About
Leeds Rising studied computer science and operations research at Cornell and Columbia, and has worked as a product manager for Stuffstr on last-mile delivery logistics in the UK, as an engineer at Amazon optimizing throughput in fulfillment operations, and grew up in a 3PL business background.
Founder at MaximalYC S25
Intro paths
YC
Leeds went through Y Combinator (Summer 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 Maximal's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗
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In turn, Leeds can intro founders to Maximal's investors below.
Maximal's investors · 1
Co-founders at Maximal
DY
Derek YeFounder
Experience
- MaximalCofounder, CEOcurrent2024 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- AlchemyProduct Manager2023 — 2024New York, New York, United States
- GoldenProduct Manager2021 — 2023New York, New York, United States
- BloombergSoftware Engineer2020 — 2021New York, New York, United States
- StuffstrProduct and Operations Intern2019
- AmazonSDE / Operations Research Intern2018
- Cornell UniversityResearch Assistant2017
Skills & more
Product Management15Data Science12Entrepreneurship9Machine Learning5Agile Project Management4Digital Strategy5C6Microsoft Office11Python9R3Swift (Programming Language)2SQL2
+6 more
React NativeJavaScriptPublic SpeakingApache KafkaUX ResearchProduct StrategyFrom Leeds's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Leeds Rising?
- Leeds Rising studied computer science and operations research at Cornell and Columbia, and has worked as a product manager for Stuffstr on last-mile delivery logistics in the UK, as an engineer at Amazon optimizing throughput in fulfillment operations, and grew up in a 3PL business background.
- Where does Leeds Rising work?
- Leeds Rising is Founder of Maximal.
- What companies did Leeds Rising found?
- Leeds Rising founded Maximal.
- Where did Leeds Rising go to school?
- Leeds Rising studied at Cornell University (BS Operations Research BS Computer Science (double major)); Columbia University (MS Operations Research); Y Combinator (S25 batch).
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
Cornell University mafia218
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
John ZimmerBSFounded Lyft +1Ian JanickiBachelors of ArchitectureFounded Outfit +2Ryan XueBachelor of Science (B.Sc.)Founded Andco +2Don MuirDyson School of BusinessFounded Arc +2Uri LopatinBAFounded Pardes Biosciences +1David SteinbergBAFounded Restorbio +1
+ 211 more
Columbia University mafia200
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Ben HorowitzBAFounded OpswareChris DixonBachelor of Arts - BAFounded HunchKai-Fu LeeA.B.Founded 01Robin ChanB.A.Founded Operator +2Kevin M. SlawinB.A.Founded Perseus SENOLYTIX +2Joey LevyBachelor of Arts (B.A.)Founded Draftpot +2
+ 193 more
Alchemy mafia8
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
David TranEngineeringFounded Flow Club +1Arjun PatelProduct Management & GrowthFounded WorkCloutJonathan KauProductFounded SatsumaAniket GuptaGrowthFounded xPayTurja ChowdhuryAnalyst & DeveloperFounded Village LabsKurush DubashStaff Software EngineerFounded Dome
+ 1 more
Same school
Also attended Cornell University748
Doug LeonePartner at Sequoia Capital; former Global Managing PartnerJenny LeeSenior Managing Partner at Granite AsiaNeeraj AgrawalGeneral Partner at Battery VenturesJohn ZimmerCo-founder of LyftMichelle FernandesInvestor at Index VenturesMicah RosenbloomGeneral Partner at Founder Collective
+ 742 more
Also attended Columbia University726
Ben HorowitzCo-founder & General Partner at Andreessen HorowitzDoug LeonePartner at Sequoia Capital; former Global Managing PartnerChris DixonFounder & Managing Partner of a16z crypto at Andreessen HorowitzKai-Fu LeeChairman of Sinovation Ventures and CEO of 01.AIGabriella GiglioHR & Executive Talent at General CatalystScott BillerInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)
+ 720 more
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
Shared employers
Also worked at Maximal1
Also worked at Alchemy17
Navin ChaddhaManaging Partner at MayfieldFranklin BiGeneral Partner at Pantera CapitalPatrick ChangFounder and Managing Partner at Dispersion CapitalRandy GleinFounder and Managing Partner at DFJKevin SpainGeneral Partner at Emergence Capital PartnersAlicia GarabedianVice President at Left Lane Capital
+ 11 more
