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Michele Van Ruiten

Founder

Founder at CAPSULE

San Francisco Bay Area

FoundedCAPSULE · YC

Find your path to Michele

10,206 people in our graph share verified history with Michele — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.

Bill GurleyunlockedMichele: together at Stitch Fix (2016–2018)
×6Michele: together at Stitch Fix
×3Michele: together at YC S22
Michele: together at Modesto Junior College

About

Michele Van Ruiten is co-founder of Torque Aviation, an operations and reporting platform for public-safety aviation units. She previously co-founded Capsule (YC S22), an AI visual-search company that was acquired, and led product at Stitch Fix and The Yes. Her work spans zero-to-one product development, AI, personalization, and operational software.

Founder at CAPSULEYC S22

Intro paths

YC

Michele went through Y Combinator (Summer 2022) — 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 CAPSULE's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗

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In turn, Michele can intro founders to CAPSULE's investors below.

CAPSULE's investors · 2

TDK VenturesSan Jose · $5M checksY CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K checks · since 2022

Co-founders at CAPSULE

KPKelsey Pedersen
Kelsey PedersenFounder

Experience

  1. Torque AviationCo-Foundercurrent2026 — present
  2. CAPSULECo-Founder & CEO at CAPSULE (YC S22, Acquired)2021 — 2025
  3. The YesSr. Product Manager2018 — 2020San Francisco Bay Area
  4. Stitch FixProduct Manager2016 — 2018
  5. Maker MediaProduct Manager, E-Commerce2015 — 2016
  6. Redbeacon (Acquired by The Home Depot)Product Marketing Manager2013 — 2015
  7. Redbeacon (Acquired by The Home Depot)SEO Coordinator2013
  8. Gap Inc./Banana RepublicVisual Stylist - Flagship2012 — 2013San Francisco Bay Area
  9. Crescent Work & OutdoorAssistant Store Manager / Marketing Manager2004 — 2012Modesto, California Area

Skills & more

Facebook6PowerPoint5Microsoft Office3Photoshop2Illustrator2WordExcelMarketing21Sales14Advertising9Customer Service10Management8
+12 moreMarketing StrategySocial Media MarketingTeam BuildingMerchandisingMarketing CommunicationsStylingPurchasingVisual StylingE-commerceProduct ManagementSEMAffiliate Marketing

From Michele's professional profile.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Michele Van Ruiten?
Michele Van Ruiten is co-founder of Torque Aviation, an operations and reporting platform for public-safety aviation units. She previously co-founded Capsule (YC S22), an AI visual-search company that was acquired, and led product at Stitch Fix and The Yes. Her work spans zero-to-one product development, AI, personalization, and operational software.
Where does Michele Van Ruiten work?
Michele Van Ruiten is Founder of CAPSULE.
What companies did Michele Van Ruiten found?
Michele Van Ruiten founded CAPSULE.
Where did Michele Van Ruiten go to school?
Michele Van Ruiten studied at California State University, Stanislaus (Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration-Concentrations in Marketing & Human Resource Management); Modesto Junior College (Associate of Arts, Transfer Studies); Beyer High School.

Founder mafias

California State University, Stanislaus mafia2

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Tara DeBoerBachelor of Science (B.S.)Founded BioAmp Diagnostics

Same school

Shared employers