying to make ads in videos smarter, more modular, and server-side, with Swift. That’s pretty wild, right? Like, he was messing with modern tech, trying to change how brands talk to us while we’re watching videos. Vapor was based outta Brooklyn, NY, a hotbed for startups, and even though it’s inactive now, that’s a sign he’s not afraid to jump into the deep end, build something, and learn from it.

The crazy part? Vapor wasn’t just a side project. It was part of YC’s summer 2011 batch, meaning he was rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest names early on, trying to crack the code on in-video ads way before it was mainstream. He teamed up with Xuwen Cao, Shazad Mohamed, and Yin Wu, a crew of sharp minds all chasing the same vision. That shows he’s all about collaboration, finding the right people, and pushing boundaries.

But here’s what’s really cool about John, his story isn’t just about tech. It’s about the hustle, the curiosity, and the willingness to experiment with new ideas. Vapor’s focus on modular server-side software with Swift? That’s some advanced thinking, trying to build tools that can scale and adapt fast. It’s like he’s always jumping into the future trend, not settling, always pushing to innovate.

And honestly, what this process says about him? It’s that he’s not in it for the fame or the quick wins. He’s a builder. Someone who jumped into the startup world, took risks, and learned a lot along the way. Vapor might be inactive now, but that’s just part of the game, every failure’s a lesson, and he’s clearly got the grit to keep going.

Bottom line, John Hiesey is one of those early-stage tech dudes who’s been in the trenches, trying to shake things up. He’s the real deal, someone who’s been there, done that, and keeps pushing forward. If you’re into startups, innovation, or just someone who embodies that relentless hustle, he’s a name to remember.