Where does Rahul Bhati work?

Rahul Bhati is Founder of Hilstart.

Where did Rahul Bhati go to school?

Rahul Bhati studied at Y Combinator (S26); University of Auckland (Bachelor of Engineering - BE, Mechatronics); Onehunga High School.

Rahul Bhati

Founder

Founder at Hilstart

San Francisco, California, United States

FoundedHilstart · YC

Find your path to Rahul

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

Garry TanunlockedRahul: together at Y Combinator (2026)

×11Rahul: together at Y Combinator

About

Rahul Bhati is the founder of Hilstart, having previously worked on power and thermal systems at Vessev and test rigs at Halter, and been part of the founding team at the powerbeaming company Aquila, where he contributed to wireless laser energy transmission technology across multiple engineering disciplines.

Founder at Hilstart YC S26

Intro paths

Rahul went through Y Combinator (Summer 2026) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.

Their group partner at YC was Jared Friedman, YC Group Partner — the partner who ran Hilstart's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗

→

In turn, Rahul can intro founders to Hilstart's investors below.

Hilstart's investors · 1

Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K checks · since 2026

Co-founders at Hilstart

William A'courtFounder

Simon AlexanderFounder

Josh SchoemanFounder

Experience

HILstartCo-Foundercurrent2026 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
BlackbirdGiants Mentorcurrent2026 — presentSydney, NSW
HalterMechatronics Intern2023Auckland, New Zealand
HalterElectrical Engineering Intern2022 — 2023Auckland, New Zealand
The University of Auckland Formula SAE TeamElectrons Team Member2022 — 2023
The University of Auckland Formula SAE TeamAerodynamics Team Member2021 — 2022Auckland, New Zealand
The University of Auckland Formula SAE TeamComposites Team Member2021 — 2022Auckland, New Zealand
FORMULA FORDTrack Team Member2021 — 2022
SeachangeVehicle Design Intern2021 — 2022Auckland, New Zealand
VEX RoboticsTeam 240p - Robot Designer, Builder and Driver2018 — 2019Auckland, New Zealand
VEX RoboticsTeam 2900D - Lead Robot Designer, Builder, Programmer and Driver2016 — 2018Auckland, New Zealand

Skills & more

Real-time Control Systems1Embedded Software Programming1Product DevelopmentControl Systems DesignSystem ArchitectureAutomationMachine DesignDesign for ManufacturingAccelerated Life TestingElectronic CircuitsHardware DevelopmentFinite Element Analysis (FEA)

+12 more

SolderingAltiumHVACSignal ProcessingPrinted Circuit Board (PCB) DesignRapid PrototypingComputer-Aided Design (CAD)DesignLinkedIn RecruiterPrototypingArduinoSOLIDWORKS

From Rahul's professional profile.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Rahul Bhati?: Rahul Bhati is the founder of Hilstart, having previously worked on power and thermal systems at Vessev and test rigs at Halter, and been part of the founding team at the powerbeaming company Aquila, where he contributed to wireless laser energy transmission technology across multiple engineering disciplines.
Where does Rahul Bhati work?: Rahul Bhati is Founder of Hilstart.
What companies did Rahul Bhati found?: Rahul Bhati founded Hilstart.
Where did Rahul Bhati go to school?: Rahul Bhati studied at Y Combinator (S26); University of Auckland (Bachelor of Engineering - BE, Mechatronics); Onehunga High School.

Founder mafias

Y Combinator mafia10,230

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Sam AltmanPresidentFounded Tools for Humanity +3 Garry TanPresident & CEOFounded Y Combinator +1 Jessica LivingstonCo-founderFounded Y Combinator Alexis OhanianPartnerFounded Reddit Fred EhrsamYC Summer 2012Founded Nudge +1 Matt HuangYC Winter 2011Founded Paradigm +1

+ 10,223 more

University of Auckland mafia65

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Romilly BlackburnBASFounded Whispir +1 Elizabeth IornsB.Sc (Hons)Founded Transcripta Bio +1 Nodira KhoussainovaBachelor’s DegreeFounded Focused Space +1 Anne FultonDiploma of Guidance & CounsellingFounded SilkRoad Technology +1 Charlie FranklinIES Study AbroadFounded Compa +1 Ahmed MarmoushBachelor of Pharmacy (Hons)Founded Handl Health +1

+ 58 more

Same school

Also attended Y Combinator2,000

Tarek MansourCo-founder & CEO of Kalshi Suhail DoshiFounder of Mixpanel; founder of Particle Subomi OluwalanaCo-founder & CEO of Convoy Arhaan A.Deeptech Fellow at Clear Ventures Collin WallaceGeneral Partner at Lobby Capital Victor SantosVictor Scout at One Way Ventures

+ 1,994 more

Also attended University of Auckland237

EgilInvestor at Investinor Giovanni PericoliniInvestor at Medicxi Francesco MonacaInvestor at Giant Ventures Global Llp Avantika GuptaPrincipal at Type One Ventures Ed BarkerPrincipal at Square Peg Capital Jono ManickamAssociate at Square Peg Capital

+ 231 more

Shared employers

Also worked at HILstart3

William A'courtFounder at Hilstart Simon AlexanderFounder at Hilstart Josh SchoemanFounder at Hilstart

Also worked at Halter14

Spencer PunterPartner and COO at DCVC (Data Collective)Christina FaPrincipal at NewView Capital Sunil NagarajFounder and Managing Partner at Ubiquity Ventures Tess HatchManaging Director at Stifel Venture Banking Connor WiltshireData Analyst at Blackbird Foundry Samantha WongPartner at Blackbird Foundry

+ 8 more

Also worked at The University of Auckland Formula SAE Team3