Fundraising Fox

Lucy Guo

InvestorUnicorn founder

Co-founder at Scale AI · General Partner at Backend Capital · Founder & CEO at Passes

Miami, FL

Writes $100K – $10M checks · typically $10M

FoundedScale AI$29B · YCPasses

Find your path to Lucy

528 people in our graph share verified history with Lucy — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.

Javier SolterounlockedLucy: together at Carnegie Mellon University (2012–2014)
Lucy: together at Endless Mobile
×2Lucy: together at Facebook
×6Lucy: together at Scale AI

About

Lucy Guo co-founded Scale AI with Alexandr Wang in 2016 and left after about eighteen months, retaining a stake that made her one of the youngest self-made women billionaires when Scale's valuation reached tens of billions. A Thiel Fellow and former Quora and Snapchat designer, she founded the creator-monetisation platform Passes and the early-stage fund Backend Capital.

Likely emails· guessed from name + firm domain, not firm-published

Founder & CEO at Passes

Intro paths

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In turn, Lucy can intro founders to Passes's investors below.

Passes's investors · 11

305 VenturesMiami · since 2022Abstract VenturesSan Francisco · $250K – $750K checks · since 2022AntiSan Juan · $250K – $30M checks · since 2022BONDSan Francisco · since 2022Bond Capital ManagementSan Francisco · $100K – $25M checks · since 2022Craft VenturesSan Francisco · $50K – $50M checks · since 2022Florida FundersTampa · $50K checks · since 2022Michael Ovitzsince 2022Multicoin CapitalAustin · $1M – $50M checks · since 2022Palm Tree Crew InvestmentsNew York · since 2022Paris Hiltonsince 2022

Co-founder at Scale AIYC S16

Intro paths

YC

Lucy went through Y Combinator (Summer 2016) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.

GP

Their group partner at YC was Jared Friedman, YC Group Partner — the partner who ran Scale AI's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗

→

In turn, Lucy can intro founders to Scale AI's investors below.

Scale AI's investors · 41

AccelPalo Alto · $1.6M – $70M checks · since 2024Adit Ventures Management, LlcNew YorkBeyond CapitalSan DiegoCheyenne VenturesWoodsideCiscoPalo Alto · since 2024Coatue ManagementNew York · $1M – $20M checks · since 2024Elad GilSan Francisco · $100K – $10M checksFelicis VenturesSan Francisco · $500K – $15M checksFounders FundSan Francisco · $500K – $5M checks · since 2024General CatalystSan Francisco · $30M checks · since 2025Geodesic CapitalFoster CityGreenoaksSan Francisco · $1M – $50M checks · since 2024GV (Google Ventures)Mountain View · $250K – $50M checks · since 2025Harmony PartnersNew YorkHuman CapitalSan Francisco · $250K – $200M checksID8 InvestmentsNew YorkIndex VenturesSan Francisco · $540K – $10.8M checks · since 2024Inertia VenturesNew York · $2M checksIntegra GroupeMenlo Park · $100K – $200K checksJuniperoMiamiLight Street CapitalPalo AltoMerantix CapitalBerlin · $540K – $4.3M checksMetasince 2026Next Play VenturesMenlo Park · $100K – $5M checksNVIDIASanta Clara · since 2024Outcast VenturesSan Francisco · $500K checksOutlander VCNew York · $500K – $2.5M checksPartners ResoluteChicagoQualcomm VenturesSan Diego · $5M checksRiverbend CapitalWashingtonRosecliff VenturesNew York City · $500K checksS32Palo AltoSection 32Palo AltoSocium VenturesAtlanta · $3M – $25M checksSpark CapitalSan Francisco · $500K – $25M checks · since 2024Thrive CapitalNew York · $500K – $25M checks · since 2024Tiger Global ManagementNew York · $1M – $100M checks · since 2024U.S. Air Forcesince 2021US Innovative TechnologyCoraopolis · since 2025Wellington ManagementBoston · $5M – $50M checks · since 2024Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K checks · since 2016

Co-founders at Scale AI

AWAlexandr Wang
Alexandr WangCo-founder & CEO

Experience

  1. PassesChief Executive Officercurrent2022 — present
  2. Backend CapitalFounder/General Partnercurrent2019 — present
  3. Freelance and Side ProjectsOwnercurrent2016 — present
  4. Scale APICo Founder2016 — 2018San Francisco, California
  5. Snapchat, Inc.Product Designer2015 — 2016Venice, California
  6. QuoraProduct Designer2015
  7. FacebookSoftware Engineering Intern2014
  8. Endless MobileSoftware Engineering Intern2013
  9. Science for YouthChief Technology Officer2011 — 2013
  10. Miscellany BusinessesFounder and CEO2008 — 2011

Skills & more

SEO20Java39Entrepreneurship24Python36C26Software Engineering25Linux18LaTeX6JavaScript52SML5jQuery6Product Management4
+12 moreLean StartupMarketingComputer ScienceHTMLMobile DevicesRubyGitObjective-CiOS developmentWeb DesignGraphic DesignInteraction Design

Languages English · Mandarin

From Lucy's professional profile.

Podcasts & interviews

featuring Lucy Guo

The One Discipline That Made Me a Billionaire by Age 30 | Lucy Guo, Passes

EO

Is OpenAI's Sora a Novelty? Passes founder Lucy Guo Breaks It Down.

