Fundraising Fox

Joseph Besgen

Founder

Co-Founder at Paper Instruments

San Francisco, California, United States

FoundedPaper Instruments · YC

About

Joseph Besgen is co-founder of Paper Instruments, which develops AI models and tools for knowledge work in professional services and white-collar domains.

LinkedIn ↗

Co-Founder at Paper InstrumentsYC X25

Intro paths

YC

Joseph went through Y Combinator (Spring 2025) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.

GP

Their group partner at YC was Diana Hu, General Partner at Y Combinator — the partner who ran Paper Instruments's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗

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In turn, Joseph can intro founders to Paper Instruments's investors below.

Paper Instruments's investors · 1

Y Combinator

Co-founders at Paper Instruments

DKDaanish Khazi
Daanish KhaziCo-Founder
GBGavin Bains
Gavin BainsCo-Founder

Experience

  1. Paper InstrumentsCo-Foundercurrent2025 — present
  2. TrabaSenior Software Engineer2023 — 2025New York, New York, United States
  3. Career BreakTravel2022 — 2023
  4. FacebookSoftware Engineer2020 — 2022Menlo Park, California, United States
  5. Resource 19Co-Founder, Technical Lead2020Berkeley, California, United States
  6. Associated Students of the University of CaliforniaSenator2019 — 2020Berkeley, CA
  7. FacebookSoftware Engineer Intern2019Menlo Park, CA
  8. hummFrontend Developer2018
  9. DRWSoftware Engineer Intern2018Greater Chicago Area
  10. QuantgeneBioinformatics and Data Science Intern2018Berkeley, California
  11. Northrop GrummanAerospace Intern2017San Diego County, California, United States

Education

  1. University of California, BerkeleyB.S. Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering Minor2016 — 2020
  2. University of California, Davis2015
  3. Westview High School2011 — 2016
  4. Y CombinatorX25

Skills & more

Computer-Aided Design (CAD)103D Printing10Rapid Prototyping13Laser Cutting10Music12Percussion Performance9Data Science2Human Centered Design3Go (Programming Language)Leadership27Interpersonal Skills8Design Thinking3
+7 moreJavaPythonSolidWorksAutodesk Fusion 360Final Cut ProCPython (Programming Language)
  • RYA Coastal Skipper — Royal Yachting Association (RYA)
  • RYA Day Skipper — Royal Yachting Association (RYA)

From Joseph's professional profile.

Founder mafias

Y Combinator mafia8,668

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Sam AltmanPresidentFounded LooptFred EhrsamYC Summer 2012Founded CoinbaseMatt HuangYC Winter 2011Founded HotspotsTrae StephensYC Winter 2022Founded PursuitDelian AsparouhovYC Summer 2014Founded Nightingale +1Justin KanYC Winter 2018Founded Rye +3

+ 8,661 more

University of California, Berkeley mafia448

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Ivan ZhouMolecular BiologyFounded Decagon +2Sean GroveFounded Linzumi +2Lucas HarringtonDoctor of Philosophy - PhDFounded Preventive +1Jinal JhaveriProfessional Certificate ProgramFounded SchoolMint +1Jacob HookerPh.D.Founded Sensorium Therapeutics +1Justin HughesBAFounded Revolution RE +1

+ 441 more

University of California, Davis mafia31

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Arlen AbrahamBachelor of Science (B.S.)Founded Cascade Space +1Charles CallPhDFounded BioflyteKia BehniaB.A.Founded Agriculture Scout AIDavid SacarelosBachelor of Science (BS) - Electrical EngineeringFounded Orbital CompositesJon DishotskyManagerial EconomicsFounded StarcityRosanna YauBSFounded BackerKit

+ 24 more

Same school

Also attended University of California, Berkeley1,324

Byron DeeterPartner at Bessemer Venture PartnersTrevor OelschigInvestment Team at General CatalystBrendan Bulik-SullivanInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Glen AndersonPartner at Monta Vista CapitalAnthony LinHead of Intel Capital, Corporate Vice President at Intel CapitalScott ShawChief of Staff at Intel Capital

+ 1,318 more

Also attended University of California, Davis149

Charles CallSLP & Venture Partner at Cottonwood Technology FundDavid PhuController at Felicis VenturesBryan EglanDirector of Business Development at Menlo VenturesScott MaxwellInvestor at OpenView Venture PartnersMasoud AdinaHead of Compliance at GreycroftAva EitzenPortfolio Support at 8VC

+ 143 more

Also attended Y Combinator2,000

Leo LuInvestor at Foundation CapitalMaroof AhmedFounder at Octopus VenturesJustin SwartPartner at Bitkraft Esports VenturesVictor SantosVictor Scout at One Way VenturesSwapnil JainCEO, Observe.AI at EMERGENT VENTURESChase AdamPartner at Very Serious Ventures

+ 1,994 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Paper Instruments3

Max KolowratGeneral Partner at Credo VenturesDaanish KhaziCo-Founder at Paper InstrumentsGavin BainsCo-Founder at Paper Instruments

Also worked at Associated Students of the University of California7

Natan ReddyPrincipal at Ironspring VentureCourtney ChowVice President at Battery VenturesJonathan AllenManaging Partner at Dekrypt CapitalGrace LeeFellow at LifeX VenturesSahana RajasekarFounder at BlokSadia SaifuddinFounder at Risely AI

+ 1 more

Also worked at humm1

Michael WongVice President - Investments at Future Now Capital

Also worked at DRW15

Arjun MohanInvestments at Standard CryptoJason UrbanCo-Head of Digital Assets at Galaxy VenturesMax AdelmanAssociate at Ironspring VentureJosh FelkerManaging Partner at BoxOne VenturesBobby ChoPartner at CMS HoldingsEthan YuInvestor at Motion Technology Partners

+ 9 more