About
Jesse Zhang studied electrical engineering at Tufts University and pursued graduate work in machine learning and genomics at Stanford University.
Founder at BeaconsYC S19
Intro paths
YC
Jesse went through Y Combinator (Summer 2019) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
GP
Their group partner at YC was Gustaf Alstromer — the partner who ran Beacons's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗
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In turn, Jesse can intro founders to Beacons's investors below.
Beacons's investors · 12
2am VCBengaluruAmino CapitalPalo Alto · $100K – $10M checksAndreessen HorowitzMenlo Park · $500K – $50M checksBehind Genius VenturesSan Diego · $250K – $500K checksHyphen CapitalSan FranciscoJustin “3LAU” BlauMantis CapitalSanta Monica · $100K – $1M checksNew Commerce VenturesTokyo · $100K – $1M checksRepublic CryptoNew YorkRepublic VenturesNew YorkVibe CapitalSan Francisco · $250K – $500K checksY CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K checks · since 2019
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Co-founders at Beacons
NJ
Neal JeanCo-founder, CEO
DZ
David ZengFounder
Experience
- BeaconsCofounder, Chief Product Officercurrent2019 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- Stanford UniversityPHD Student2014 — 2019Stanford, CA
- GRAIL, Inc.Computational Biology Intern/Contractor2017 — 2018Menlo Park
- Cellular ResearchBioinformatics Engineer/Scientist2016Menlo Park, CA
- MC10 Inc.R & D Intern2014Cambridge, MA
- MIT Lincoln LaboratoryElectrical Engineering Intern2013 — 2014Lexington, MA
- Tufts Biomedical Engineering DepartmentUndergraduate Researcher2011 — 2012Medford, MA
- Dana-Farber Cancer InstituteIntern2011Boston
Skills & more
Matlab17Microsoft Office10C++10Python4LaTeX1R1Data Analysis5Image Processing3Signal ProcessingMachine Learning1Optimization1Algorithms1
+1 more
StatisticsLanguages English · Mandarin
From Jesse's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Jesse Zhang?
- Jesse Zhang studied electrical engineering at Tufts University and pursued graduate work in machine learning and genomics at Stanford University.
- Where does Jesse Zhang work?
- Jesse Zhang is Founder of Beacons.
- What companies did Jesse Zhang found?
- Jesse Zhang founded Beacons.
- Where did Jesse Zhang go to school?
- Jesse Zhang studied at Stanford University (Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Electrical Engineering); Y Combinator; Stanford University (Master's degree, Electrical Engineering).
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
Stanford University mafia903
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Peter ThielJ.D.Founded PayPal +1Reid HoffmanB.S.Founded LinkedIn +2Joe LonsdaleBSFounded Opto +3Mike Maples JrBSFounded Pattern BreakersSteve JurvetsonMSEEFounded Mojo VisionBalaji SrinivasanGraduate StudentFounded Counsyl +1
+ 896 more
Tufts University mafia40
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Andrew FeinbergBachelor of Arts (B.A.)Founded Brightcove +1Guy FriedmanBAFounded Technical.ly +1Max SafaiMSFounded M8 Systems +1Mark PiperBachelor of Science (BS)Founded Lish +1Matthew CowanFounded BreezeworksMichael NerilB.A.Founded Spider Capital
+ 33 more
Newton South High School mafia6
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Same school
Also attended Stanford University2,000
Peter ThielCo-founder & Partner at Founders FundReid HoffmanCo-founder of LinkedIn; Partner at GreylockDavid SacksCo-founder & General Partner at Craft Ventures; former White House AI & Crypto CzarKeith RaboisManaging Director at Khosla VenturesGarry TanPresident & CEO of Y CombinatorAlfred LinPartner at Sequoia Capital
+ 1,994 more
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 Tufts University201
Roger KrakoffGeneral Partner at Monta Vista CapitalMatt GersonInvestor at RevolutionAlex MorganInvestor at Khosla VenturesNiko CiminelliInvestor at Khosla VenturesHal PazInvestor at Khosla VenturesClay BergerInvestor at IVP (Institutional Venture Partners)
+ 195 more
Also attended Newton South High School13
Mike HellerPrincipal at Navitas CapitalLinda RottenbergCo-founder & CEO at Endeavor CatalystZachary EagleVice President at Siddhi CapitalPhillip LachmanInvestor at Walnut Venture AssociatesAddie Lerner KatzFounder & Managing Partner at Avid VenturesPedro VeigaCo-Founder, MOIC at HyperNest
+ 7 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Stanford University722
Ann Miura-KoCo-founding Partner at FloodgateBalaji SrinivasanAngel investor and founder of The Network SchoolMartin CasadoGeneral Partner at Andreessen HorowitzMike KriegerCo-founder of Instagram; Chief Product Officer at AnthropicAndy FangCo-founder & CTO of DoorDashRyan SheaCo-founder of Blockstack (Stacks)
+ 716 more
Also worked at GRAIL, Inc.11
Cathy FriedmanInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Eric KleinInvestor at Sand Hill AngelsTom RodgersMcKesson EVP, Chief Strategy Officer at McKesson VenturesSue XuManaging Partner at Amino CapitalJeffrey BirdManaging Director at Bluebird VenturesJeff HuberGeneral Partner at Triatomic Capital
+ 5 more
Also worked at MC10 Inc.9
Marc A. SingerManaging Partner at Osage University PartnersCarmichael RobertsInvestor at Material ImpactPeter LaferPartner, Head of Growth Equity at McKesson VenturesBen SchlatkaCompany Building Partner at Material ImpactElyse WinerPartner at Material ImpactIsaiah KacyvenskiCo-Founder, Managing Partner at Will Ventures
![](https://ventures.mckesson.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/04.13.26-Peter-Lafer-Headshot-MV.png")
+ 3 more
Also worked at MIT Lincoln Laboratory37
Adrianna MaInvestor at Index VenturesLeSean BrownAssociate at Context VenturesAlex ZhangInvestor at Matter Venture PartnersAnand AtreyaInvestor at Inception Studio CapitalJessica AlstonPartner at F-Prime Capital PartnersCrystal ValentineTechnology Fellow at Cross Creek Advisors
+ 31 more