Tristan Zier

Yo, you gotta hear about Tristan Zier. This guy’s a straight-up startup vet, and he’s been around the block more times than most of us dream of. So, picture this: he jumps into YC back in S14 – that’s Summer 2014 – and immediately starts messing around with fintech, self-employment tools, and autonomous vehicles. Dude’s not just riding the wave; he’s out here trying to build the future.

Before all that, Tristan was a Senior at Deloitte. Yeah, the big consulting firm. That’s where he cut his teeth on business, finance, all that heavy stuff. But he’s not just corporate. He’s got that entrepreneurial fire. He’s been self-employed, messing around with projects, and then he hits YC and launches Zen99.

Zen99 was his big shot at fixing a real problem – taxes and insurance for freelancers and independent contractors. Think about how many people are out there hustling on their own, struggling with the boring admin crap. Zen99 tried to make that easier. They raised $2.5 million, which is no joke, and aimed to save freelancers from drowning in paperwork. Sadly, Zen99 is now inactive – but that doesn’t take away the fact that he was out there trying to legit change the game for gig workers.

But Tristan’s story isn’t just about one startup. Before Zen99, he was GM at Exec, a house cleaning on-demand service. That thing was part of YC W12, and it got snapped up by Handy. So, he’s got experience running services that people actually use – real-world stuff, not just theories. That gig taught him a lot about operations and scaling.

Then, he jumped into Cruise, a self-driving car company that went through YC W14. Cruise? That’s the real deal – heavy funding, big ambitions. Tristan worked there, gaining firsthand experience in autonomous vehicles, which is the future for sure. It shows he’s not afraid to jump into the deep end with modern tech.

All this tells me Tristan’s about more than just startups. It’s about solving real problems, whether it’s making life easier for freelancers or pushing autonomous tech forward. He’s driven by that entrepreneurial itch to build stuff that matters. Even when some projects don’t make it, he keeps pushing. That resilience? That’s what makes him the real deal.

Bottom line: Tristan Zier is a relentless builder who’s been through the startup grind from every angle. Wins, losses, you name it-he’s seen it all. What’s clear? The guy’s always chasing the future trend, trying to make an impact, and he’s got the scars and stories to prove it. He’s someone to watch because he’s not just about talking; he gets shit done and leaves a mark.