Where does Brandon Yao work?

Brandon Yao is Founder of Semiotic.

Where did Brandon Yao go to school?

Brandon Yao studied at Y Combinator (F25); Columbia University (Bachelor of Arts - BA, Economics); The Westminster Schools (High School Diploma).

Brandon Yao

Founder

Founder at Semiotic

San Francisco, California, United States

FoundedSemiotic · YC

Find your path to Brandon

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

Jeremy PhilipsunlockedBrandon: together at Columbia Business School (2024–2025)

×7Brandon: together at Columbia Business School

×4Brandon: together at The Westminster Schools

About

Brandon Yao studied computer science and economics at Columbia. He has conducted research with OpenAI's chief economist and held roles at several YC-backed startups, and now serves as COO at Semiotic.

Founder at Semiotic YC F25

Intro paths

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

Their group partner at YC was David Lieb, General Partner at Y Combinator — the partner who ran Semiotic's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗

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In turn, Brandon can intro founders to Semiotic's investors below.

Semiotic's investors · 2

Leonis CapitalSan Francisco Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K checks · since 2025

Co-founders at Semiotic

Michael RobersonFounder

Bryan GrisalesFounder

Experience

Semiotic (YC F25)Co-Founder & COOcurrent2025 — presentSan Francisco, California, United States
Columbia Business SchoolResearch2024 — 2025New York, New York, United States

Frequently asked questions

Who is Brandon Yao?: Brandon Yao studied computer science and economics at Columbia. He has conducted research with OpenAI's chief economist and held roles at several YC-backed startups, and now serves as COO at Semiotic.
Where does Brandon Yao work?: Brandon Yao is Founder of Semiotic.
What companies did Brandon Yao found?: Brandon Yao founded Semiotic.
Where did Brandon Yao go to school?: Brandon Yao studied at Y Combinator (F25); Columbia University (Bachelor of Arts - BA, Economics); The Westminster Schools (High School Diploma).

Founder mafias

Y Combinator mafia10,230

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Sam AltmanPresidentFounded Tools for Humanity +3 Garry TanPresident & CEOFounded Y Combinator +1 Jessica LivingstonCo-founderFounded Y Combinator Alexis OhanianPartnerFounded Reddit Fred EhrsamYC Summer 2012Founded Nudge +1 Matt HuangYC Winter 2011Founded Paradigm +1

+ 10,223 more

Columbia University mafia454

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Ben HorowitzBAFounded Opsware Chris DixonMaster of Arts - MAFounded Founder Collective Kai-Fu LeeA.B.Founded 01 Kevin M. SlawinB.A.Founded Phoenix SENOLYTIX +4 Paul GrossingerMaster of Science; M.SFounded Gaingels +3 Trevor PriceMasters of Science CandidateFounded Town Hall Ventures +2

+ 447 more

The Westminster Schools mafia9

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Adam SuskinFounded Crouton Yash KadadiHigh School DiplomaFounded Forerunner AI Ishan ShethFounded Ergo Ryan CarlisleFounded Argo Space Rayford DavisDiplomaFounded ExceptionALLY Mike BarnwellFounded wanderBOX

+ 2 more

Same school

Also attended Y Combinator2,000

Tarek MansourCo-founder & CEO of Kalshi Suhail DoshiFounder of Mixpanel; founder of Particle Subomi OluwalanaCo-founder & CEO of Convoy Arhaan A.Deeptech Fellow at Clear Ventures Collin WallaceGeneral Partner at Lobby Capital Victor SantosVictor Scout at One Way Ventures

+ 1,994 more

Also attended Columbia University1,304

Ben HorowitzCo-founder & General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz Doug LeonePartner at Sequoia Capital; former Global Managing Partner Chris DixonFounder & Managing Partner of a16z crypto at Andreessen Horowitz Kai-Fu LeeChairman of Sinovation Ventures and CEO of 01.AI Gabriella GiglioHR & Executive Talent at General Catalyst Scott BillerInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)

+ 1,298 more

Also attended The Westminster Schools42

Louis SchotskyManaging Partner at Navitas Capital Ward CroftAssociate at Odyssey Investment Partners Arjun MohanInvestments at Standard Crypto Haley VincentInvestor at Struck Capital Fielding JamiesonCo-Founder & Partner at Tipt Ventures DavideFinance Manager at Quayside Holdings

+ 36 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Semiotic (YC F25)2

Michael RobersonFounder at Semiotic Bryan GrisalesFounder at Semiotic

Also worked at Columbia Business School129

Jeremy PhilipsInvestor at Spark Capital Graham BrownManaging Partner at Lerer Hippeau Charlie RexfordChief of Staff to CEO at Sapphire Ventures Siddharth RamakrishnanPrincipal at Scale Venture Partners Halle TeccoFounder, Rock Health & Natalist at Giant Ventures Global Llp Florin MihocVenture Partner at Ff Venture Capital

+ 123 more

Find your path to Brandon

About

Founder at SemioticYC F25

Intro paths

Semiotic's investors · 2

Co-founders at Semiotic

Experience

Frequently asked questions

Founder mafias

Y Combinator mafia10,230

Columbia University mafia454

The Westminster Schools mafia9

Same school

Also attended Y Combinator2,000

Also attended Columbia University1,304

Also attended The Westminster Schools42

Shared employers

Also worked at Semiotic (YC F25)2

Also worked at Columbia Business School129

Founder at Semiotic YC F25