The Information

How Lucy Guo Is Building A Creator Empire with Shaq, Kygo & Olivia Dunne | Passes

Sourcery with Molly O'Shea

Michigan Football x Passes: Founder Lucy Guo joins to discuss new NIL venture

The Wolverine: Michigan Football and Basketball

Lucy Guo: Passes & Perspectives

Florida Funders

Lucy Guo, CEO of Passes, speaks about the creator economy at the Under 30 Summit | "What I basically view creators as nowadays: they are entrepreneurs." Lucy Guo, CEO of Passes, speaks to Jabari Young about the creator economy at the... | By Forbes

facebook.com

Colleagues at Backend Capital

Dave Fontenot
GP & CEO at HF0

Frequently asked questions

Who is Lucy Guo?
Lucy Guo co-founded Scale AI with Alexandr Wang in 2016 and left after about eighteen months, retaining a stake that made her one of the youngest self-made women billionaires when Scale's valuation reached tens of billions. A Thiel Fellow and former Quora and Snapchat designer, she founded the creator-monetisation platform Passes and the early-stage fund Backend Capital.
Where does Lucy Guo work?
Lucy Guo is Co-founder of Scale AI and General Partner at Backend Capital and Founder & CEO at Passes.
What check size does Lucy Guo write?
Lucy Guo typically writes checks of $100K – $10M.
What companies did Lucy Guo found?
Lucy Guo founded Scale AI, Passes.
Where did Lucy Guo go to school?
Lucy Guo studied at Carnegie Mellon University (Computer Science & Human-Computer Interactions); Carnegie Mellon University (Computer Science).
What podcasts and interviews feature Lucy Guo?
Tracked appearances include "The One Discipline That Made Me a Billionaire by Age 30 | Lucy Guo, Passes", "Is OpenAI's Sora a Novelty? Passes founder Lucy Guo Breaks It Down.", "How Lucy Guo Is Building A Creator Empire with Shaq, Kygo & Olivia Dunne | Passes", and 3 more.

Founder mafias

Y Combinator mafia10,230

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Sam AltmanPresidentFounded Tools for Humanity +3Garry TanPresident & CEOFounded Y Combinator +1Jessica LivingstonCo-founderFounded Y CombinatorAlexis OhanianPartnerFounded RedditFred EhrsamYC Summer 2012Founded Nudge +1Matt HuangYC Winter 2011Founded Paradigm +1

+ 10,223 more

Carnegie Mellon University mafia481

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Kai-Fu LeeResearch Computer Scientist / Assistant ProfessorFounded 01Guillaume LampleMaster's degreeFounded Mistral AIJoshua XuMaster's degreeFounded HeyGenJonathan RothbergBachelor of Science (BS)Founded Raindance Technologies +4Andrew NgBachelor of Science - BSFounded Factored +3William GuttmanDistinguished Service Professor of Economics & Special Advisor to ProvostFounded CurvePoint +3

+ 474 more

Scale AI mafia67

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

William HockeyBoard DirectorFounded PlaidBrad PorterChief Technology OfficerFounded Collaborative RoboticsJosephine LeeIntern - GenAIFounded Palette Labs +1Anthony KrivonosSenior Software Engineer, DonovanFounded Toma +1George FangStrategic Projects LeadFounded Meridian +1John Lingbuilding something coolFounded Meridian +1

+ 60 more

Same school

Also attended Carnegie Mellon University632

Kai-Fu LeeChairman of Sinovation Ventures and CEO of 01.AIGuillaume LampleCo-founder & Chief Scientist of Mistral AIJoshua XuCo-founder & CEO of HeyGenJavier SolteroSenior Venture Partner at Felicis VenturesAvi BharadwajInvestment Director at Intel CapitalOren EtzioniVenture Partner at Madrona Venture Group

+ 626 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Scale API95

Alexandr WangCo-founder of Scale AI; Chief AI Officer at MetaWilliam HockeyCo-founder of Plaid; founder & CEO of ColumnBrad PorterFounder & CEO of Collaborative RoboticsCat WuInvestor at Index VenturesMike VolpiInvestor at Index VenturesAvi BharadwajInvestment Director at Intel Capital

+ 89 more

Also worked at Snapchat, Inc.91

Evan SpiegelCo-founder & CEO of SnapJoshua XuCo-founder & CEO of HeyGenJustin RoseInvestment Team at 8VCSelby DrummondSenior Strategic Officer at Plum Alley InvestmentsSteve HorowitzPartner at Alpha EdisonAlexis BonilloInvestor at Aglae Ventures

+ 85 more

Also worked at Quora30

Alexandr WangCo-founder of Scale AI; Chief AI Officer at MetaHelen MinEarly-stage investor and marketing advisor to startupsSarah SmithFounder & Managing Partner at Sarah SmithTiantian FangInvestor at Nava VenturesJessica ShamboraPartner at MKT1 CapitalGautam ShewakramaniPartner at On Deck

+ 24 more

Also worked at Facebook714

Peter ThielCo-founder & Partner at Founders FundChamath PalihapitiyaFounder & CEO of Social CapitalJim BreyerFounder & CEO of Breyer CapitalReed HastingsCo-founder of NetflixAndy FangCo-founder & CTO of DoorDashStanley TangCo-founder of DoorDash

+ 708 more