Fundraising Fox

Ashwin Iyer

Founder

Founder at Instinct Space

London, England, United Kingdom

FoundedInstinct Space · YC

About

Ashwin Iyer is co-founder and co-CEO of Instinct. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering from QMUL and a master's degree in industrial systems, manufacturing and management from the University of Cambridge, with prior research experience on jet engines at Imperial College London and consulting work across venture capital, metalworking, and electronics sectors.

Founder at Instinct SpaceYC W25

Intro paths

YC

Ashwin went through Y Combinator (Winter 2025) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.

GP

Their group partner at YC was Aaron Epstein, General Partner at Y Combinator — the partner who ran Instinct Space's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗

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In turn, Ashwin can intro founders to Instinct Space's investors below.

Instinct Space's investors · 2

AlbionVCLondonY CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K checks · since 2025

Co-founders at Instinct Space

APAlex Pinel Neparidze
Alex Pinel NeparidzeFounder
JDJoaquim Dickson
Joaquim DicksonFounder

Experience

  1. InstinctFounder and co-CEOcurrent2024 — presentSan Francisco, California, United States
  2. Early-stage venture capital firmMarket Research Analyst2024London Area, United Kingdom
  3. UltrawiseStrategy Consultant2024Cambridge, England, United Kingdom
  4. Booth Industries InternationalManufacturing Lead2023 — 2024Bolton, England, United Kingdom
  5. Universal WolfProcurement Analyst2023Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, United Kingdom
  6. The Aurora InitiativeFounder/President2022 — 2023London
  7. Queen Mary Formula StudentHead of finance2021 — 2022London

Skills & more

Organizational LeadershipOrganizational DevelopmentAnyLogicBusiness Research2Business Strategy2Market Research2Production Management2Manufacturing Process Improvement2Discrete Event Simulation2Operational Planning2Data Analysis2Information Technology Infrastructure2
+12 moreFeasibility StudiesComputer Information SystemsOperations ManagementCommunicationAsset ManagementBill of Materials (BOM) ManagementBill of Materials (BOM) CreationBill of Materials (BOM) DevelopmentLeadershipTeamworkInitiativeProject Management

From Ashwin's professional profile.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Ashwin Iyer?
Ashwin Iyer is co-founder and co-CEO of Instinct. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering from QMUL and a master's degree in industrial systems, manufacturing and management from the University of Cambridge, with prior research experience on jet engines at Imperial College London and consulting work across venture capital, metalworking, and electronics sectors.
Where does Ashwin Iyer work?
Ashwin Iyer is Founder of Instinct Space.
What companies did Ashwin Iyer found?
Ashwin Iyer founded Instinct Space.
Where did Ashwin Iyer go to school?
Ashwin Iyer studied at Y Combinator; University of Cambridge (Master of Philosophy - MPhil, Industrial systems); Queen Mary University of London (Bachelor of Engineering - BE, Mechanical Engineering).

Founder mafias

Y Combinator mafia8,773

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Sam AltmanPresidentFounded Tools for Humanity +3Jessica LivingstonCo-founderFounded Y CombinatorAlexis OhanianYC Summer 2005Founded RedditFred EhrsamYC Summer 2012Founded Nudge +1Matt HuangYC Winter 2011Founded HotspotsTrae StephensYC Winter 2022Founded Pursuit +1

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Y Combinator mafia4,716

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Ryan SheaEntrepreneurshipFounded StacksTarek MansourFounded KalshiSuhail DoshiEating beans & riceFounded Playground +1Subomi OluwalanaW22Founded ConvoyDarius "Bubs" MonsefS19Founded Sightbox +3Matthew ScholzFounded Oisin Biotechnologies +3

+ 4,709 more

University of Cambridge mafia256

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Stewart ButterfieldMPhilFounded Flickr +1Demis HassabisBAFounded Google Deepmind +2Immad AkhundMaster of Arts (M.A.)Founded Clickpass +2Inaki BerenguerPhDFounded InfiniteWatch +2Harish AgarwalMaster of Philosophy - MPhilFounded Nori +2Nikola MrkšićDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)Founded Poly +2

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Queen Mary University of London mafia19

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Ahmed DeyabBachelor of Engineering - BEngFounded Instagram +1Rob SchumacherMaster of Science (MS)Founded Nudge +1Georgia HiggsBachelor's degreeFounded GaiaDimeji SofoworaMaster of Laws (LLM)Founded Helium HealthHana ZaghloulFoundation Certificate in Humanities and Social ScienceFounded DayraChris MolozianBachelor of ScienceFounded Heroic Labs

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Same school

Also attended Y Combinator2,000

Tarek MansourCo-founder & CEO of KalshiSuhail DoshiFounder of Mixpanel; founder of ParticleSubomi OluwalanaCo-founder & CEO of ConvoyMaroof AhmedFounder at Octopus VenturesJustin SwartPartner at Bitkraft Esports VenturesCollin WallaceGeneral Partner at Lobby Capital

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Also attended University of Cambridge893

Stewart ButterfieldCo-founder of Slack and FlickrDemis HassabisCo-founder & CEO of Google DeepMindNiko BonatsosVerdict Capital founder and pre-consensus investor formerly at General CatalystGeorgia StevensonInvestor at Index VenturesHannah SealInvestor at Index VenturesLeah von SiemensPartner at Manta Ray Ventures

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Also attended Queen Mary University of London69

Alix TricotInvestor at DaphniAlessandro De BenedettiAssociate at NorthzoneMoreno BonaventuraLead Machine Learning Engineer at Inreach VenturesLuisa VenturiniInvestor at CapitalGRachel MuzyczkaPartner, DMG Ventures at DMG VenturesAgnieszka VerletLegal at SC Ventures

+ 63 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Instinct2

Alex Pinel NeparidzeFounder at Instinct SpaceJoaquim DicksonFounder at Instinct Space