Fundraising Fox

Avni Patel Thompson

Founder

Founder at Milo

Palo Alto, California, United States

FoundedMilo · YC

About

Avni Patel Thompson is the founder and CEO of Milo (Y Combinator W20), an AI agent for families focused on managing household mental load, with backing from Y Combinator, OpenAI Fund, and Magnify Ventures. She previously founded Poppy (YC W16), a vetted childcare marketplace, and spent over a decade in consumer businesses at P&G, adidas, and Starbucks. Since 2020, she has served as an Executive in Residence at Harvard Business School, and she is a TED speaker and Harvard Business Review contributor on AI, care, and family life.

Founder at MiloYC W20

Intro paths

YC

Avni went through Y Combinator (Winter 2020) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.

→

In turn, Avni can intro founders to Milo's investors below.

Milo's investors · 5

Alteria CapitalMumbai · $100K – $15M checks · since 2026AntlerSingapore · $3M – $10M checks · since 2026Bronze InvestmentsEast Palo AltoThe E14 FundCambridge · $1M – $5M checksY CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K checks · since 2020

Experience

  1. MiloFounder + CEO2019 — 2025Vancouver, BC
  2. PoppyFounder + CEO2015 — 2019Seattle
  3. Y CombinatorW16 Batch2016Mountain View, CA
  4. papaya+postco-founder2014 — 2015Seattle, WA
  5. JulepSenior Director of Maven subscription program2013 — 2014Seattle
  6. StarbucksSenior Brand Manger - Americas Retail division2012 — 2013Seattle, Washington
  7. Reebok - adidas groupDirector, Strategy2012Boston, MA
  8. Reebok - adidas groupSr. Strategy Manager2011Shanghai, China
  9. Reebok - adidas groupSr. Global Marketing Manager - Women's Sport2010 — 2011Greater Boston Area
  10. The Boston Consulting GroupConsultant2008 — 2010Greater Boston Area
  11. Procter & GambleSr. Assistant Brand Manager2002 — 2006

Skills & more

Strategic Planning9Strategy20Management12Leadership7Brand Equity4ForecastingBusiness Strategy17P&L Management2Business Planning5Brand Architecture5Marketing Strategy10Consumer Insights1
+12 moreBrand CommunicationPricing StrategyBrand InnovationProduct StrategySegmentationProduct InnovationCustomer InsightBrand ManagementIntegrated MarketingProduct ManagementStart-upsEntrepreneurship

Languages Chinese (Mandarin) · English · French · Gujarati · Hindi

From Avni's professional profile.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Avni Patel Thompson?
Avni Patel Thompson is the founder and CEO of Milo (Y Combinator W20), an AI agent for families focused on managing household mental load, with backing from Y Combinator, OpenAI Fund, and Magnify Ventures. She previously founded Poppy (YC W16), a vetted childcare marketplace, and spent over a decade in consumer businesses at P&G, adidas, and Starbucks. Since 2020, she has served as an Executive in Residence at Harvard Business School, and she is a TED speaker and Harvard Business Review contributor on AI, care, and family life.
Where does Avni Patel Thompson work?
Avni Patel Thompson is Founder of Milo.
What companies did Avni Patel Thompson found?
Avni Patel Thompson founded Milo.
Where did Avni Patel Thompson go to school?
Avni Patel Thompson studied at Harvard Business School (MBA with Honors, Business); The University of British Columbia (BSc, Chemistry).

Founder mafias

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University of British Columbia mafia115

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The Boston Consulting Group mafia79

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Starbucks mafia14

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Same school

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Shared employers

Also worked at Poppy1

Ravi GroverGeneral Partner at Data Tech

Also worked at Y Combinator389

Garry TanPresident & CEO of Y CombinatorJessica LivingstonCo-founder of Y CombinatorDaniel GrossMeta Superintelligence Labs; co-founder of NFDG and Safe SuperintelligenceAlexis OhanianFounder & General Partner of Seven Seven SixMichael SeibelPartner Emeritus at Y CombinatorDalton CaldwellCo-founder of Standard Capital; Partner Emeritus at Y Combinator

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Also worked at Julep4

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Anna SchmitzReceptionist at Madrona Venture GroupAllie RiesSenior Associate, Capital Formation at March Capital PartnersNasra MohamedInvestor at Third Rock VenturesDoug KoobInvestor at 1st Course CapitalSaup D.Venture Partner at Advaita CapitalAlana LyonsManager of Entrepreneur Relations at Golden Seeds

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