About
Cayden Pierce worked on smart glasses hardware and demonstrated a prototype at CES. He later studied at MIT Media Lab before leaving to found Mentra, focusing on proactive AI applications for wearable technology.
Founder at MentraYC W25
Intro paths
YC
Cayden went through Y Combinator (Winter 2025) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
GP
Their group partner at YC was Jared Friedman, YC Group Partner — the partner who ran Mentra's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗
→
In turn, Cayden can intro founders to Mentra's investors below.
Mentra's investors · 7
Co-founders at Mentra
AI
Alexander IsraelovFounder
Experience
- MentraCEO/Co-Foundercurrent2024 — present
- Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyGrad Student，MIT Media Lab2023 — 2024Cambridge, MA
- TeamOpenSmartGlassesTeam Lead2022 — 2024
- Auki LabsWearables Engineer and Memetics Apprentice2024Hong Kong SAR
- JITXApplication Engineer2023San Jose, California, United States
- BlueberryBCI Research Lead2020 — 2021Toronto, ON
- University of TorontoWearable Computing Advisor2020 — 2021
- MannLabLab Manager, Researcher2020Toronto, ON
- MannLabTeam Lead, Researcher2019Toronto, ON
- DGI Spindles and BallscrewsEngineering Intern, Project Lead2018Ramos Arizpe, Mexico
- Concepts Web DesignDesigner, Founder2015 — 2016Kingston, ON, Canada
Skills & more
Wearable Computing24Brain-computer Interfaces17Research4Electrical Engineering3GNU/Linux7Leadership15Python20Bash5Public Speaking9Teamwork7
Languages English · Mandarin Chinese
From Cayden's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Cayden Pierce?
- Cayden Pierce worked on smart glasses hardware and demonstrated a prototype at CES. He later studied at MIT Media Lab before leaving to found Mentra, focusing on proactive AI applications for wearable technology.
- Where does Cayden Pierce work?
- Cayden Pierce is Founder of Mentra.
- What companies did Cayden Pierce found?
- Cayden Pierce founded Mentra.
- Where did Cayden Pierce go to school?
- Cayden Pierce studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT Media Lab); Y Combinator; Wolfram Summer Research Institute.
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
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
+ 4,709 more
Massachusetts Institute of Technology mafia546
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Elad GilPhDFounded Brain Co.Nat FriedmanBachelor of ScienceFounded XamarinMatt HuangB.S.Founded HotspotsDelian AsparouhovDropoutFounded Nightingale +1Drew HoustonBSFounded Dropbox +1Arash FerdowsiComputer ScienceFounded Dropbox
+ 539 more
JITX mafia3
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Wolfram Summer Research Institute mafia2
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Same school
Also attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology1,387
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 CatalystNat FriedmanCo-lead of Meta Superintelligence Labs; co-founder of NFDGBrad FeldCo-founder of Foundry and Techstars
+ 1,381 more
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 Western University194
Jasmine YangVice President at Sapphire VenturesKevin GaburaInvestor at Craft VenturesTanuj DuttaGeneral Partner at Congruent VenturesLindsay HamiltonInvestment Manager - Finance at Emerald Technology Ventures AgMichelle KwokPrincipal at Draper AssociatesJenny HeFounder & General Partner at Position Ventures
+ 188 more
Also attended Harvard University1,558
Alfred LinPartner at Sequoia CapitalChris DixonFounder & Managing Partner of a16z crypto at Andreessen HorowitzSarah TavelVenture Partner at BenchmarkDanny RimerPartner at Index VenturesLaela SturdyManaging Partner at CapitalGBill GatesCo-founder of Microsoft; Chair of the Gates Foundation
+ 1,552 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Mentra1
Also worked at Massachusetts Institute of Technology479
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 RoboticsAdam BryCo-founder & CEO of Skydio
+ 473 more