About
Leon Yao is the founder of Whitespace. He previously worked as a Research Engineer at Instadeep on reinforcement learning for optimization problems, and held the CTO role at Test and Tutor. He holds an MSc in Machine Learning and a BEng in Mechanical Engineering from UCL.
Founder at WhitespaceYC S26
Intro paths
YC
Leon went through Y Combinator (Summer 2026) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
GP
Their group partner at YC was Jon Xu, General Partner at Y Combinator — the partner who ran Whitespace's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗
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In turn, Leon can intro founders to Whitespace's investors below.
Whitespace's investors · 3
Co-founders at Whitespace
AT
Alex TungFounder
Experience
- Whitespace (YC S26)Co-Founder & CTOcurrent2025 — present
- InstaDeepResearch Engineer2024 — 2026
- University College LondonResearch Assistant2022 — 2023
- Test & TutorCo-Founder2021 — 2022
- The University of ManchesterResearch Developer2020 — 2021
- Independent Product Designer2019 — 2021
Skills & more
PyTorch1TensorFlow2Amazon Web Services (AWS)1Python (Programming Language)3React.jsJavaScript2Matlab2Adobe InDesign2Adobe Illustrator2HTML51Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)1CATIA1
+7 more
Deep LearningPhysics SimulationObject DetectionReinforcement LearningWeb DevelopmentMarket AnalysisROI projection- TensorFlow for Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning — DeepLearning.AI
- Convolutional Neural Networks in TensorFlow — DeepLearning.AI
- Introduction to Machine Learning in Production — DeepLearning.AI
From Leon's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Leon Yao?
- Leon Yao is the founder of Whitespace. He previously worked as a Research Engineer at Instadeep on reinforcement learning for optimization problems, and held the CTO role at Test and Tutor. He holds an MSc in Machine Learning and a BEng in Mechanical Engineering from UCL.
- Where does Leon Yao work?
- Leon Yao is Founder of Whitespace.
- What companies did Leon Yao found?
- Leon Yao founded Whitespace.
- Where did Leon Yao go to school?
- Leon Yao studied at Y Combinator (S26); UCL (Master of Science - MSc, Machine Learning); UCL (Bachelor of Engineering - BEng, 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
UCL mafia117
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Demis HassabisPhDFounded Google Deepmind +2Nessan BerminghamDoctor of Philosophy - PhDFounded Korro Bio +2Gustavo GorensteinMaster of Science (M.Sc.)Founded bxblue +1Radu MaziluBachelor of Science (BSc)Founded PermitPortal +1Nodar DaneliyaFounded Shuttle +1Nicolas HourcardCorporate FinanceFounded QuestDB +1
+ 110 more
Instadeep 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
Shared employers
Also worked at Whitespace (YC S26)1
Also worked at InstaDeep7
Adam PluemerVenture Partner at Mangusta CapitalArnaud BarthelemyPartner and COO at Alpha Intelligence CapitalTerry ChouPartner at Alpha Intelligence CapitalAxel BadalianSenior Associate at Alpha Intelligence CapitalLaurence MidgleyFounder at Ångström AIElia SaquandFounder at VibeFlow
+ 1 more
Also worked at University College London82
Demis HassabisCo-founder & CEO of Google DeepMindItxaso del PalacioGeneral Partner at Notion CapitalTess van StekelenburgPartner at Lux CapitalFrancesco MonacaInvestor at Giant Ventures Global LlpDima KuzminManaging Partner at 4BIO CapitalTherese LiechtensteinPartner at 4BIO Capital
+ 76 more
Also worked at The University of Manchester16
Laksh VohraAnalyst at EMV CapitalBenjamin BelotPartner at Kurma PartnersGus CurleyAssociate at London Venture PartnersPreetish RamasawmyJunior Partner at AiiM PartnersKshitij GirdharOperations Analyst at Leo Capital VenturesTony RavenChair of Board and Consultation Committee at UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund
+ 10 more