Where does Andy Zhao work?

Andy Zhao is Founder of Limelight Steel.

What companies did Andy Zhao found?

Andy Zhao founded Limelight Steel.

Where did Andy Zhao go to school?

Andy Zhao studied at Stanford University (Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Materials Science and Engineering); UC San Diego (Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Materials Science and Engineering).

Andy Zhao

Founder

Founder at Limelight Steel

Oakland, California, United States

FoundedLimelight Steel

30 Under 30 2023 · Energy

Find your path to Andy

1,044 people in our graph share verified history with Andy — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.

Deep NisharunlockedAndy: together at Stanford University (2015–2016)

×11Andy: together at Stanford University

About

Andy Zhao is a materials scientist and engineer and co-founder of Limelight Steel, where he works on scaling solutions for clean energy and climate change. He is an Activate Fellow.

Founder at Limelight Steel

Intro paths

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In turn, Andy can intro founders to Limelight Steel's investors below.

Limelight Steel's investors · 4

Cantos VenturesSan Francisco · $400K – $1.5M checks Collaborative FundNew York · $500K – $1M checks Social Impact CapitalNew York · $100K – $1.5M checks Voyager PartnersSan Francisco · $500K – $5M checks

Experience

Limelight SteelCo-Founder & Chief Science Officer2025 — 2026Oakland, California, United States
Limelight SteelCo-Founder & Chief Technology Officer2021 — 2025Oakland, California, United States
ActivateActivate Fellow2022 — 2024Anywhere
University of California, San DiegoGraduate Student Researcher2016 — 2021San Diego
Stanford UniversityCommunity Manager2015 — 2016
Stanford UniversityUndergraduate Researcher2014 — 2016Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials
Los Alamos National LaboratoryResearch Assistant2011 — 2013Center for Integrated Nanotechnology

Skills & more

Nanomaterials2Research1Event Planning1Data Analysis1Community Outreach1Teaching1CVD1Java2C1C++1Teamwork1Public Speaking1

+2 more

ManagementLeadership

Languages English · French · Mandarin

From Andy's professional profile.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Andy Zhao?: Andy Zhao is a materials scientist and engineer and co-founder of Limelight Steel, where he works on scaling solutions for clean energy and climate change. He is an Activate Fellow.
Where does Andy Zhao work?: Andy Zhao is Founder of Limelight Steel.
What companies did Andy Zhao found?: Andy Zhao founded Limelight Steel.
Where did Andy Zhao go to school?: Andy Zhao studied at Stanford University (Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Materials Science and Engineering); UC San Diego (Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Materials Science and Engineering).

Founder mafias

Stanford University mafia1,934

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Peter ThielB.A.Founded PayPal Reid HoffmanB.S.Founded LinkedIn +2 David SacksB.A.Founded Yammer Keith RaboisB.A.Founded Opendoor Garry TanBSFounded Y Combinator +1 Joe LonsdaleBSFounded Opto +5

+ 1,927 more

UC San Diego mafia235

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Elad GilBAFounded Brain Co. +1 Chester NgBSFounded DivX Phillip SamayoaPhDFounded Generation Bio +2 Wendy JohanssonCognitive ScienceFounded Misaludhealth +2 Elizabeth A. MullerBachelorsFounded Deep Isolation +2 Sean AinsworthB.S.Founded RetroSense Therapeutics +1

+ 228 more

Same school

Also attended Stanford University2,000

Peter ThielCo-founder & Partner at Founders Fund Reid HoffmanCo-founder of LinkedIn; Partner at Greylock David SacksCo-founder & General Partner at Craft Ventures; former White House AI & Crypto Czar Keith RaboisManaging Director at Khosla Ventures Garry TanPresident & CEO of Y Combinator Alfred LinPartner at Sequoia Capital

+ 1,994 more

Also attended UC San Diego482

Elad GilSolo general partner investing through Gil Capital Mark SusterManaging Partner at Upfront Ventures Chester NgGeneral Partner at Atomic BirgitteInvestor at Investinor Houman HaghighiPartner, Business & Corporate Development at Menlo Ventures Freya Svedberg-KeatingInvestor at Medicxi

+ 476 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Limelight Steel2

Leo BanchikPartner at Voyager Partners Nate WegerCo-Founder & CTO at Calectra

Also worked at Activate47

Joshua PosamentierManaging Partner and Co-Founder at Congruent Ventures Randy AllenCompany Building Partner at Material Impact Ilan GurCEO, ARIA; Co-founder, Activate at ISV Pauliina MeskanenInvestor at Great Wave Ventures Cristina EscodaManaging Partner at Tachyon Ventures Krish MehtaFellow at LifeX Ventures

+ 41 more

Also worked at University of California, San Diego134

Keerthi NalabotuInvestor at True Ventures Vignesh RavikumarInvestor at Sierra Ventures Anne GheriniChief Marketing Officer at Sierra Ventures Rachel Tsunemoto Hislop, PhDPrincipal, Director of Research at Two Bear Capital Maia HightowerInvestor at EPIC VENTURES Xuhui ShaoPartner at Foothill Ventures

+ 128 more

Also worked at Stanford University1,079

Ann Miura-KoCo-founding Partner at Floodgate Balaji SrinivasanAngel investor and founder of The Network School Martin CasadoGeneral Partner at Andreessen Horowitz Mike KriegerCo-founder of Instagram; Chief Product Officer at Anthropic Andy FangCo-founder & CTO of DoorDash Ryan SheaCo-founder of Blockstack (Stacks)

+ 1,073 more