Niki Bayat

Yo, have you heard of Niki Bayat? The girl’s a straight-up legend in biotech. She’s a W18 YC alum, but what really blows my mind is her whole process. She’s from Iran, crushed it at Sharif University, ranked 8th nationwide on the entrance exam, no less. Then she jumped into the chemical engineering world, racking up over 10 years of solid experience in organic chemistry and chemical engineering.

She didn’t stop there. Niki went all in on research at USC, where she got her MS and PhD. Her focus? Polymer materials and biomedical devices, stuff like injectable hydrogels that can seal eye injuries or smart hydrogels for drug delivery. Basically, she’s been cooking up advanced materials that could change health tech forever. During her PhD, she was recognized for her genius, making MIT’s “35 Innovators Under 35” list in 2018, no small feat.

Her career’s been a mix of hardcore research and real-world impact. She was a Graduate Research Assistant at USC and even worked as a Process Engineer at Abadan Refinery. But her real breakthrough? Co-founding AesculaTech, where she’s now CEO. These guys are making smart materials for health and consumer stuff, and they’ve already hit pre-approval for their first medical product, that’s huge. It’s like she’s taking all her years of research and turning it into real solutions that actually save lives.

And let’s talk about her motivation. Niki’s story screams passion for pushing the boundaries of biotech, making stuff that’s not just cool on paper but actually changes lives. She’s always been about tackling real problems, whether it’s sealing eye injuries or delivering medicine smarter. Her process from Iran to USC, then YC, shows she’s all about that hustle, turning crazy ideas into the real deal.

Bottom line? She’s a tech startup wiz who’s blending hardcore science with business, and she’s just getting started. Watch out, because Niki Bayat is one of those people who’s shaping the future of health tech, and she’s doing it with a crazy mix of smarts, grit, and heart.