Paul Sawaya

Homie, check the vibe on Paul Sawaya, this guy’s a straight-up legend in the startup scene. So, he’s a YC alum from S15, which means he’s been around the block a few times and knows his shit. His background? Dude’s worked at Apple, Bloomberg, Mozilla, Twitch (back when it was still Justin.tv), and Human Interest. That’s a killer resume right there, showing he’s been deep in tech and finance forever.

Here’s the real deal: Paul co-founded Human Interest, a fintech company that’s all about digital 401(k)s for small and medium businesses. Think about it, he helped build a company that’s now worth over $1.3 billion and makes over $100 million a year in recurring revenue. No cap. That’s some serious hustle and guts. He crushed it because he’s got that rare mix: tech genius with a nose for finance and a passion for making things better for regular folks and businesses.

But he didn’t stop there. He’s now the founder and CEO of Elsewhere, a gaming startup based in SF he launched in 2023. And get this, he’s also the chief game designer. That’s a shift from fintech to gaming, but honestly, it’s just Paul doing what he loves: jumping into new worlds, creating, and innovating. It shows he’s not just about making money, he’s about building cool shit that sticks.

Looking at his process, it’s clear Paul’s all about pushing boundaries. Started out interning at Justin.tv (yep, the OG Twitch), got early exposure to gaming and live streaming, then moved into big tech at Apple and Bloomberg, sharpening his skills on software and financial apps. His time at Mozilla on privacy and security? Total big change. You see, he’s always been into modern tech, making things safer, better, smarter.

But what really makes him stand out? He’s not just building cool startups; he’s actively mentoring other YC founders, investing as an angel, and giving back to the startup community. The guy’s all about paying it forward, sharing what he’s learned, and fueling the next wave of innovators.

His education? Boston University and Hampshire College, not Harvard or Stanford, but honestly, it’s the grit and experience that made him who he is. He’s a self-made guy, constantly jumping into new problems, always learning, always pushing forward.

Bottom line? Paul Sawaya is the real deal, a tech and finance whiz who’s crushed it in fintech, jumped into gaming, and keeps mentoring the community. He’s the kind of guy who proves that with enough hustle, curiosity, and guts, you can build whatever you dream of. No bullshit, just pure startup fire.