Jorge Torres

Yo, you gotta hear about Jorge Torres. This dude is straight-up the real deal in AI and startups right now. He’s a YC W20 alum, and he’s been around the block so many times, you’d think he’s got a PhD in hustle.

So, the story starts with his deep love for tech and problem-solving. He’s been in the game for a while, working at places like CareJourney, where he used machine learning to make healthcare data smarter. Before that, he jumped into Skillshare and even helped scale CouchSurfing from a few thousand users to millions, that’s some serious scaling game right there. The dude was the second full-time dev at CouchSurfing, so he’s been in the trenches from the early days, building stuff that actually hits millions of people.

But what really sets him apart? His brain is all about making AI and machine learning accessible. He co-founded MindsDB, which is now a YC-backed startup crushing it in democratizing AI for devs. Basically, he’s trying to give everyone the power to use AI without needing a PhD in it. MindsDB raised $4 million from OpenOceanVC and is now worth over $160 million, that’s no small feat, especially in AI land.

Before MindsDB, he was in London working on a totally different vibe, Real Life Analytics, trying to use visual recognition for targeted ads. That one didn’t blow up, mainly because of hardware issues, but it’s just more proof he’s not afraid to jump into the deep end. Plus, he started DataCRM Soluciones with a childhood buddy, which is still kicking, so he’s got that entrepreneurial DNA in him.

And get this, he’s a Visiting Research Scholar at UC Berkeley. That means he’s all in on startups, but he’s also seriously geeked out over AI and ML at the academic level. The guy lives and breathes tech, constantly pushing the boundaries.

What does this all say about him? It’s pretty clear, Jorge’s all about solving big problems, breaking down barriers, and making tech work for everyone. He’s got that rare mix of hardcore coder, visionary founder, and academic thinker. His process shows he’s driven by a real passion to democratize AI, not just chase the dollar. His story is about resilience, jumping into new tech frontiers, and always trying to make a bigger impact.

Bottom line? Jorge Torres is the kind of guy who’s not just riding the wave of AI hype, he’s shaping it. He’s a tech pioneer with a clear mission: make AI accessible, useful, and strong for all. That’s why he’s so important right now.