James Ruben
InvestorFounderPartner at Dorm Room · Founder at Hellosaurus
New York, New York
Writes $5K – $200K checks · typically $50K
FoundedHellosaurus · YC
About
James Ruben is a founder and CEO who has launched three companies, including Hellosaurus (YC S20), which was acquired by Brilliant.org, and HQ Trivia, a live trivia platform he helped develop from prototype to international reach. He previously served as Head of Product at Pika, where he worked on generative AI video models, and began his career as an Associate Product Manager at Google. Ruben holds degrees in Economics and Computer Science from Harvard College and an MBA from Stanford GSB.
Founder at HellosaurusYC S20
Intro paths
YC
James went through Y Combinator (Summer 2020) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
→
In turn, James can intro founders to Hellosaurus's investors below.
Hellosaurus's investors · 2
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Experience
- Remy, Inc.Founder, CEOcurrent2025 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- Self-employedAngel Investor & Product Advisorcurrent2018 — present
- PikaHead of Product2024 — 2025San Francisco Bay Area
- HellosaurusFounder, CEO (acquired by Brilliant.org; YC S20)2019 — 2024New York, New York, United States
- HQ TriviaHead of Product2017 — 2019Greater New York City Area
- GoogleProduct Manager2016 — 2017Greater New York City Area
- Dorm Room FundInvestment Partner2015 — 2016Boston
- Various StartupsCo-Founder (While In College)2012 — 2016
- GoogleAssociate Product Manager Intern2015Mountain View, CA
- MicrosoftProgram Manager (PM) Intern2014Redmond, Washington
- Highland Capital PartnersEntrepreneur in Residence2013Menlo Park, CA
- Maru-a-Pula SchoolTeacher2011Gaborone, Botswana
- United States SenateSenate Page2010Washington D.C. Metro Area
Education
- Harvard UniversityBachelor of Arts - BA, Economics2012 — 2016
- Stanford University Graduate School of BusinessMaster of Business Administration - MBA2022 — 2024
- Y Combinator2020
- Horace Mann SchoolHigh School2000 — 2012
Skills & more
Entrepreneurship
From James's professional profile.
Colleagues at Dorm Room
Network9
Alex MarleyScout
Partner at Dorm Room
Alexa DavisScout
Partner at Dorm Room
Alexa SpagnolaScout
Managing Partner at Dorm Room
André J. MotaScout
Investor at Dorm Room
Brett KimScout
Partner at Dorm Room
Chris QuaidooScout
Venture Partner at Griffin Gaming Partners
Daniel ApplewhiteScout
Managing Partner at Dorm Room
Daniel BessonovScout
Partner at Dorm Room
David DellalScout
Managing Partner at Dorm Room
Investors connected to James in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does James Ruben work?
- James Ruben is Partner at Dorm Room and Founder at Hellosaurus.
- What check size does James Ruben write?
- James Ruben typically writes checks of $5K – $200K.
- What companies did James Ruben found?
- James Ruben founded Hellosaurus.
Founder mafias
Y Combinator mafia8,732
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Sam AltmanPresidentFounded LooptJessica LivingstonFounder, RetiredFounded Y CombinatorAlexis OhanianYC Summer 2005Founded RedditFred EhrsamYC Summer 2012Founded CoinbaseMatt HuangYC Winter 2011Founded HotspotsTrae StephensYC Winter 2022Founded Pursuit +1
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Y Combinator mafia4,701
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Stanford University Graduate School of Business mafia252
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Steve JurvetsonMaster of Business Administration (MBA)Founded Mojo VisionIanMaster of Business Administration (M.B.A.)Founded Immunity Project +2Mikhail KokorichStanford Executive ProgramFounded Destinus +2Matt RouifStanford Ignite (Summer Institute for Entrepreneurship)Founded Photoroom +2Jesse BuckinghamMaster of Business Administration (M.B.A.)Founded Vooma +2Don MuirMaster of Business Administration - MBAFounded Arc +2
+ 245 more
Dorm Room mafia19
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Bruno FavieroManaging PartnerFounded Kolena +1Mike AnnunziataInvestment PartnerFounded Farther FarmsDavid DworskyPartnerFounded TelescopeSam BronerPartnerFounded The Better Money CompanyNeil B.Managing PartnerFounded shortkitDaniel BessonovPartnerFounded Avora
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Horace Mann School mafia14
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Alexi Nazem, MDFounded Nomad HealthSchuster TangerFounded Deep Cogito Inc.Melissa FensterstockFounded Landsdowne LabsEllen DaSilvaHigh SchoolFounded Summer HealthKeivan ShahidaFounded ResponseJustin BleuelHigh SchoolFounded Avenue
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Same school
Also attended Harvard University1,457
Alfred LinPartner at Sequoia CapitalChris DixonFounder & Managing Partner of a16z crypto at Andreessen HorowitzSarah TavelVenture Partner at BenchmarkDanny RimerPartner at Index VenturesLaela SturdyManaging Partner at CapitalGRyan IsonoDeal Partner at Felicis Ventures
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Also attended Stanford University Graduate School of Business1,291
Roelof BothaAdvisor & former Steward at Sequoia Capital; SpaceX board memberPeter FentonGeneral Partner at BenchmarkSteve JurvetsonCo-founder of Future VenturesDavid SzeAdvisory Partner at GreylockKatherine BoyleGeneral Partner at Andreessen Horowitz (American Dynamism)Hunter WalkCo-founder & Partner at Homebrew
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Alexi Nazem, MDGeneral Partner at AlleyCorpZachary GinsburgVenture Partner, Calm Ventures at GaingelsSchuster TangerInvestor at Tq Ventures LlcSarah BallChief Compliance Officer at TCVAndre JabbanPartner and Head of Capital Formation at Prime Movers LabVardan GattaniInvestment Partner at 645 Ventures
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Shared employers
Also worked at Pika3
Also worked at Google1,561
Ron ConwayFounder of SV AngelElad GilSolo general partner investing through Gil CapitalKai-Fu LeeChairman of Sinovation Ventures and CEO of 01.AIBrian SingermanCo-founder of GPx; Partner Emeritus at Founders FundJess LeePartner and Chief Product Officer at Sequoia CapitalTomasz TunguzFounder & General Partner at Theory Ventures
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Also worked at Microsoft1,066
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.AIJavier SolteroSenior Venture Partner at Felicis VenturesViviana FagaGeneral Partner at Felicis Ventures
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Also worked at Highland Capital Partners33
Amanda HersonGeneral Partner at Founder CollectiveJen HolmstromInvestor at GGV CapitalSteve HarrickInvestor at IVP (Institutional Venture Partners)Graham GardnerExecutive Partner at Flare Capital PartnersSean JudgeGeneral Partner at Castle Island VenturesJason ScottAccelerator Operations at Blockchain Builders
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