Ziyi Gao

Yo, have you heard of Ziyi Gao? The guy’s a total rockstar in the startup game. He’s the co-founder and COO of Reframe, which is this super cool app that helps people cut back or quit drinking by using neuroscience and habit-building tricks. Basically, he’s out here trying to make healthier lives, one habit at a time.

So, here’s the scoop: Ziyi kicked things off way back in college at Georgia Tech. He studied industrial engineering, not your typical startup background, but that’s actually perfect because it’s all about systems, optimization, and making shit work smoothly. Graduated in 2017, but he didn’t just chill after school. Nah, he jumped into building Reframe during college, which shows he’s got that entrepreneurial fire early on.

Fast forward to 2020, him and his co-founder Vedant Pradeep launched Reframe. It’s all about helping people build healthier habits around drinking, kinda like a digital coach that’s backed by science. And no joke, they crushed it so much that they got into YC’s Summer 2021 batch. That’s a big deal, YC is basically the gold standard for startups. It means they’re legit, and their product has serious possible.

Ziyi’s been hands-on with everything, product development, marketing, growth, the guy’s a true builder. He’s all about rapid iteration, constantly tweaking based on what users actually want. That’s the real deal, not just throwing shit at the wall but actually listening and improving. He’s super passionate about making tools for healthier habits, which is why he’s spun off projects like Reframe Mind and Reframe Sleep. Dude’s all about that whole approach to wellness.

And get this, he’s not just some hack. He’s got solid technical chops, too. Trained in full-stack web dev with React, knows Python and data analysis, plus Lean Six Sigma. So, he’s not just a dreamer; he’s got the skills to back it up. That combo of technical smarts and a clear mission is what makes him stand out.

Reframe’s based in Atlanta, but they’re making waves, featured in big media outlets and all that. It’s clear this guy isn’t just in it for the money; he genuinely cares about making a difference. His process screams motivation, grit, and a real understanding of what it takes to start something from zero and scale it up.

Bottom line: Ziyi Gao is one of those founders who combines deep tech knowledge with real-world impact. He’s not just building apps; he’s building healthier habits, and that’s the kind of thing that can actually change lives. No Cap, this guy’s the real deal.