About
Luke Johnston has a background in machine learning and neuroscience, with research experience at institutions including Oxford, Cambridge, and UCL. He is currently working on formal verification and AI at Cajal.
Founder at CajalYC W26
Intro paths
YC
Luke went through Y Combinator (Winter 2026) — 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 Cajal's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗
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In turn, Luke can intro founders to Cajal's investors below.
Cajal's investors · 3
Co-founders at Cajal
PN
Pedro NobreFounder
Experience
- CajalCo-Foundercurrent2025 — present
- Y CombinatorW262026
- Entrepreneurs FirstFounder in Residence2025Bückeburg / San Francisco
- GoogleCourse Instructor2025
- UCLResearch Intern2024 — 2025
- EurofinsData Scientist2021 — 2022
- Oxford e-Research CentreMachine Learning Intern2021
- Scholars X CorporationLecturer2020 — 2021
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Luke Johnston?
- Luke Johnston has a background in machine learning and neuroscience, with research experience at institutions including Oxford, Cambridge, and UCL. He is currently working on formal verification and AI at Cajal.
- Where does Luke Johnston work?
- Luke Johnston is Founder of Cajal.
- What companies did Luke Johnston found?
- Luke Johnston founded Cajal.
- Where did Luke Johnston go to school?
- Luke Johnston studied at University of Cambridge (Master of Philosophy - MPhil, Machine Learning and Computational Neuroscience); University of Oxford (Bachelor of Engineering - BA, Engineering); Sir William Borlase's Grammar School.
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
University of Oxford mafia290
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Reid HoffmanM.St.Founded LinkedIn +2Gabriel PereyraDropped outFounded HarveyBrent HobermanMaster of Arts - MAFounded Founders Pledge +3William GuttmanM.PhilFounded CurvePoint +3Kevin HartzMstFounded Eventbrite +2Max AhrensDoctor of Philosophy - PhDFounded Maihem +2
+ 283 more
University of Cambridge mafia256
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Stewart ButterfieldMPhilFounded Flickr +1Demis HassabisBAFounded Google Deepmind +2Immad AkhundMaster of Arts (M.A.)Founded Clickpass +2Inaki BerenguerPhDFounded InfiniteWatch +2Harish AgarwalMaster of Philosophy - MPhilFounded Nori +2Nikola MrkšićDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)Founded Poly +2
+ 249 more
Sir William Borlase's Grammar School mafia2
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Same school
Also attended University of Cambridge1,136
Stewart ButterfieldCo-founder of Slack and FlickrDemis HassabisCo-founder & CEO of Google DeepMindNiko BonatsosVerdict Capital founder and pre-consensus investor formerly at General CatalystGeorgia StevensonInvestor at Index VenturesHannah SealInvestor at Index VenturesLeah von SiemensPartner at Manta Ray Ventures
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+ 1,130 more
Also attended University of Oxford1,229
Reid HoffmanCo-founder of LinkedIn; Partner at GreylockMichael MoritzFormer Partner at Sequoia Capital; Senior Adviser at Sequoia HeritageBrad GerstnerFounder & CEO of Altimeter CapitalGabriel PereyraCo-founder & President of HarveyDominic JacquessonInvestor at Index VenturesErin Price-WrightInvestor at Index Ventures
+ 1,223 more
)
Shared employers
Also worked at Cajal1
Also worked at Y Combinator344
Garry TanPresident & CEO of Y CombinatorJessica LivingstonCo-founder of Y CombinatorDaniel GrossMeta Superintelligence Labs; co-founder of NFDG and Safe SuperintelligenceAlexis OhanianFounder & General Partner of Seven Seven SixMichael SeibelPartner Emeritus at Y CombinatorDalton CaldwellCo-founder of Standard Capital; Partner Emeritus at Y Combinator
+ 338 more
Also worked at Entrepreneurs First499
Reid HoffmanCo-founder of LinkedIn; Partner at GreylockToby CoppelCo-founder and Partner at Mosaic VenturesBenedict EvansWrites a weekly technology newsletter read by close to 200,000 peoplePeterDeep Tech Investment Lead at Hummingbird VenturesAniTalent Team at Hummingbird VenturesIsabel FoxHead of Investor Relations at Hoxton Ventures
+ 493 more
Also worked at Google1,783
Ron ConwayFounder of SV AngelElad GilSolo general partner investing through Gil CapitalKai-Fu LeeChairman of Sinovation Ventures and CEO of 01.AIBrian SingermanCo-founder of GPx; Partner Emeritus at Founders FundJess LeePartner and Chief Product Officer at Sequoia CapitalTomasz TunguzFounder & General Partner at Theory Ventures
+ 1,777 more