Find your path to Zac
457 people in our graph share verified history with Zac — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Sara Risch, PhDunlockedZac: together at University of Michigan (2020–2021)
×7Zac: together at SpaceX
Zac: together at University of Michigan
Zac: together at Astranis
About
Zac Valles is Chief Product Officer at Fort. Previously he was a senior engineer at Tesla, where he led body and powertrain subsystems for Cybercab and Cybertruck production programs. He also worked on propulsion and Starlink systems at SpaceX.
Founder at FortYC W26
Intro paths
YC
Zac went through Y Combinator (Winter 2026) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
GP
Their group partner at YC was Gustaf Alstromer — the partner who ran Fort's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗
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In turn, Zac can intro founders to Fort's investors below.
Fort's investors · 2
Co-founders at Fort
MN
Miranda NoverFounder
PS
Paul SchneiderFounder
Experience
- Fort (YC W26)CPO, Co-Foundercurrent2025 — presentSan Francisco, CA
- TeslaSr. Engineer, Cybercab2022 — 2025Palo Alto, CA
- University of MichiganResearch2020 — 2022
- SpaceXStarlink2021
- SpaceXPropulsion2020
- Astranis Space TechnologiesStructures2019
- RivianPowertrain2019
- Formula SAE ElectricPowertrain Lead2016 — 2019
- NASA Jet Propulsion LaboratoryResearch2018
Skills & more
Mechanical Engineering13Aerospace Engineering1Thermal Analysis1Structural DynamicsFinite Element Method1Test Fixture DesignDesign of Experiments (DOE)Metal FabricationSystems EngineeringStructural AnalysisCNC ManufacturingCross-functional Team Leadership
+12 more
Propulsion SystemsCombustion AnalysisManufacturing EngineeringTest EngineeringScientific ExperimentationFailure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)MachiningSolidWorksCost ReductionRapid PrototypingAutodesk Fusion 360MatlabFrom Zac's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Zac Valles?
- Zac Valles is Chief Product Officer at Fort. Previously he was a senior engineer at Tesla, where he led body and powertrain subsystems for Cybercab and Cybertruck production programs. He also worked on propulsion and Starlink systems at SpaceX.
- Where does Zac Valles work?
- Zac Valles is Founder of Fort.
- What companies did Zac Valles found?
- Zac Valles founded Fort.
- Where did Zac Valles go to school?
- Zac Valles studied at Y Combinator (Fort W26); University of Michigan (Master of Science, Aerospace Engineering); University of California, Riverside (Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering).
Founder mafias
Y Combinator mafia10,230
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Sam AltmanPresidentFounded Tools for Humanity +3Garry TanPresident & CEOFounded Y Combinator +1Jessica LivingstonCo-founderFounded Y CombinatorAlexis OhanianPartnerFounded RedditFred EhrsamYC Summer 2012Founded Nudge +1Matt HuangYC Winter 2011Founded Paradigm +1
+ 10,223 more
University of Michigan mafia339
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Erik TorenbergBachelor of Arts (B.A.)Founded VillageglobalDavid R. WaltBachelor of Science - BSFounded Sherlock Biosciences +4Eric LefkofskyFounded InnerWorkings +2Chris VoigtBSEFounded Asimov +2Val AgostinoB.S.E.Founded Monarch +2Dillon ErbMaster of Architecture (M.Arch.)Founded Paperspace +2
+ 332 more
University of California, Riverside mafia31
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Adam KhanNanotechnologyFounded Diamondquanta +1Vanessa SmallPh.DFounded Alcheme BioArjun PatelBachelor's of ScienceFounded WorkCloutAiden AcevesBachelor’s DegreeFounded Primmune TherapeuticsKris DugganBachelor's degreeFounded BetterworksIsaac EspinozaB.S.Founded Kettle
+ 24 more
Rivian mafia14
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Juan Pablo SoulierData & AIFounded VammoGreg SmythSenior Group ManagerFounded Diagon TechnologiesJack O'GradyBattery EngineerFounded AtmetoAlex LanzoniStaff Software EngineerFounded StuddyAlex TsengMachine Learning and Autonomy EngineerFounded Ares IndustriesAlexander SeutinSenior Software EngineerFounded Drillbit
+ 7 more
Astranis mafia13
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
David BeyerInvestorFounded ChartioJohn GedmarkFounder/CEOFounded Astranis Space Technologies Corp.Serik KaldykulovSeed InvestorFounded ElefundRyan McLinkoFounder/CTOFounded Astranis Space Technologies Corp.Hall ChenRF Payload DesignFounded GridwareCameron FlanneryGuidance, Navigation, and Control InternFounded Navier AI
+ 6 more
Same school
Also attended Y Combinator2,000
Tarek MansourCo-founder & CEO of KalshiSuhail DoshiFounder of Mixpanel; founder of ParticleSubomi OluwalanaCo-founder & CEO of ConvoyArhaan A.Deeptech Fellow at Clear VenturesCollin WallaceGeneral Partner at Lobby CapitalVictor SantosVictor Scout at One Way Ventures
+ 1,994 more
Also attended University of Michigan1,046
Erik TorenbergGeneral Partner at Andreessen Horowitz; founder of TurpentineGlen AndersonPartner at Monta Vista CapitalAlexandra FarmerPrincipal at Intel Capital, North AmericaScott ShawChief of Staff at Intel CapitalZach PoleyPartner and Chief Technology Officer at Clear VenturesTom DanilekPartner, Rise of the Rest Real Estate at Revolution
+ 1,040 more
Also attended University of California, Riverside77
Mellissa GraySenior Scientist, Protein Sciences at Deerfield Management CompanyDr Jonathan AvesarScientific Lead at Lever VCBrett TeeleChief Financial Officer & Partner at Unusual VenturesLina ChongInvestor at HV CapitalVanessa SmallInvestor at DigitalDx VenturesBo ZhaoDirector of Commercialization at First Bight Ventures
+ 71 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Fort (YC W26)2
Also worked at Tesla291
Steve JurvetsonCo-founder of Future VenturesJoe GebbiaCo-founder of AirbnbJustin LiuVice President at Sapphire VenturesErica WaichmanHead of People & Community at Canvas VenturesBen FawEntrepreneur-in-Residence at Context VenturesBrock CsiraInvestor at Matter Venture Partners
+ 285 more
Also worked at University of Michigan210
Logan HilleLife Sciences Analyst at CincyTechSara Risch, PhDAdvisor at CincyTechPeter GiordanoFormer Global Director GTM Strategy at Scale Venture PartnersPaul BrownManaging Director at eLab VenturesDoug NealManaging Director at eLab VenturesCynthia JonesExecutive Assistant at Arboretum Ventures
+ 204 more
Also worked at SpaceX244
Roelof BothaAdvisor & former Steward at Sequoia Capital; SpaceX board memberSteve JurvetsonCo-founder of Future VenturesAsanka JayasuriyaPortfolio Support at 8VCJustin RoseInvestment Team at 8VCGarry HillInvestment at Makers FundHelen LiangFounder & General Partner at FoundersX Ventures
+ 238 more