About
Lucas Mantovani is co-founder and CEO of Velvet. He previously worked on video data systems at Meta's FAIR lab and earned a computer science degree with honors from University of Chicago. He was a Brazilian olympiad competitor in mathematics and physics.
Founder at VelvetYC F25
Intro paths
YC
Lucas went through Y Combinator (Fall 2025) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
GP
Their group partner at YC was David Lieb, General Partner at Y Combinator — the partner who ran Velvet's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗
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In turn, Lucas can intro founders to Velvet's investors below.
Velvet's investors · 4
Co-founders at Velvet
LT
Lucas TuckerFounder
Experience
- VelvetCo-founder, CEOcurrent2025 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- Fundação EstudarFellow - Techcurrent2022 — presentBrazil
- MetaResearch Engineer2024 — 2025New York, NY
- MetaSoftware Engineering Intern2023Menlo Park, California, United States
- University of ChicagoMachine Learning + Cognitive Science Research Assistant2022 — 2023Chicago, Illinois, United States
- FacebookWeb Engineering Intern2022Menlo Park, California, United States
- UChicago MedicineMachine Learning Research Assistant2021Chicago, Illinois, United States
- StoneSoftware Engineer2021São Paulo, Brazil
- Lola AISoftware Engineer2021Tel Aviv, Israel
- Harris School of Public Policy at the University of ChicagoData Science Research Assistant2020 — 2021Chicago, Illinois, United States
Skills & more
Languages English · Italian · Portuguese · Spanish
From Lucas's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Lucas Mantovani?
- Lucas Mantovani is co-founder and CEO of Velvet. He previously worked on video data systems at Meta's FAIR lab and earned a computer science degree with honors from University of Chicago. He was a Brazilian olympiad competitor in mathematics and physics.
- Where does Lucas Mantovani work?
- Lucas Mantovani is Founder of Velvet.
- What companies did Lucas Mantovani found?
- Lucas Mantovani founded Velvet.
- Where did Lucas Mantovani go to school?
- Lucas Mantovani studied at Y Combinator; University of Chicago (Bachelor of Science - B.S, Computer Science (Honors)); University of Chicago (Bachelor of Arts - BA, Cognitive Science).
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
University of Chicago mafia102
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Bobby PittmanMaster's degreeFounded Oathafrica +2Sean HarperABFounded TransFS +2Bharat KilaruBachelor of Arts (BA)Founded Verano Health +2Matt KrisiloffFounded Preventive +1Robby YungB.A. cum laudeFounded The Sandbox +1Alexis BorisyBachelor's degreeFounded Foundation Medicine +1
+ 95 more
Stone mafia5
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 ConvoyMaroof AhmedFounder at Octopus VenturesJustin SwartPartner at Bitkraft Esports VenturesCollin WallaceGeneral Partner at Lobby Capital
+ 1,994 more
Also attended University of Chicago349
Mark SusterManaging Partner at Upfront VenturesShardul ShahInvestor at Index VenturesSam BlackmanEntrepreneur in Residence at GV (Google Ventures)Clay FisherInvestor at Spark CapitalJonas CiplickasPrincipal at Scale Venture PartnersJulia Gonzalez SandersPartner and General Counsel at Crosslink Capital
+ 343 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Velvet1
Also worked at Fundação Estudar11
Felipe MendesDirector of Finance Brazil at Valor Capital GroupDuda FalcãoFounding Partner at Gera CapitalTatiana GasparPartner, Next Coast Legacy at Next Coast VenturesLara LemannGeneral Partner at MAYA Capital VenturesLeonardo EsmeraldoPrincipal at Bewater VenturesWolff KlabinCo-Founder and Partner at Alexia Ventures
+ 5 more
Also worked at Meta304
Nat FriedmanCo-lead of Meta Superintelligence Labs; co-founder of NFDGDaniel GrossMeta Superintelligence Labs; co-founder of NFDG and Safe SuperintelligenceDrew HoustonCo-founder & CEO of DropboxGabriel PereyraCo-founder & President of HarveyTinaInvestments & Portfolio Services Team Member at Clear VenturesMike ArpaiaComputer scientist working on machine learning and data infrastructure
+ 298 more
Also worked at University of Chicago71
Sam BlackmanEntrepreneur in Residence at GV (Google Ventures)Corey RitterPartner at ARCH Venture PartnersPeter MintunAssociate at ARCH Venture PartnersSu FuAffiliate at ARCH Venture PartnersGordon RausserAdvisory Board Member at Rembrandt Venture PartnersMira ChaurushiyaManaging Director at Westlake Village BioPartners
+ 65 more