Kayla Lee

Yo, have you heard about Kayla Lee? She’s a total boss in the startup game. She’s the COO and founder of Trace, this killer voice AI company that’s backed by YC W25 – yeah, the latest batch. Basically, she’s crushing it in the fintech space with AI customer support that’s fast, secure, and super human-like.

So, here’s the scoop on her. She’s a Berkeley alum – both undergrad and master’s in CS – and she wasn’t just chilling in class. She was leading some legit NLP research under Dan Klein, who’s kinda a big deal in language tech. That’s where she got her chops, diving deep into how machines understand language, which is the core of what Trace does now. Before Trace even existed, she was part of the Berkeley NLP Group, laying down the foundation for the tech that now powers her company. Basically, she’s been in the trenches right from the start, building the skills and knowledge that she’s now turning into a significant startup.

And get this – Trace launched in 2024, right in the heart of SF. They’re not just playing around; they’re focusing on AI agents that banks and fintechs can trust to handle customer support instantly, securely, and with that human touch. That’s a big deal, especially in finance where trust and speed are everything. She’s known for building reliable AI for high-stakes stuff – not just some chatbot that ghosts you. No, she’s all about making AI that can handle real money, real people, real problems.

What does this say about her? Honestly, she’s motivated by pushing the limits of what AI can do in serious, high-pressure environments. She’s not in it for the fluff – she wants to solve real problems, especially where trust and security matter most. From her research days to leading a YC-backed startup, it’s clear she’s driven by a desire to innovate and make AI that actually makes a difference. She’s the kind of person who jumps into tough problems, figures out how to crack them, and then turns that into a company that’s shaping the future of finance support.

Long story short – Kayla Lee is that rare combo of deep tech expertise and startup hustle. She’s proof that if you’re passionate about solving big problems with tech, and you’re willing to put in the work, you can really shake things up. She’s the real deal, and honestly, she’s just getting started.