About
Brian Kim studied computer engineering at USC and worked as an early engineer at GoFundMe before founding a corporate sustainability company. Most recently, he led AI workflow initiatives at Asana and is now co-founder and CEO of Kestral.
Founder at KestralYC X25
Intro paths
YC
Brian went through Y Combinator (Spring 2025) β any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
GP
Their group partner at YC was Andrew Miklas, General Partner at Y Combinator β the partner who ran Kestral's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile β
β
In turn, Brian can intro founders to Kestral's investors below.
Kestral's investors Β· 1
Co-founders at Kestral
BX
Bernard XieFounder
Experience
- KestralCo-Founder, CEOcurrent2025 β present
- AsanaTech Lead2023 β 2025
- MoneyForGreenFounder, CEO2020 β 2023
- LyftSoftware Engineer2018 β 2020San Francisco Bay Area
- Youth Community ServiceBoard Member2018 β 2020
- GoFundMeSoftware Engineer2016 β 2018Menlo Park
- Kleiner Perkins Caufield & ByersKPCB Campus Catalyst2015 β 2016
- USC Code The ChangeProject / Engineering Manager2015University of Southern California
- CourseraSoftware Engineering Intern / KPCB Fellow2015Mountain View, CA
- USC Computer Science DepartmentCS 104 Data Structures Undergraduate Teaching Assistant / Course Producer2015
- USC Computer Science DepartmentCS 103: Undergraduate Teaching Assistant / Course Producer2014 β 2015CSCI 103: Introduction to Computer Science
- USC Computer Science DepartmentResearcher2013 β 2015
- GoogleEngineering Practicum Intern2014Mountain View
- USC Viterbi School of EngineeringEE 355 C++ Programming Grader2014
- OneScreenSoftware Engineer Intern2013Irvine
- California Institute of TechnologyResearch Intern2011
Skills & more
Microsoft Office13C++14Java14Ruby7Python14HTML8CSS8Git6Ruby on Rails3JavaScript3Computer Science12Web Applications7
+3 more
AlgorithmsProgrammingAndroid DevelopmentLanguages English Β· Korean Β· Spanish
From Brian's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Brian Kim?
- Brian Kim studied computer engineering at USC and worked as an early engineer at GoFundMe before founding a corporate sustainability company. Most recently, he led AI workflow initiatives at Asana and is now co-founder and CEO of Kestral.
- Where does Brian Kim work?
- Brian Kim is Founder of Kestral.
- What companies did Brian Kim found?
- Brian Kim founded Kestral.
- Where did Brian Kim go to school?
- Brian Kim studied at University of Southern California (Bachelor's Degree, Computer Engineering and Computer Science); Troy High School (High School).
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
+ 8,766 more
University of Southern California mafia137
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Marc BenioffB.S.B.A.Founded SalesforceGabriel PereyraBachelor's degreeFounded HarveyKent WakefordJuris Doctorate (J.D.)Founded Breaking +4Matt MichelsonM.S.Founded Evid Science +1Jinal JhaveriMaster of ScienceFounded SchoolMint +1Danny WenBachelor of Science - BSFounded Crowdmade +1
+ 130 more
Kleiner Perkins mafia54
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Raphael RouvinovEngineering FellowFounded Luminopia +1Rebecca LeeKleiner Perkins FellowFounded Elayne +1Jesse HuEngineering FellowFounded Abundant +1Ted SchleinGeneral PartnerFounded GetReal SecurityMuzzammil (MZ) ZaveriPartnerFounded ProxinoDr. Cheryl MartinExecutive in ResidenceFounded Renmatix
+ 47 more
Coursera mafia22
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Andrew NgCo-Founder and ChairmanFounded Factored +1Victor NogueraMachine LearningFounded Labsense +1Sourabh BajajStaff Software EngineerFounded UplimitRostow RavananOnline courseFounded AlfahiveSteven SyverudProduct Manager; Business Development ManagerFounded SycamoreParthi LoganathanSoftware Engineering InternFounded Letterdrop
+ 15 more
Asana mafia9
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Geoff SchmidtSoftware EngineerFounded Meteor Development Group +2Jordan DearsleySoftware Engineer InternFounded Superpowered +1Sean McBrideSenior Software EngineerFounded ZanbazaarMihir DeoHead of Enterprise Sales Engineering, NAMERFounded ElucifyLouis LecatProduct ManagementFounded UpstreamParth ChopraSoftware EngineerFounded Candle
+ 2 more
Same school
Also attended University of Southern California490
Shaun MaguirePartner at Sequoia CapitalMarc BenioffCo-founder, Chair & CEO of SalesforceGabriel PereyraCo-founder & President of HarveyDamir BecirovicInvestor at Index VenturesVojtech HornaInvestor at Index VenturesNatalie VaisInvestor at Spark Capital
+ 484 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Kestral1
Also worked at Lyft96
Navin ChaddhaManaging Partner at MayfieldLogan GreenCo-founder of LyftJohn ZimmerCo-founder of LyftDarcy YeeMarketing and Communications at Menlo VenturesPierre-Eric LeiboviciInvestor at DaphniManish GuptaInvestor at IVP (Institutional Venture Partners)
+ 90 more
Also worked at GoFundMe9
Jon KossowManaging Partner at Norwest Venture PartnersMusa TariqInvestor at FELIX CAPITALChristina Melas-KyriaziPartner at Bain Capital VenturesMaya NoethPartner at AccelKobie FullerGeneral Partner at Upfront VenturesAndy BallesterTech Guru at New Leaf Invest
+ 3 more
Also worked at Coursera27
Pierre-Eric LeiboviciInvestor at DaphniJessica NealOperating Partner at TCVJulia StiglitzPreviously Partner, GSV Ventures at GSV VenturesSourabh BajajEngineering Advisor at Modern TechnicalRob HutterFounder, Managing Partner at Learn CapitalAndrew NgManaging General Partner at AI Fund
+ 21 more