About
Ivan Zakazov completed a PhD at EPFL in Switzerland focused on LLM context compression, and previously held research positions at Microsoft and Philips Research.
Founder at CompresrYC W26
Intro paths
YC
Ivan went through Y Combinator (Winter 2026) — 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 Compresr's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗
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In turn, Ivan can intro founders to Compresr's investors below.
Compresr's investors · 1
Co-founders at Compresr
Experience
- Compresr (YC W26)Co-founder & CEOcurrent2026 — present
- EPFL (École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne)Doctoral Assistant (PhD)2023 — 2025Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland
- MicrosoftResearch Intern2025Seattle, Washington, United States
- KAWA AIMachine Learning Researcher2023
- PhilipsData & AI Scientist, Philips Research2021 — 2022Moscow, Russia
- PhilipsA Post-Graduation Break2021
- PhilipsJunior Data & AI Scientist, Philips Research2020 — 2021Moscow, Russia
- Imperial College LondonAcademic Visitor2021
Skills & more
Data Science5Public Speaking4Research4Academic Writing1Deep Learning3Computer Vision3Python2Git1Bash1PyTorch1Teamwork1
Languages English · Russian
- First Inria-DFKI European Summer School on AI — Inria
- Summer School of Machine Learning at Skoltech (SMILES) — Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology
- Machine Learning — Coursera
From Ivan's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Ivan Zakazov?
- Ivan Zakazov completed a PhD at EPFL in Switzerland focused on LLM context compression, and previously held research positions at Microsoft and Philips Research.
- Where does Ivan Zakazov work?
- Ivan Zakazov is Founder of Compresr.
- What companies did Ivan Zakazov found?
- Ivan Zakazov founded Compresr.
- Where did Ivan Zakazov go to school?
- Ivan Zakazov studied at Y Combinator; EPFL (Doctor of Philosophy - PhD); Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (M.Sc, Information Science and Technology).
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
Imperial College London mafia196
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Brent HobermanAdvisor, Innovation FundFounded Founders Pledge +3Nessan BerminghamDoctor of Philosophy - PhDFounded Korro Bio +2Alice BentinckComputer Science Department Industrial Liaison BoardFounded Entrepreneurs First +1Ahmed DeyabMSc Advanced Computational Methods for AeronauticsFounded Instagram +1Sebastian TrousilPhDFounded City Therapeutics +1Slava SolonitsynMBAFounded No Cap +1
+ 189 more
EPFL mafia55
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Raquel UrtasunDoctor of Philosophy - PhDFounded WaabiSteve AnaviMaster of Science (MSc)Founded QontoRavi JainInternshipFounded Genylabs +1Veronica Gambillara FonckPhDFounded LimmaTech Biologics +1Anna VybornovaMaster's degreeFounded Polari Group +1Toni RosinolBachelor of ScienceFounded Stack AI +1
+ 48 more
Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) mafia4
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Same school
Also attended Y Combinator2,000
Tarek MansourCo-founder & CEO of KalshiSuhail DoshiFounder of Mixpanel; founder of ParticleSubomi OluwalanaCo-founder & CEO of ConvoyArhaan A.Deeptech Fellow at Clear VenturesMaroof AhmedFounder at Octopus VenturesJustin SwartPartner at Bitkraft Esports Ventures
+ 1,994 more
Also attended EPFL104
Raquel UrtasunFounder & CEO of WaabiSteve AnaviCo-founder & President of QontoBouraux LeopoldAI & Data Engineer at Newfund CapitalJan-Olivier FillolsSenior Managing Director at Marlin Equity PartnersChristoph FreiPartner, Head of Energy at Emerald Technology Ventures AgArzu TekirGeneral Partner at Treeo VC
+ 98 more
Also attended Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology7
Gunner HardyAssociate at BOLD LongevityKonstantin GnypSenior Associate at Runa CapitalGunner HardyAssociate BOLD Longevity at Bold Capital PartnersSasha VidiborskiyPartner at AtomicoAnna BelousovaAssociate, Industrial Biotech Strategy at Sofinnova PartnersAlexander (Sasha) VidiborskiyPrincipal at Atomico
+ 1 more
Also attended Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU)53
Manuk HergnyanCo-Founder & Managing Partner at Granatus VenturesFredric PetitPartner, Head of Materials & Packaging at Emerald Technology Ventures AgGunner HardyAssociate at BOLD LongevityLidia SutorminaChief Communications Officer at C4 VenturesVasily FedorinChief Operating Officer at 4BIO CapitalDima KuzminManaging Partner at 4BIO Capital
+ 47 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Compresr (YC W26)3
Also worked at EPFL (École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne)57
Raquel UrtasunFounder & CEO of WaabiBouraux LeopoldAI & Data Engineer at Newfund CapitalChristoph FreiPartner, Head of Energy at Emerald Technology Ventures AgYannick RitschelInvestor at Backbone VenturesChristian JaagBoard Member at CV VCGaurav SantAdvisor, Director, UCLA Institute for Carbon Management at Overture Climate
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+ 51 more
Also worked at Microsoft1,189
Reid HoffmanCo-founder of LinkedIn; Partner at GreylockGarry TanPresident & CEO of Y CombinatorNat FriedmanCo-lead of Meta Superintelligence Labs; co-founder of NFDGKai-Fu LeeChairman of Sinovation Ventures and CEO of 01.AIBill GatesCo-founder of Microsoft; Chair of the Gates FoundationMike KriegerCo-founder of Instagram; Chief Product Officer at Anthropic
+ 1,183 more
Also worked at Philips104
Paul van OoikInvestment associate at NoaberLidwi van OsProgram & Office Support Officer at NoaberIdil KavakliExperts | Venture Partner at 212Daniel GrafGeneral Partner at redalpineRuben OsnabruggePartner & Chief Medical Officer at 415 CapitalNeelam DhawanTech Industry Trailblazer at SenseAI Ventures
+ 98 more