About
Brien Colwell is a co-founder and former CTO of HeadSpin, a global device infrastructure platform (2015–2022), and currently works on privacy and security. He studied human-computer interaction and has background as a startup engineer.
Founder/CEO at NextopYC W15
Intro paths
YC
Brien went through Y Combinator (Winter 2015) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
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In turn, Brien can intro founders to Nextop's investors below.
Experience
- Defakto SecuritySoftware Engineercurrent2026 — present
- Forbes Technology CouncilMembercurrent2019 — present
- BringYourFounder2023 — 2026San Francisco Bay Area
- HeadSpinCo-Founder, Advisor2022 — 2023
- HeadSpinCTO, Co-Founder2015 — 2022Palo Alto, California, United States
- NextopFounder2014 — 2015Oakland, CA
- Talko Inc.Software Engineer2013 — 2014San Francisco, CA
- QuoraSoftware Engineer2011 — 2013Palo Alto, CA; Mountain View, CA
- Knoa SoftwareLead Engineer2009 — 2011NYC
- University of WashingtonResearcher2007 — 2008Seattle, WA
- Palantir TechnologiesSoftware Engineer2006 — 2007Palo Alto, CA
Skills & more
Instrumentation4Distributed Systems2Data Analysis1Backend Development3User Interface Programming2Interaction Design2Information Visualization2Tenacious Work Ethic2Software Engineering7Software Development5Mobile Applications2Algorithms2
+6 more
Mobile DevicesTest AutomationAndroidC++CSSPython (Programming Language)- Sun Certified Java Developer and Programmer — Sun Microsystems
- Principles of Reactive Programming — Coursera
From Brien's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Brien Colwell?
- Brien Colwell is a co-founder and former CTO of HeadSpin, a global device infrastructure platform (2015–2022), and currently works on privacy and security. He studied human-computer interaction and has background as a startup engineer.
- Where does Brien Colwell work?
- Brien Colwell is Founder/CEO of Nextop.
- What companies did Brien Colwell found?
- Brien Colwell founded Nextop.
- Where did Brien Colwell go to school?
- Brien Colwell studied at University of California, Berkeley (Bachelor of Science (BS), EECS); Y Combinator (W15); New York University (Masters, Interactive Telecommunications (Tisch School of the Arts)).
Founder mafias
Y Combinator mafia8,773
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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
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University of California, Berkeley mafia538
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Steve WozniakBSFounded AppleTony XuB.S.Founded DoorDashAravind SrinivasDoctor of Philosophy - PhDFounded PerplexityAli GhodsiPost-docFounded DatabricksRyan PetersenBAFounded FlexportDavid FriedbergBAFounded Climate +2
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New York University mafia86
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Jonathan RossHonors Mathematics and Honors Computer ScienceFounded GroqRajiv KhemaniMSFounded Auradine +3Ben ZisesReal Estate Finance and InvestmentFounded Superangelsyndicate +2Uri LopatinResidencyFounded Pardes Biosciences +1Robby YungM.A.Founded The Sandbox +1Ivan KiriginBAFounded YesGraph +1
+ 79 more
Sphere mafia3
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Same school
Also attended University of California, Berkeley1,452
Byron DeeterPartner at Bessemer Venture PartnersSteve WozniakCo-founder of AppleTony XuCo-founder & CEO of DoorDashAravind SrinivasCo-founder & CEO of Perplexity AIAli GhodsiCo-founder & CEO of DatabricksRyan PetersenFounder & CEO of Flexport
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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
+ 1,994 more
Also attended New York University385
Jonathan RossFounder of Groq; inventor of Google's TPU — now at NvidiaGabriella GiglioHR & Executive Talent at General CatalystAndrea EchstenkamperVP of Marketing at HeavybitRami BranitzkyPartner at Sapphire VenturesZach WhiteInvestment Team at 8VCAnkita TiwariPrograms Manager at StartX
+ 379 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Defakto Security1
Also worked at HeadSpin1
Also worked at Quora24
Alexandr WangCo-founder of Scale AI; Chief AI Officer at MetaLucy GuoCo-founder of Scale AI; founder & CEO of PassesHelen MinEarly-stage investor and marketing advisor to startupsSarah SmithFounder & Managing Partner at Sarah SmithTiantian FangInvestor at Nava VenturesJessica ShamboraPartner at MKT1 Capital
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+ 18 more
Also worked at University of Washington95
Joe HorsmanInvestor at Madrona Venture GroupMike FridgenVenture Partner at Madrona Venture GroupSid ShenaiVenture partner at Madrona and co-founder and CEO of Proof DiagnosticsPaul JennyBoard Chair at CincyTechJason PrestonInvestor at Alsop Louie PartnersElliot HershbergScientist, Writer, and Investor on a mission to accelerate The Century of Biology
+ 89 more