Nick Winter
FounderFounder/CEO at CodeCombat
Bellevue, Washington, United States
FoundedCodeCombat · YC
About
Nick Winter founded Skritter, an application for learning Chinese and Japanese character writing, before starting CodeCombat, a multiplayer game focused on programming education. He has also authored educational materials on motivation and productivity.
Nick Winter @nwinter
Just realized that I have never once thought about a pink elephant until today. I had only ever thought about either the phrase “pink elephant” or the image of an uncolored or normal-colored elephant.
Jul 3, 2026 · ♥ 2
Nick Winter @nwinter
2026: we try to make our writing pass as human, to give the appearance of substance and authenticity. 2027?: we try to make our ideas pass as AI-generated, to give the appearance of correctness and consensus.
Mar 24, 2026 · ♥ 1
Nick Winter @nwinter
Me: Man, I wish we could just automate all that. Scott: You can't automate everything in life! What would be left? We need to get you a desktop Zen sand garden, so you can practice relaxing. Me: <looks at automated robotic Zen sand garden whirring on my second desk> uhhh, well...
Oct 8, 2025 · ♥ 2
Founder/CEO at CodeCombatYC W14
Intro paths
Nick went through Y Combinator (Winter 2014) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
In turn, Nick can intro founders to CodeCombat's investors below.
CodeCombat's investors · 5
Experience
- Gray SwanSVP Frontier Lab Safetycurrent2026 — presentBellevue, Washington, United States
- Gray SwanVP Product & Growth2025 — 2026
- CodeCombatCo-Founder, Chairman of the Boardcurrent2024 — presentBellevue, Washington, United States
- CodeCombatCEO, Co-Founder2013 — 2024San Francisco
- Inkren (Skritter.com)Board Membercurrent2013 — presentSan Francisco, California, United States
- Inkren (Skritter.com)CTO, Co-Founder2008 — 2013
Education
- Y Combinator2014
- Oberlin CollegeBachelor’s Degree, Computer Science2004 — 2008
Skills & more
+12 more
Google App EngineHandwriting RecognitionSocial Media MarketingiPhone developmentSoftware DesignGame DevelopmentCoffeeScriptWritingPythonChineseOpen SourceJavaScriptLanguages Chinese · English · Spanish
From Nick's professional profile.
Founder mafias
Y Combinator mafia8,668
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
+ 8,661 more
Oberlin College mafia8
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
+ 1 more
Same school
Also attended Y Combinator2,000
+ 1,994 more
Also attended Oberlin College30
+ 24 more
