Fundraising Fox

Nisal Ranasinghe

Founder

Founder at Phonely

Australia

FoundedPhonely · YC

About

Nisal Ranasinghe studied electronic and telecommunications engineering and worked as a senior engineer in the AI division of a telecommunications company before pursuing a PhD in explainable AI and healthcare AI at the University of Melbourne. He is co-founder and CTO of Phonely.

Founder at PhonelyYC S24

Intro paths

YC

Nisal went through Y Combinator (Summer 2024) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.

GP

Their group partner at YC was Nicolas Dessaigne, General Partner at Y Combinator — the partner who ran Phonely's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗

→

In turn, Nisal can intro founders to Phonely's investors below.

Phonely's investors · 4

7BC Venture CapitalSan Francisco · since 2025Base10 PartnersSan Francisco · $100K – $5M checks · since 2025Transpose Platform ManagementHouston · since 2025Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K checks · since 2024

Co-founders at Phonely

WBWill Bodewes
Will BodewesFounder

Experience

  1. Phonely (YC S24)Co-Foundercurrent2023 — present
  2. University of MelbourneGraduate Researcher2021 — 2025Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  3. Axiata Digital LabsSenior Engineer - Data Science2021Sri Lanka
  4. Axiata Digital LabsData Engineer2019 — 2021Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
  5. Paraqum TechnologiesTrainee Associate Electronic Engineer2017Sri Lanka

Skills & more

Verilog1Python2Arduino1Microsoft Excel1Microsoft WordMicrosoft PowerPointMatlab2C++C1Python (Programming Language)2Hadoop1PyTorch
+12 moreAmazon Web Services (AWS)Microsoft AzureField-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA)Electronic EngineeringMathematicsEngineeringRoboticsAlgorithmsTelecommunications EngineeringManagementSystemVerilogMachine Learning

Languages English · Sinhalese

  • Production Machine Learning Systems — Coursera
  • Sequence Models — Coursera
  • Recommendation Systems with TensorFlow on GCP — Coursera
  • Advanced Computer Vision with TensorFlow — Coursera
  • Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate — Microsoft
  • How Google does Machine Learning — Coursera
  • Data Visualization with Python — Coursera
  • Learning Data Science: Using Agile Methodology — LinkedIn
  • Product Management First Steps — LinkedIn
  • Applied Machine Learning: Algorithms — LinkedIn

From Nisal's professional profile.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Nisal Ranasinghe?
Nisal Ranasinghe studied electronic and telecommunications engineering and worked as a senior engineer in the AI division of a telecommunications company before pursuing a PhD in explainable AI and healthcare AI at the University of Melbourne. He is co-founder and CTO of Phonely.
Where does Nisal Ranasinghe work?
Nisal Ranasinghe is Founder of Phonely.
What companies did Nisal Ranasinghe found?
Nisal Ranasinghe founded Phonely.
Where did Nisal Ranasinghe go to school?
Nisal Ranasinghe studied at University of Melbourne (PhD - Engineering and IT, Artificial Intelligence); University of Moratuwa (B. Sc. Engineering (Hons), Electronic and Telecommunications Engineering); CIMA (CIMA Passed Finalist).

Founder mafias

Y Combinator mafia8,773

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University of Melbourne mafia24

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Cameron AdamsLLB/BScFounded CanvaNikhil PooviahBachelor of MedicineFounded Osara Health +1Haakon BrunellBachelor of Science - BSFounded Katapult Accelerator +1Kenneth DarmansjahBachelor of Commerce (B.Com.)Founded Soul ParkingDr Arjun GoyalBachelor of MedicineFounded Affini-T TherapeuticsEd HooperScienceFounded Omnystudio

+ 17 more

University of Moratuwa mafia2

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Anushka IdamekoralaBachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.)Founded Logical

Same school

Also attended University of Melbourne231

Cameron AdamsCo-founder & Chief Product Officer of CanvaKevin JohnsonInvestor at MedicxiEsther GilmoreGlobal Head of the Client Team at Generation Investment ManagementMark MillsClient Team Member at Generation Investment ManagementPaulInvestor at Square Peg CapitalClarissa KartikaAssociate, Investment at Vertex Ventures Sea Management Pte. Ltd.

+ 225 more

Also attended University of Moratuwa3

Imal KalutotageFounding Partner at NVenturesSanjaya MohottalaGeneral Partner at NVenturesAnushka IdamekoralaFounder at Logical

Also attended CIMA20

Megan MontagueFinance Operations Manager at Eos Venture Partners LimitedSanjaya MohottalaGeneral Partner at NVenturesJussi NunesFinance at SC VenturesGodson QuayeJunior Analyst at GreenTec Capital PartnersJames GriffithsInvestment Director at ETCapitalNiall OldenManaging Partner and Director at Kernel Capital

+ 14 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Phonely (YC S24)2

Alex BangashManaging Director and General Partner at Transpose Platform ManagementWill BodewesFounder at Phonely

Also worked at University of Melbourne55

Andrew LaiManaging Director - Boab AI at ArtesianCharlotte MoosExecutive Assistant at Giant LeapSimon GoldmanInvestor at AlbionVCRohanFund Manager at Skalata VenturesSpencer MaughanFounder and Managing Partner at DYDX CapitalRyan NicholsPartner at DYDX Capital

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Also worked at Paraqum Technologies1

Anushka IdamekoralaFounder at Logical