Chai Mishra
FounderFounder/CEO at The Essential
San Francisco, California, United States
FoundedThe Essential · YC
About
Chai Mishra is the founder and CEO of The Essential and the host and producer of Warm Intro. Previously a two-time Y Combinator founder, Mishra has served as a board member at UNICEF. Mishra is a graduate of UC Berkeley and was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
Founder/CEO at The EssentialYC W17
Intro paths
YC
Chai went through Y Combinator (Winter 2017) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
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In turn, Chai can intro founders to The Essential's investors below.
The Essential's investors · 2
Experience
- The EssentialFounder CEOcurrent2017 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- Warm IntroHost & Producercurrent2025 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- City of BerkeleyStartup & Innovation Advisorcurrent2024 — presentBerkeley, California, United States
- UNICEFBoard Member, Governance Committee2022 — 2024
Skills & more
StorytellingExpert Advisor1Web PresenceProgram EvaluationExternal RelationsFinancial ManagementCollaborative LeadershipBoard RelationsFundraisingOnline MarketplaceProduct DevelopmentEntrepreneurship65
+12 more
SalesMarketingMergers & AcquisitionsStart-upsInvestmentsMarketing StrategyBusiness DevelopmentMentoringManagementEstablishing RelationshipsDiverse GroupsPublic SpeakingLanguages English · German · Hindi
From Chai's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Chai Mishra?
- Chai Mishra is the founder and CEO of The Essential and the host and producer of Warm Intro. Previously a two-time Y Combinator founder, Mishra has served as a board member at UNICEF. Mishra is a graduate of UC Berkeley and was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
- Where does Chai Mishra work?
- Chai Mishra is Founder/CEO of The Essential.
- What companies did Chai Mishra found?
- Chai Mishra founded The Essential.
- Where did Chai Mishra go to school?
- Chai Mishra studied at University of California, Berkeley (Mechanical Engineering); Y Combinator (W17); Y Combinator (Fellowship 2).
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
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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
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University of California, Berkeley mafia789
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 FlexportAbraham BachrachBachelor of Science (BS)Founded Skydio
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Same school
Also attended University of California, Berkeley1,807
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
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
Shared employers
Also worked at City of Berkeley5
Emily SpradlinOffice Coordinator and Administrative Assistant at Telescope PartnersShaheer SandhuInvestor at Susa VenturesYura HwangOperations at Factorial FundsShahryar AbbasiFounder at Risely AIElizabeth Redman ClevelandChief Strategist, Sustainable Growth, City of Berkeley (DEI Committee) at UC Berkeley Skydeck
Also worked at UNICEF48
Melis AtaOperations | Venture Fellow at 212Yagiz KARADENIZManaging Partner at DOMiNO VenturesMargarita ChavezChief Financial Officer at Endeavor CatalystDaria ZhaoInvestor at NZVCEzgi EmirogluVenture Associate at Material ImpactJun QuInvestment Manager at Main Sequence Ventures
+ 42 more