Where did Ian Fong go to school?

Ian Fong studied at New York University (Bachelor's degree, Mathematics); Y Combinator (Entrepreneurship, X26); Z Fellows.

Ian Fong

Founder

Founder at Chert

New York City Metropolitan Area

FoundedChert · YC

About

Ian Fong studied mathematics and computer science/economics at NYU and conducted algorithm research at the Courant Institute. He is currently building Chert, a conversational API platform for team communication and automation.

Founder at Chert YC X26

Intro paths

Ian went through Y Combinator (Spring 2026) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.

Their group partner at YC was David Lieb, General Partner at Y Combinator — the partner who ran Chert's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗

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In turn, Ian can intro founders to Chert's investors below.

Chert's investors · 1

Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K checks · since 2026

Co-founders at Chert

Gary GaoFounder

Experience

Chert (YC P26)Co-Foundercurrent2026 — presentSan Francisco, California, United States
Chert (YC P26)Chief Technology Officercurrent2026 — presentSan Francisco, California, United States
AnthropicClaude Campus Ambassadorcurrent2025 — presentNew York, United States
Nodal CLICo-Founder2025 — 2026New York, United States
CEC CapitalFellow2025 — 2026San Francisco Bay Area
PhotonFounder in Residence2025
Stanford University School of EngineeringResearch Assistant2025

Skills & more

Operations Management1Charisma8

Languages Cantonese · Chinese · English · Spanish

From Ian's professional profile.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Ian Fong?: Ian Fong studied mathematics and computer science/economics at NYU and conducted algorithm research at the Courant Institute. He is currently building Chert, a conversational API platform for team communication and automation.
Where does Ian Fong work?: Ian Fong is Founder of Chert.
What companies did Ian Fong found?: Ian Fong founded Chert.
Where did Ian Fong go to school?: Ian Fong studied at New York University (Bachelor's degree, Mathematics); Y Combinator (Entrepreneurship, X26); Z Fellows.

Founder mafias

Y Combinator mafia8,773

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Sam AltmanPresidentFounded Tools for Humanity +3 Jessica LivingstonCo-founderFounded Y Combinator Alexis OhanianYC Summer 2005Founded Reddit Fred EhrsamYC Summer 2012Founded Nudge +1 Matt HuangYC Winter 2011Founded Hotspots Trae StephensYC Winter 2022Founded Pursuit +1

+ 8,766 more

Y Combinator mafia4,716

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Ryan SheaEntrepreneurshipFounded Stacks Tarek MansourFounded Kalshi Suhail DoshiEating beans & riceFounded Playground +1 Subomi OluwalanaW22Founded Convoy Darius "Bubs" MonsefS19Founded Sightbox +3 Matthew ScholzFounded Oisin Biotechnologies +3

+ 4,709 more

New York University mafia86

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Jonathan RossHonors Mathematics and Honors Computer ScienceFounded Groq Rajiv KhemaniMSFounded Auradine +3 Ben ZisesReal Estate Finance and InvestmentFounded Superangelsyndicate +2 Uri LopatinResidencyFounded Pardes Biosciences +1 Robby YungM.A.Founded The Sandbox +1 Ivan KiriginBAFounded YesGraph +1

+ 79 more

Anthropic mafia38

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Mike KriegerMember of Technical StaffFounded Instagram Reed HastingsBoard MemberFounded InterPositive Tom BlomfieldMember of Technical StaffFounded Monzo +1 Guru ChahalInvestorFounded Avi Networks David LangerInvestorFounded Zesty Kiko WemmerProduct PartnershipsFounded Dandelion Health

+ 31 more

Z Fellows mafia37

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Dante VaisbortFounded Haylon Technologies +1 David LinFounderFounded Duffl Teddy LiZF1Founded Nophin Colin SnyderTechnology Fellowship | Less than 1% acceptance rateFounded Banabo Mikael NidaFounded Lotus Katherine HeFounded Nectar

+ 30 more

Same school

Also attended New York University385

Jonathan RossFounder of Groq; inventor of Google's TPU — now at Nvidia Gabriella GiglioHR & Executive Talent at General Catalyst Andrea EchstenkamperVP of Marketing at Heavybit Rami BranitzkyPartner at Sapphire Ventures Zach WhiteInvestment Team at 8VC Ankita TiwariPrograms Manager at StartX

+ 379 more

Also attended Y Combinator2,000

Tarek MansourCo-founder & CEO of Kalshi Suhail DoshiFounder of Mixpanel; founder of Particle Subomi OluwalanaCo-founder & CEO of Convoy Maroof AhmedFounder at Octopus Ventures Justin SwartPartner at Bitkraft Esports Ventures Collin WallaceGeneral Partner at Lobby Capital

+ 1,994 more

Also attended Z Fellows40

Cory LevyInvestor at NZVC David LinFounder at Duffl Teddy LiFounder, CEO at Nophin Colin SnyderFounder at Banabo Mikael NidaFounder at Lotus Katherine HeFounder at Nectar

+ 34 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Chert (YC P26)1

Gary GaoFounder at Chert

Also worked at Anthropic103

Hans TungManaging Partner at Notable Capital Byron DeeterPartner at Bessemer Venture Partners Mike KriegerCo-founder of Instagram; Chief Product Officer at Anthropic Reed HastingsCo-founder of Netflix Dario AmodeiCo-founder & CEO of Anthropic Daniela AmodeiCo-founder & President of Anthropic

+ 97 more

Also worked at Nodal CLI1

Gary GaoFounder at Chert

Also worked at Photon1

Gary GaoFounder at Chert

About

Founder at ChertYC X26

Intro paths

Chert's investors · 1

Co-founders at Chert

Experience

Skills & more

Frequently asked questions

Founder mafias

Y Combinator mafia8,773

Y Combinator mafia4,716

New York University mafia86

Anthropic mafia38

Z Fellows mafia37

Same school

Also attended New York University385

Also attended Y Combinator2,000

Also attended Z Fellows40

Shared employers

Also worked at Chert (YC P26)1

Also worked at Anthropic103

Also worked at Nodal CLI1

Also worked at Photon1

Founder at Chert YC X26