About
Maya Ackerman is co-founder and CEO of WaveAI, a generative AI company whose products include LyricStudio and MelodyStudio, and an Associate Professor at Santa Clara University. She has researched generative AI models for text, music, and art since 2014, authored "Creative Machines: AI, Art & Us" (Wiley, 2025), and published over 50 peer-reviewed papers. Ackerman holds a PhD from the University of Waterloo, completed a postdoc at Caltech, and has been named a Billboard Executive Honoree and a Silicon Valley Business Journal Woman of Influence.
Founder at Wave Ai
Intro paths
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In turn, Maya can intro founders to Wave Ai's investors below.
Wave Ai's investors Β· 2
Co-founders at Wave Ai
MA
Maya Ackerman
Experience
- WaveAICEO/Co-foundercurrent2017 β presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- Santa Clara UniversityAssociate Professor of Computer Science & Engineeringcurrent2017 β presentSanta Clara, CA
- Florida State UniversityComputer Science Professor2014 β 2016Tallahassee, Florida Area
- UC San DiegoPostdoctoral Fellow2013 β 2014San Diego County, California, United States
- CaltechPostdoctoral Fellow2012 β 2013Pasadena
- Oculus Info IncSoftware Developer2005
- Sun MicrosystemsSoftware Developer2001
Skills & more
Artificial Intelligence (AI)Machine Learning62Data Mining17Computer Science21Distributed Systems10Artificial Intelligence38Unsupervised Learning6Consulting7Large-scale Data Analysis5Software Engineering14Algorithms41Cluster6
+12 more
Big DataNatural Language ProcessingAlgorithm DesignResearchProgrammingSoftware DevelopmentBusiness StrategyC++JavaHadoopLaTeXLinuxFrom Maya's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Maya Ackerman, PhD.?
- Maya Ackerman is co-founder and CEO of WaveAI, a generative AI company whose products include LyricStudio and MelodyStudio, and an Associate Professor at Santa Clara University. She has researched generative AI models for text, music, and art since 2014, authored "Creative Machines: AI, Art & Us" (Wiley, 2025), and published over 50 peer-reviewed papers. Ackerman holds a PhD from the University of Waterloo, completed a postdoc at Caltech, and has been named a Billboard Executive Honoree and a Silicon Valley Business Journal Woman of Influence.
- Where does Maya Ackerman, PhD. work?
- Maya Ackerman, PhD. is Founder of Wave Ai.
- What companies did Maya Ackerman, PhD. found?
- Maya Ackerman, PhD. founded Wave Ai.
- Where did Maya Ackerman, PhD. go to school?
- Maya Ackerman, PhD. studied at University of Waterloo (Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Computer Science); University of Waterloo (Master of Mathematics, Computer Science); University of Waterloo (Bachelors, Computer Science and Combinators and Optimization).
Founder mafias
University of Waterloo mafia261
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
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Same school
Also attended University of Waterloo471
Chamath PalihapitiyaFounder & CEO of Social CapitalApoorva MehtaFounder of Instacart; founder of Cloud Health SystemsAchintya ChaudhariInvestor at LightbankKarim GillaniGeneral Partner at Luge CapitalRohan MongaInvestment Associate at Luge CapitalAndrew MiklasGeneral Partner at Y Combinator
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Shared employers
Also worked at WaveAI3
Also worked at Santa Clara University39
John TorreyVenture Partner at Madrona Venture GroupThomas KnowlesAdvisor & Managing Director, Gratitude Railroad at Buckhill CapitalJoanna ReesInvestor at MatterScale VenturesAbigail HitchcockPrincipal at Airbus VenturesGregory EatonFounder - Managing Director at Cheyenne VenturesSarah NelsonSenior Fund Accountant at Playground Global
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Also worked at Florida State University9
Omar PimentelDirector of Frontier Strategy at Type One VenturesDrew WeatherfordFounding Partner at Weatherford CapitalSlater BaylissVenture Partner at Florida FundersDoug NissinoffFounder & General Partner at Intelligence VenturesDr. Hannah StolzeProfessor, Baylor University at Tribes VenturesReagan KinneyAnalyst at Tritium Partners
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+ 3 more
Also worked at UC San Diego85
Keerthi NalabotuInvestor at True VenturesVignesh RavikumarInvestor at Sierra VenturesAnne GheriniChief Marketing Officer at Sierra VenturesRachel Tsunemoto Hislop, PhDPrincipal, Director of Research at Two Bear CapitalMaia HightowerInvestor at EPIC VENTURESXuhui ShaoPartner at Foothill Ventures
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