Fundraising Fox

Bryan Pirtle

Founder

Founder at Nova

Reno, Nevada, United States

FoundedNova · YC

About

Bryan Pirtle is CTO and Co-Founder at HowToo. His background spans software and computer architecture, real-time data systems, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and product development, and he has built large-scale SaaS platforms and led engineering teams composed of direct reports and contractors. His technical specialties include prototyping, full life-cycle development, microservice and distributed system design, and Kubernetes, with experience in both back-end and front-end development.

Founder at NovaYC W16

Intro paths

YC

Bryan went through Y Combinator (Winter 2016) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.

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In turn, Bryan can intro founders to Nova's investors below.

Nova's investors · 4

AccelPalo Alto · $1.6M – $70M checks · since 2026ChemistrySan Francisco · since 2026ConvictionSan Francisco · $1M – $25M checks · since 2026Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K checks · since 2016

Co-founders at Nova

WDWill Dinkel
Will DinkelFounder

Experience

  1. HowTooCTO & Co-Foundercurrent2025 — presentReno, Nevada, United States
  2. Stealth Mode Start-upChief Technical Advisor2024 — 2025Reno Southeast, Nevada, United States
  3. HighspotSenior Director of Engineering2021 — 2025Seattle, Washington, United States
  4. HighspotPrincipal Engineer & Technical Lead2020 — 2021Seattle, Washington, United States
  5. Dia&CoAdvisor2014 — 2020San Francisco Bay Area
  6. Nova Labs (YC W16)CTO & Co-founder2016 — 2020San Francisco Bay Area
  7. Thread, Inc.Co-founder2013 — 2014San Francisco Bay Area
  8. MITGraduate Student2013 — 2014Cambridge, MA
  9. E. & J. Gallo WinerySenior Engineer, Operations Strategy2013Greater Monroe Area
  10. E. & J. Gallo WinerySenior Engineer, Corporate Engineering2012 — 2013Greater Monroe Area
  11. E. & J. Gallo WineryAdvanced Controls Engineer2009 — 2012
  12. E. & J. Gallo WineryAssociate Electrical Controls Engineer2007 — 2009
  13. Anyfares.comFreelance Web Design Consultant2005 — 2007
  14. Moon Valley SoftwareEmbedded System Design Consultant2006 — 2007

Skills & more

PLC17Lean Manufacturing11Engineering64Process Improvement18Automation90Excel4Packaging4Java4Visual Basic3Microsoft Office7Manufacturing28HTML3
+12 moreProgrammingVBATechnical WritingSupply ChainSQLJavaScriptSoftware DevelopmentPHPSQL ServerMatlabMS ProjectEmbedded Systems
  • C10 General Electrical Contractor's License — California State Contractors License Board
  • Building Performance Analyst — Building Performance Institute

From Bryan's professional profile.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Bryan Pirtle?
Bryan Pirtle is CTO and Co-Founder at HowToo. His background spans software and computer architecture, real-time data systems, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and product development, and he has built large-scale SaaS platforms and led engineering teams composed of direct reports and contractors. His technical specialties include prototyping, full life-cycle development, microservice and distributed system design, and Kubernetes, with experience in both back-end and front-end development.
Where does Bryan Pirtle work?
Bryan Pirtle is Founder of Nova.
What companies did Bryan Pirtle found?
Bryan Pirtle founded Nova.
Where did Bryan Pirtle go to school?
Bryan Pirtle studied at Y Combinator; Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Master of Science, Engineering); University of California, Davis.

