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Chai Mishra

Founder

Founder/CEO at The Essential

San Francisco, California, United States

FoundedThe Essential · YC

Find your path to Chai

63 people in our graph share verified history with Chai — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.

Melis AtaunlockedChai: together at UNICEF (2023–2024)
×9Chai: together at UNICEF
×2Chai: together at City of Berkeley

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

Dorm RoomBrooklyn · $90K – $250K checksY CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K checks · since 2017

Experience

  1. The EssentialFounder CEOcurrent2017 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
  2. Warm IntroHost & Producercurrent2025 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
  3. City of BerkeleyStartup & Innovation Advisorcurrent2024 — presentBerkeley, California, United States
  4. UNICEFBoard Member, Governance Committee2022 — 2024

Skills & more

StorytellingExpert Advisor1Web PresenceProgram EvaluationExternal RelationsFinancial ManagementCollaborative LeadershipBoard RelationsFundraisingOnline MarketplaceProduct DevelopmentEntrepreneurship65
+12 moreSalesMarketingMergers & AcquisitionsStart-upsInvestmentsMarketing StrategyBusiness DevelopmentMentoringManagementEstablishing RelationshipsDiverse GroupsPublic Speaking

Languages 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

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