Career Story (so far!)

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​I've spent the past 2 years leading product & business strategy at Focal, a startup designing climate-friendly electric heaters + smart control interfaces (to eliminate propane gas usage) in outdoor restaurants/hospitality. ​

Our "spot heating" system uses AI-powered targeting to warm individual people, rather than entire spaces – resulting in a 95% energy efficiency improvement, personalized comfort for guests, and less manual labor for staff.

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Previously, I co-founded Tangible (acquired by Easel AI), a venture-backed consumer tech company (focused on supporting long-distance relationships) that was invited to pitch on Shark Tank!

My team spent 4 years developing & scaling a paradigm-shifting “teleportation pillow” + mobile app that enabled loved ones to feel physically present together over video calls. We made it possible to share hugs, feel warmth, and naturally interact over distance like you're sitting on the same couch. Our product went viral, and we grew the business to help over 19,000 couples & families.

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While in college, I invented Stikato – a portable music stand that sticks to walls – and sold the product on Amazon after a successful Kickstarter campaign. After achieving a 10x return on my original investment, I paused the business to focus on Tangible.

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Outside of work, I've dedicated much of my free time to researching and accelerating cross-disciplinary solutions to climate change. This has drawn me into a diversity of life experiences, including:

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• Sustainability-focused volunteering with Sunrise Movement, Pacific Beach Coalition, and American Energy Society.

• Studying abroad for a summer in Copenhagen - where I researched electrification & urban permaculture.

• Living / working on an organic farm (WWOOF program!)​​​​​​​​​

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I'm also deeply passionate about strengthening society – especially when comes to empowering individuals with disabilities:

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• ​Created Moonwalk, a DIY haptic feedback prosthetic device for individuals with impaired tactile sensation.

• Published Will You Play With Me, a children's book about empathy and inclusivity (foreword by Abraham Verghese).

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On the personal side – I'm now living in Brooklyn, but grew up in the Midwest. If I'm not in designer-mode, you'll likely find me recording pop violin covers, writing mini-mysteries, hanging rim on the basketball court, or sharing stories from my unforgettable experience raising a flock of backyard chickens.