About
Erika Hairston studied computer science and African American studies at Yale, later working as a product manager at LinkedIn Learning and as an engineer intern at Facebook. She is co-founder and CEO of Edlyft, a platform for upskilling computer science students at enterprises.
Founder at EdlyftYC W20
Intro paths
YC
Erika went through Y Combinator (Winter 2020) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
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In turn, Erika can intro founders to Edlyft's investors below.
Edlyft's investors · 7
27V (Twenty Seven Ventures)$25K – $250K checksBackstage CapitalLos Angeles · $50K checksJanuary VenturesWellesley Hills · $250K – $750K checksKapor CapitalOakland · $100K – $1M checksKleiner PerkinsMenlo Park · $500K – $15M checksWestbound Equity PartnersPalo Alto · $750K – $2M checksY CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K checks · since 2020
Co-founders at Edlyft
AA
Arnelle AnsongFounder
Experience
- VantaSenior Product Manager, Custom Agentscurrent2025 — present
- EdlyftCo-Founder & CEO | Head of Product (YC W20)2019 — 2024San Francisco Bay Area
- LinkedInAssociate Product Manager - LinkedIn Learning2019San Francisco Bay Area
- LinkedInAssociate Product Manager2018 — 2019San Francisco Bay Area
- Zimela AppFounder2018 — 2019San Francisco Bay Area
- LinkedInAssociate Product Manager Intern2017San Francisco Bay Area
- FacebookSoftware Engineering: Android2016Menlo Park, CA
- FacebookAndroid Development Intern2015Menlo Park, CA
- HBODigital Products, (Quality Assurance) Intern2014New York City Metropolitan Area
Skills & more
Time Management26Product Management5Event Planning24Software Development10Quality Assurance6Web Design4Social Media21Cashiering2Creative Writing2Customer Service14Social Networking15Mobile Application Development
+12 more
FacebookJavaHTML5GithubPython (Programming Language)CEclipseAndroid SDKCascading Style Sheets (CSS)Microsoft ExcelHTMLEnglishLanguages English · Spanish
- Product Management: Building a Product Strategy — LinkedIn
From Erika's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Erika Hairston?
- Erika Hairston studied computer science and African American studies at Yale, later working as a product manager at LinkedIn Learning and as an engineer intern at Facebook. She is co-founder and CEO of Edlyft, a platform for upskilling computer science students at enterprises.
- Where does Erika Hairston work?
- Erika Hairston is Founder of Edlyft.
- What companies did Erika Hairston found?
- Erika Hairston founded Edlyft.
- Where did Erika Hairston go to school?
- Erika Hairston studied at Y Combinator (W20 Batch); Yale University (Bachelor of Science - BS, Computer Science); The Hotchkiss School (High School).
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
Yale University mafia190
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Michael SeibelBAFounded SocialCamBen SilbermannB.A.Founded Audiobeta +2Justin KanPhysics and PhilosophyFounded Stash +6Kevin RyanBAFounded Business Insider +2Harry GrunerFounded Hilos +2Emmett ShearBSFounded Softmax +2
+ 183 more
LinkedIn mafia77
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Peter ThielInvestorFounded PayPal +1Reid HoffmanCo-founder & ChairmanFounded Manas AI +1Dylan FieldData Analytics InternFounded FigmaGordon WintrobEngineering ManagerFounded Newfrontinsurance +2Eric RowellSenior Frontend EngineerFounded Uiflow +2Josephine LeeSoftware Engineering InternFounded Palette Labs +1
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+ 70 more
Same school
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 Yale University651
Ann Miura-KoCo-founding Partner at FloodgateDavid SzeAdvisory Partner at GreylockMichael SeibelPartner Emeritus at Y CombinatorBen SilbermannCo-founder of PinterestZheela QaiserInvestor at Index VenturesAnthony PhilippakisInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)
+ 645 more
Also attended The Hotchkiss School33
Hilla WatkinsPlatform Partner at Congruent VenturesMaggie RodneyPartner at MassiveMike SalgueroCEO, ButcherBox & Founding Pillar at Pillar VCMaddy DwyerSenior Associate, Business Development at Cross Creek AdvisorsJake MorossPrincipal at Torch CapitalCarter WilliamsCEO and Managing Principal at iSelect Fund
+ 27 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Vanta17
Mark KraynakInvestor at Aspect VenturesAileen AllenPartner at Mercury FundJenny ThaiHead of Marketing at Pear VCChristina CacioppoCo-Founder, Vanta at SurgeAnarghya VardhanaGeneral Partner at MaveronAndrew ReedPartner at Sequoia Capital
+ 11 more
Also worked at LinkedIn197
Peter ThielCo-founder & Partner at Founders FundReid HoffmanCo-founder of LinkedIn; Partner at GreylockKeith RaboisManaging Director at Khosla VenturesDavid SzeAdvisory Partner at GreylockJeremy LevinePartner at Bessemer Venture PartnersDylan FieldCo-founder, CEO & Chair of Figma
+ 191 more
Also worked at Facebook535
Peter ThielCo-founder & Partner at Founders FundChamath PalihapitiyaFounder & CEO of Social CapitalJim BreyerFounder & CEO of Breyer CapitalDavid SzeAdvisory Partner at GreylockReed HastingsCo-founder of NetflixAndy FangCo-founder & CTO of DoorDash
+ 529 more
Also worked at HBO19
Adam GoldbergInvestments at Standard CryptoKaren SkeltonAdvisor, Visiting Scholar At Stanford's Doerr School Of Sustainability; Former Senior Policy Advisor, US Department Of Energy at Overture ClimateYersultan SaparInvestor at FEBE VenturesTimothy MohnCTO & Advisor at Seaside VenturesTony LiuPartner at Costanoa VenturesSavannah GreenePrincipal at Workday Ventures
+ 13 more