About
Michael Yan studied at Stanford University and is from West Virginia.
Founder at SimplifyYC W21
Intro paths
YC
Michael went through Y Combinator (Winter 2021) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
GP
Their group partner at YC was Harj Taggar, General Partner at Y Combinator — the partner who ran Simplify's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗
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In turn, Michael can intro founders to Simplify's investors below.
Simplify's investors · 8
AntlerSingapore · $3M – $10M checks · since 2025Aptos Foundationsince 2026Craft VenturesSan Francisco · $50K – $50M checksHivemind Capital LLCNew York · since 2026Hyphen CapitalSan FranciscoLattice CapitalDover · $500K – $1.5M checks · since 2026Venture Catalystssince 2025Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K checks · since 2021
Co-founders at Simplify
EH
Ethan HoroschakFounder
RS
Rushil SrivastavaFounder
Experience
- SimplifyCo-Founder & CEOcurrent2020 — presentSan Francisco, California, United States
- ProximalInvestorcurrent2025 — present
- Lunar MediaInvestorcurrent2024 — present
- MetaSoftware2020
- Stanford UniversityResearch2019
- MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL)Software2018
- Harvard Medical SchoolResearch2017
Skills & more
Data Science8Android Development12JavaScript7Python (Programming Language)8C++3TikTok13
From Michael's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Michael Yan?
- Michael Yan studied at Stanford University and is from West Virginia.
- Where does Michael Yan work?
- Michael Yan is Founder of Simplify.
- What companies did Michael Yan found?
- Michael Yan founded Simplify.
- Where did Michael Yan go to school?
- Michael Yan studied at Stanford University (Bachelor's – Dropped out, Computer Science); Y Combinator.
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
Stanford University mafia903
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Peter ThielJ.D.Founded PayPal +1Reid HoffmanB.S.Founded LinkedIn +2Joe LonsdaleBSFounded Opto +3Mike Maples JrBSFounded Pattern BreakersSteve JurvetsonMSEEFounded Mojo VisionBalaji SrinivasanGraduate StudentFounded Counsyl +1
+ 896 more
Same school
Also attended Stanford University2,000
Peter ThielCo-founder & Partner at Founders FundReid HoffmanCo-founder of LinkedIn; Partner at GreylockDavid SacksCo-founder & General Partner at Craft Ventures; former White House AI & Crypto CzarKeith RaboisManaging Director at Khosla VenturesGarry TanPresident & CEO of Y CombinatorAlfred LinPartner at Sequoia Capital
+ 1,994 more
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 Simplify2
Also worked at Proximal1
Also worked at Meta307
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
+ 301 more
Also worked at Stanford University723
Ann Miura-KoCo-founding Partner at FloodgateBalaji SrinivasanAngel investor and founder of The Network SchoolMartin CasadoGeneral Partner at Andreessen HorowitzMike KriegerCo-founder of Instagram; Chief Product Officer at AnthropicAndy FangCo-founder & CTO of DoorDashRyan SheaCo-founder of Blockstack (Stacks)
+ 717 more