Kristy Gao

Lemme tell you bout Kristy Gao – this absolute legend who’s honestly just getting started but already crushing it. So, Kristy is a YC W25 founder, and she’s the brains behind Cenote, this health-tech startup that’s totally changing how clinics handle admin stuff, especially those annoying fax referrals. Yeah, fax. That’s still a thing in healthcare, and she’s out here automating that nightmare.

But her process? No cap, it’s wild. Kristy’s got a comp sci degree from Waterloo – one of Canada’s top schools – and she graduated in 2022. Before jumping into startups, she was already deep in the tech world, working on climate accounting engines at Watershed Climate, and she’s also had stints at Google, PayPal, Cockroach Labs – big names, big experience. She’s no rookie. But here’s where it gets real: her motivation for building Cenote came from her own life. She had a medical emergency that exposed her to how broken healthcare admin is – specifically, how clinics still rely on fax machines for patient referrals. Talk about a lightbulb moment, right? That’s what pushed her to jump into this crazy startup world.

In 2024, she co-founded Cenote with Kofi Ansong and Ajani Smith-Washington – met them through a book club she started after moving to San Francisco. Yeah, she’s the type who’s always learning, always connecting. And it paid off – Cenote got into YC W25, and man, they’ve been on fire. Major clients, crazy week-over-week revenue jumps, the whole deal. It’s clear she’s got that hustle.

And don’t get it twisted – Kristy’s had her share of struggles. Moving to the US, dealing with immigration hurdles, all that BS. But she pushed through because she’s got a bigger vision. She’s not just building a company; she’s fixing a real problem in healthcare that affects millions. Her story? It’s about turning personal pain into a massive impact, about not accepting bullshit, and about jumping into the deep end even when it’s scary.

So yeah, Kristy Gao? She’s the real deal. A tech whiz with a heart, who’s not afraid to challenge the status quo. She’s out here making healthcare better, one fax at a time. No cap, she’s someone to watch.