Fundraising Fox

Caelean Barnes

Founder

Founder at Gauge

San Francisco, California, United States

FoundedGauge Β· YC

About

Caelean Barnes is CEO of Gauge, a company that helps brands optimize their visibility in AI-generated search results and conversational AI platforms.

LinkedIn β†—X / Twitter β†—
Latest on 𝕏

Caelean @the1024th

@gauge_sh learn more at https://t.co/hurqA2y4d3 πŸ‘€

Jul 30, 2026 Β· β™₯ 1

Caelean @the1024th

The age-old question: Build vs. Buy. Coding agents (CC, Codex) are almost 4x as likely to hand-roll a solution instead of integrating a managed one, based on our early findings at @gauge_sh. As software has become cheaper to build, the bar for what's worth buying has risen. https://t.co/SyoiNzeSGD

Jul 30, 2026 Β· β™₯ 8 Β· ⇄ 1

Caelean @the1024th

Growth as a discipline is fundamentally changing. We needed the right framing to capture that change. More to come soon.

Jul 29, 2026

Founder at GaugeYC S24

Intro paths

YC

Caelean went through Y Combinator (Summer 2024) β€” any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.

GP

Their group partner at YC was Diana Hu, General Partner at Y Combinator β€” the partner who ran Gauge's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile β†—

β†’

In turn, Caelean can intro founders to Gauge's investors below.

Gauge's investors Β· 1

Y Combinator

Co-founders at Gauge

EDEvan Doyle
Evan DoyleFounder
GGrant
Grant
EEthan
Ethan
FFarbod
Farbod

Experience

  1. GaugeCo-Founder/CEOcurrent2024 β€” presentSan Francisco
  2. Standard MetricsFounding Engineer2020 β€” 2024San Francisco
  3. Noble.AIFull Stack2018 β€” 2020San Francisco
  4. CartaFull Stack, Investor Services2016 β€” 2018Palo Alto
  5. University of California, San Diego - Jacobs School of EngineeringSection Lead2015 β€” 2016San Diego
  6. RokuWeb Development Intern2015Saratoga, CA
  7. UCLAResearch Intern2013UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering, Computer Science Department

Education

  1. UC San Diego Jacobs School of EngineeringB.S. Computer Science, Minor in Cognitive Science2014 β€” 2018
  2. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam)Semester Abroad, Special Studies in Computer Science
  3. Los Gatos High School2010 β€” 2014

Skills & more

Teamwork8JavaScript51Python41Java38Git24Programming20Web Development17Linux12Amazon Web Services (AWS)11Node.js11Agile Application Development9MongoDB6
+10 moreConfluencePHPJenkinsPerforceScriptingWindowsMacOOPAsanaReact.js

From Caelean's professional profile.

Same school

Also attended Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam)125

Brendan Bulik-SullivanInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Kyang YungInvestor at DaphniJohann FriederichAssociate at Notion CapitalTies KlinkhamerJunior Associate at Keen Venture PartnersLidwi van OsProgram & Office Support Officer at NoaberMehmet AkalinExperts | Venture Partner at 212

+ 119 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Gauge1

Evan DoyleFounder at Gauge

Also worked at Standard Metrics4

Luke BugbeePortfolio Support at 8VCDeny KhoungPortfolio Support at 8VCSamir SenFounder at Flair LabsEvan DoyleFounder at Gauge

Also worked at Noble.AI6

Gavin MathisPartner & Chief of Staff at Prime Movers LabPriyanka MitraPartner at M12 (Microsoft's Venture Fund)Samir KumarGeneral Partner at Touring CapitalAdam GoobicManaging Director at General Purpose Venture CapitalDan KistlerManaging Director at General Purpose Venture CapitalEthan MirskyInvestor at Baruch Future Ventures

Also worked at Carta55

Mischa VaughnHead of Content at Felicis VenturesJane AlexanderPartner at CapitalGErica WaichmanHead of People & Community at Canvas VenturesEmily KramerVenture Partner at Rackhouse Venture Management LpSpencer FoustManaging Director at Sozo VenturesQuinton PeppinSenior Associate, Valuations & Operations at K5 Global

+ 49 more