About
Rishi Pankhaniya is the co-founder and CEO of Rudus. He previously worked as an engineer at Airbnb and Apple, and studied computer science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Founder at RudusYC X26
Intro paths
YC
Rishi went through Y Combinator (Spring 2026) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
GP
Their group partner at YC was David Lieb, General Partner at Y Combinator — the partner who ran Rudus's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗
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In turn, Rishi can intro founders to Rudus's investors below.
Rudus's investors · 1
Co-founders at Rudus
SG
Sahil GoelFounder
Experience
- RudusCo-founder & CEO (YC P26)current2026 — presentSan Francisco, CA
- AirbnbSoftware Engineer- Payments2025
- Pollen Social LLCChief Executive Officer2021 — 2024Cupertino, CA
- AppleSoftware Engineer Intern- Ad Platforms2024Cupertino, California, United States
- Rosetta InstituteResearch Intern2019 — 2021San Jose, California, United States
- PulseSummer Intern2021San Francisco, California, United States
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory UniversitySummer Intern2021Stanford, California, United States
- Stanford UniversitySummer Intern2020Stanford, California, United States
Skills & more
Computer Science3Microsoft Office2Project Management1Business Administration1TypeScript1JavaScriptPython (Programming Language)GitXcodeMongoDBSQLReact.js
+2 more
JavaC++Languages English · Gujarati · Spanish
From Rishi's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Rishi Pankhaniya?
- Rishi Pankhaniya is the co-founder and CEO of Rudus. He previously worked as an engineer at Airbnb and Apple, and studied computer science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
- Where does Rishi Pankhaniya work?
- Rishi Pankhaniya is Founder of Rudus.
- What companies did Rishi Pankhaniya found?
- Rishi Pankhaniya founded Rudus.
- Where did Rishi Pankhaniya go to school?
- Rishi Pankhaniya studied at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Bachelor of Science - BS, Computer Science and Economics); De Anza College (Mathematics); Monta Vista High School.
Founder mafias
Y Combinator mafia8,773
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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign mafia146
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Airbnb mafia65
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Monta Vista High School mafia16
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Vrinda GuptaFounded Sequin +1Raghav AroraFounded Blaze Market Incorporated +1Mike GhaffaryHigh SchoolFounded StitcherEvaline TsaiHigh SchoolFounded Cambridge Cancer GenomicsAravindh DoraiFounded FableKamil KisielewiczFounded Interlock
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Same school
Also attended University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign421
Max LevchinCo-founder of PayPal; founder, chairman & CEO of Affirm; partner at SciFi VCLuke NosekCo-founder of PayPal; co-founder of GigafundSundeep PeechuGeneral Partner at Felicis VenturesDeep NisharInvestment Team at General CatalystPrashant ShahPartner at Monta Vista CapitalNoorPartner at Clear Ventures
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Also attended De Anza College22
Jack Bixby LucasGeneral Partner at Lucas Venture GroupAditya ReddyVice President at Sapphire VenturesCatie YoungExecutive Assistant at Uncork CapitalBrian RojasInvestor at Side Door VenturesRyan ParkFinance Manager at Samsung NextJeanette HillExecutive Assistant at TDK Ventures
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Also attended Monta Vista High School25
Mike GhaffaryAdvisor at Canvas VenturesKim-Mai CutlerInvestor at Initialized CapitalLindsey YeePrincipal at Starbridge Venture Capital LlcKatya HancockHealth Moonshot Impact Board at StartUp HealthAlex ScherbakovskyGeneral Partner at Atlantic Vantage PointDJ PatilGeneral Partner at GreatPoint Ventures
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+ 19 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Rudus1
Also worked at Airbnb158
Reid HoffmanCo-founder of LinkedIn; Partner at GreylockAlfred LinPartner at Sequoia CapitalHans TungManaging Partner at Notable CapitalBrian CheskyCo-founder & CEO of AirbnbJoe GebbiaCo-founder of AirbnbNathan BlecharczykCo-founder & CSO of Airbnb
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Also worked at Apple489
Reid HoffmanCo-founder of LinkedIn; Partner at GreylockJim BreyerFounder & CEO of Breyer CapitalDaniel GrossMeta Superintelligence Labs; co-founder of NFDG and Safe SuperintelligenceSteve JurvetsonCo-founder of Future VenturesKai-Fu LeeChairman of Sinovation Ventures and CEO of 01.AISteve WozniakCo-founder of Apple
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