Founder mafias

Y Combinator mafia9,496

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Sam AltmanPresidentFounded Tools for Humanity +3Garry TanPresident & CEOFounded Y Combinator +1Jessica LivingstonCo-founderFounded Y CombinatorAlexis OhanianYC Summer 2005Founded RedditFred EhrsamYC Summer 2012Founded Nudge +1Matt HuangYC Winter 2011Founded Hotspots

+ 9,489 more

Y Combinator mafia5,145

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Ryan SheaEntrepreneurshipFounded StacksTarek MansourFounded KalshiSuhail DoshiEating beans & riceFounded Playground +1Subomi OluwalanaW22Founded ConvoyGleb ChuvpiloAlumFounded Pager +4IanFounded Apex Technology +3

+ 5,138 more

Massachusetts Institute of Technology mafia789

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Elad GilPhDFounded Brain Co. +1Hemant TanejaMinorFounded Hippocratic AINat FriedmanBachelor of ScienceFounded XamarinBrad FeldS.B.Founded TechstarsMatt HuangB.S.Founded HotspotsDelian AsparouhovDropoutFounded Nightingale +1

+ 782 more

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo mafia35

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Rick StollmeyerIntegrated Technology ManagementFounded MindBody +1Phillip AkhzarBachelor of ScienceFounded Arka +1Paul KesserwaniBachelor of Science (BS)Founded CryptoMove +1Ben LeeBSEEFounded MovellaForrest JinksBachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.)Founded Altus Equity GroupCyrus LohrasbpourBachelor of Science (BS)Founded LeanMarket

+ 28 more

Highspot mafia4

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

David WortendykeChief Technology Officer, FounderFounded HighspotRobert WahbeCEOFounded HighspotOliver SharpCo-founder and Chief Solution ArchitectFounded Highspot

Same school

Also attended Y Combinator2,000

Ryan SheaCo-founder of Blockstack (Stacks)Suhail DoshiFounder of Mixpanel; founder of ParticleArhaan A.Deeptech Fellow at Clear VenturesAkshat GoenkaInvestor at Moonfire VenturesJon XuGeneral Partner at Y CombinatorChris GoldaGeneral Partner at Y Combinator

+ 1,994 more

Also attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology1,740

Fred WilsonCo-founder & Partner at Union Square VenturesElad GilSolo general partner investing through Gil CapitalAileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesHemant TanejaCEO & Managing Director of General CatalystPhilippe LaffontFounder & CIO of Coatue ManagementNat FriedmanCo-lead of Meta Superintelligence Labs; co-founder of NFDG

+ 1,734 more

Also attended University of California, Davis221

Charles CallSLP & Venture Partner at Cottonwood Technology FundDavid PhuController at Felicis VenturesTeresa ChanChief Financial Officer at Felicis VenturesBryan EglanDirector of Business Development at Menlo VenturesScott MaxwellInvestor at OpenView Venture PartnersMasoud AdinaHead of Compliance at Greycroft

+ 215 more

Also attended California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo128

Brent FellowsVice President, Finance and Tax at Menlo VenturesTravis BryantSales Leadership at Redpoint VenturesMax DavisSenior Accountant at HeavybitElizabeth PattersonOperating Partner at Sapphire VenturesRyan AzusFormer Chief Revenue Officer at Zoom Video Communications at Scale Venture PartnersBrad GritschFinance at Lux Capital

+ 122 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Highspot14

Karly WentzPartner at B4 CapitalMatt GarrattGeneral Partner at US Venture PartnersElisa La CavaPrincipal at Trilogy Equity PartnersAakash KumarDeeptech, AI & Fintech at DeVCRavi MohanManaging Director at Shasta VenturesIsabelle MalletAssociate at Accel-KKR

+ 8 more

Also worked at Thread, Inc.3

Krishna PotarazuPartner at JMI EquityAlex AmenAdvisor at PsyMed VenturesShrenik JainFounder at Marigold Health

Also worked at MIT607

Aileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesMatt HuangCo-founder and Managing Partner at ParadigmMichael TruellCo-founder & CEO of CursorRaquel UrtasunFounder & CEO of WaabiColin WebbFounder & CEO of Avatar RoboticsAbraham BachrachCo-founder & CTO of Skydio

+ 601 more

Also worked at E. & J. Gallo Winery6

Hayley HoviousHead of Network and Community at HC9 VenturesKyle WilliamsPresident at Bootstrap Venture PartnersJosh LittleDirector of Ag & Minerals Logistics at G3 Enterprises at Taram CapitalNick V. O'BrienSenior Associate at GHKJohn B. StroudFounder at Azalea Robotics CorporationJoe MeyerFounder at Execthread