Nicolas Machado

Time to stan Nicolas Machado – this guy’s the real deal in the startup world. He’s like that dude who’s been everywhere, crushed it at every step, and now he’s really making waves with his latest gig. So, buckle up.

First off, Nicolas is a YC W23 alum – yeah, one of the newest batches, which already says a lot. YC doesn’t just take anyone, right? The dude’s got a legit tech background. He did both his Bachelor’s and Master’s at Stanford in CS, focusing on AI and Human-Computer Interaction, which basically means he’s a total AI nerd with a deep understanding of how people and tech interact. And he was even Class President – so he’s got leadership in his bones.

Before jumping into startups, he’s been around the block. He worked at Facebook, specifically on Oculus VR, which is some advanced hardware and software stuff. Think immersive virtual worlds – that’s no joke. Before that, he was an intern at Apple working on iOS, so he’s had that big tech giant experience. Plus, he’s dabbled in design and product management at Matter and Datadog, showing he’s got a versatile skill set – from coding to product to design.

But what really makes him stand out is his jump into venture capital at Romulus Capital. That’s a sign he’s not just about building – he’s about understanding the broader startup scene, investing, and backing fresh ideas. It’s like he’s seen false equivalence of the coin: creating tech and backing startups.

Now, he’s co-founder of Lume – a YC-backed startup that’s all about using AI to automate data mapping. Basically, they’re making it way faster and easier for companies to handle complex data stuff. That’s some heavy-hitting tech that’s super relevant today. The fact that he’s leading this shows he’s all about pushing boundaries, solving real problems, and leveraging AI to shake things up.

And he’s not just about tech for tech’s sake. Nicolas cares about diversity too. He’s active in supporting minority founders, which is huge. Plus, he speaks multiple languages – English, Portuguese, Spanish, and a bit of French – kinda showing he’s global-minded and connected.

What’s his story telling us? This guy’s driven by a mix of curiosity, leadership, and a solid desire to build stuff that matters. His process from Stanford to big tech, then VC, and now a founder at YC – it’s all about jumping into new problems, learning fast, and then going all-in. He’s the kind of guy who’s not afraid to get his hands dirty, learn from every experience, and then use that to crush his next project.

So yeah, Nicolas Machado is one of those entrepreneurs who’s got the tech chops, the leadership, and the hustle to really change things. He’s building the future with AI, supporting the community, and he’s just getting started. No Cap, this guy’s someone to keep an eye on.