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 mafia8,773
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Sam AltmanPresidentFounded Tools for Humanity +3Jessica LivingstonCo-founderFounded Y CombinatorAlexis OhanianYC Summer 2005Founded RedditFred EhrsamYC Summer 2012Founded Nudge +1Matt HuangYC Winter 2011Founded HotspotsTrae StephensYC Winter 2022Founded Pursuit +1
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Y Combinator mafia4,716
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Ryan SheaEntrepreneurshipFounded StacksTarek MansourFounded KalshiSuhail DoshiEating beans & riceFounded Playground +1Subomi OluwalanaW22Founded ConvoyDarius "Bubs" MonsefS19Founded Sightbox +3Matthew ScholzFounded Oisin Biotechnologies +3
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University of Michigan mafia136
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Erik TorenbergBachelor of Arts (B.A.)Founded VillageglobalDavid R. WaltBachelor of Science - BSFounded Sherlock Biosciences +5Chris VoigtBSEFounded Asimov +2Val AgostinoB.S.E.Founded Monarch +2Dillon ErbMaster of Architecture (M.Arch.)Founded Paperspace +2Eric LefkofskyFounded InnerWorkings +1
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University of California, Riverside mafia11
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Vanessa SmallPh.DFounded Alcheme BioArjun PatelBachelor's of ScienceFounded WorkCloutAiden AcevesBachelor’s DegreeFounded Primmune TherapeuticsDeepanshu MadanMaster's DegreeFounded PlatypusWarren RunkBachelor of ScienceFounded Chorus SleepBen SchleunigerBachelor of Science (BS)Founded Orbital Operations
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Astranis mafia9
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David BeyerInvestorFounded ChartioArnav SahuInvestorFounded WolfiaHall ChenRF Payload DesignFounded GridwareCameron FlanneryGuidance, Navigation, and Control InternFounded Navier AIJason KaufmannAvionics InternFounded Maritime FusionTobias FischerSpacecraft EngineerFounded Wardstone
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Same school
Also attended Y Combinator2,000
Tarek MansourCo-founder & CEO of KalshiSuhail DoshiFounder of Mixpanel; founder of ParticleSubomi OluwalanaCo-founder & CEO of ConvoyMaroof AhmedFounder at Octopus VenturesJustin SwartPartner at Bitkraft Esports VenturesCollin WallaceGeneral Partner at Lobby Capital
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Erik TorenbergGeneral Partner at Andreessen Horowitz; founder of TurpentineKarim FarisInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Glen AndersonPartner at Monta Vista CapitalAlexandra FarmerPrincipal at Intel Capital, North AmericaHannah KrootMarketing Lead at Intel CapitalScott ShawChief of Staff at Intel Capital
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Also attended University of California, Riverside31
Dr Jonathan AvesarScientific Lead at Lever VCLina ChongInvestor at HV CapitalVanessa SmallInvestor at DigitalDx VenturesBo ZhaoDirector of Commercialization at First Bight VenturesJazelyn JoseFinance Associate at SuRo CapitalBrandon GoldmanPartner at LIONHEART VENTURES
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Shared employers
Also worked at Fort (YC W26)2
Also worked at Tesla197
Steve JurvetsonCo-founder of Future VenturesJoe GebbiaCo-founder of AirbnbArpan ShahInvestor at Spark CapitalJustin LiuVice President at Sapphire VenturesErica WaichmanHead of People & Community at Canvas VenturesBen FawEntrepreneur-in-Residence at Context Ventures
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Also worked at University of Michigan116
Alexandra FarmerPrincipal at Intel Capital, North AmericaLogan 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 Ventures
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Also worked at SpaceX148
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
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