Rashad

Hello
I'm Rashad,

Profile
That's me!
Bio length

Rashad is an AI engineer and entrepreneur, co-founder & CTO at Cleve, building AI-powered products that have impacted over 100,000+ users.

His journey started early - hacking at 11, entering university at 15, publishing his first game at 16, and working at a startup by 17. At 19, he published research with MIT on CreativeGAN. He graduated as valedictorian at 20, founded an AI consulting company at 21, and co-founded his current venture-backed startup at 22.

Rashad is passionate about sharing knowledge through public speaking, having delivered 20+ talks on AI, technology, career development, and startups. He's also a content creator on TikTok with 5M+ views and judges hackathons to support the next generation of builders.

In his free time, he likes to try new things, read, write, and watch movies.

Media Mentions

Featured in publications and media outlets for my work in machine learning and software engineering. Get press assets →

Stats & Metrics

A quick snapshot of my journey and impact across different areas.

Research Papers

0

Public Talks

0

Hackathons Won

0

Hackathons Judged

0

Companies Founded

0

Users Impacted

0K

Social Media Followers

0K

Content Views

0M

Speaking

I speak at conferences and meetups about machine learning, AI, and software engineering. Speaker kit →

Writings

From quick notes to long-form essays. I write about machine learning, software engineering, and personal growth.

2/5

4/2 - Refactored Cleve onboarding & Sofea

Read post
2/3

Ideas I want to share/remind

Read post
2/2

Improving eloquency with rehearsed thoughts

Read post
2/2

How to write a a review

Read post
2/2

The 80/20 rule lists

Read post
2/2

Movie Review: Hamilton (Broadway)

Read post

Side Projects

Like most of us – I have lot of ideas and projects that I would like to implement. Many of them get lost in my notes or as random thoughts on my computer. But can you believe it? Some of them actually happen.

Achievements

Fun AI-generated achievement badges based on my milestones, adventures, and goals I'm tracking throughout my life and career. Note: As these are AI-generated, some descriptions may be exaggerated or less accurate.
💻

Teen Hacker

2011
🎓

Early Achiever

2015
🎮

Game Developer

2016
🚀

Startup Journey Begins

2017
👥

Tech Club Founder

2018
📄

Research Contributor

2019
🏆

Academic Weapon

2020
💼

Entrepreneur

2021
🌟

VC-Backed Founder

2022
🎤

Public Speaker

🥇

Hackathon Champion

📱

Content Creator

🛟

Rescue Diver

🦈

Shark Swimmer

🏄

Surfer

🌬️

Wind Surfer

🤿

Freediver

🪂

Tandem Skydiver

✈️

One-Day Pilot

🧗

Rock Climber

⛏️

Ice Warrior

🔒
🔱

Spear Hunter

🔒
🌋

Disaster Tourist

🔒
🏺

Glassblowing Tourist

👨‍🏭

Welding Intro

🎨

Craft Dabbler

🎂

Birthday Baker

🧵

DIY Tailor

🟧

Orange Box Alum

🔒
🔥

Millionaire

🔒
🎓

The Doctor

🔒
📸

Face Card

🔒
🔐

Lockpicking Novice

💃

Dance Class Hopper

🎸

Campfire Musician

🥋

Martial Arts Trial

🤸

Calisthenics

🏂

Snow Tourist

🌋

Volcano Hiker

⛰️

Indonesian Mountain Explorer

💻

Teen Hacker

2011
📱

App Creator

🏆

Hackathon Winner

🎤

Keynote Speaker

👨‍✈️

Private Pilot

🔒
🔴

TED Speaker

🔒
🐋

Leviathan Seeker

🔒
🏃

Ironman

🔒
📖

Author

🔒
🏔️

Himalayan Hiker

🔒
🌌

Aurora Hunter

🔒
🎤

Give 100 Talks

🔒
Give 100 Talks
Goal: 100 public talks
🐫

Desert Rider

2023-04
🐟

School of Fish

2023-04
🌋

Subaquatic Geologist

2023-04
🔦

Night Diver

2023-05
🩸

Bloodshot

2023-05
🛄

Hobo Tourist

2023-04
🏠

Home Gym Architect

🥩

Mass Gainer

2023-12
🏋️

Heavy Lifter

2023-12
🦇

Gravity Defier

2023-12
👟

Goggins Mode

2023-12
🩹

Flesh Wound

2023-02
💰

Sponsored Creator

2025
🎙️

Media Personality

2025
🤝

Diplomat Advisor

2025-11
👨‍⚖️

Expert Panelist

2025-10
🗣️

Paid Speaker

⚖️

Hackathon Judge

🔑

Head of Household

2025-04
💳

Credit Owner

🚗

Car Owner

💰

Six-Figure Earner

🤹

Corporate Juggler

🌊

Flyboarder

2025-01
🦇

Spelunker

2025-11
🧶

Tufter

2025-01
👜

Leather Worker

2025-04
🗽

American Dreamer

🔒
🍜

Ramen Profitable

🔒
📜

Grant Winner

🔒
📝

Daily Logger

🔒
🌟

Cult Leader (100k)

🔒
🦍

Deadlift Specialist

2024
💪

The 100kg Club

2024
🏋️‍♂️

Shoulder Presser

2024
🦇

Gravity Defier

2024
🤸

Handstand Pusher

2024
💯

Century Runner

2024
📰

Forbes 30u30

🔒
🎓

Elite Institution

🔒
👼

Angel Investor

🔒
🦵

Ultra Marathoner

🔒
🏃

Centurion Runner

🔒
🎥

YouTuber

🔒
🤿

Divemaster

🔒
🎬

Screen Actor

🔒
💻

Teen Hacker

2011
🎓

Early Achiever

2015
🎮

Game Developer

2016
🚀

Startup Journey Begins

2017
👥

Tech Club Founder

2018
📄

Research Contributor

2019
🏆

Academic Weapon

2020
💼

Entrepreneur

2021
🌟

VC-Backed Founder

2022
🎤

Public Speaker

🥇

Hackathon Champion

📱

Content Creator

🛟

Rescue Diver

🦈

Shark Swimmer

🏄

Surfer

🌬️

Wind Surfer

🤿

Freediver

🪂

Tandem Skydiver

✈️

One-Day Pilot

🧗

Rock Climber

⛏️

Ice Warrior

🔒
🔱

Spear Hunter

🔒
🌋

Disaster Tourist

🔒
🏺

Glassblowing Tourist

👨‍🏭

Welding Intro

🎨

Craft Dabbler

🎂

Birthday Baker

🧵

DIY Tailor

🟧

Orange Box Alum

🔒
🔥

Millionaire

🔒
🎓

The Doctor

🔒
📸

Face Card

🔒
🔐

Lockpicking Novice

💃

Dance Class Hopper

🎸

Campfire Musician

🥋

Martial Arts Trial

🤸

Calisthenics

🏂

Snow Tourist

🌋

Volcano Hiker

⛰️

Indonesian Mountain Explorer

💻

Teen Hacker

2011
📱

App Creator

🏆

Hackathon Winner

🎤

Keynote Speaker

👨‍✈️

Private Pilot

🔒
🔴

TED Speaker

🔒
🐋

Leviathan Seeker

🔒
🏃

Ironman

🔒
📖

Author

🔒
🏔️

Himalayan Hiker

🔒
🌌

Aurora Hunter

🔒
🎤

Give 100 Talks

🔒
Give 100 Talks
Goal: 100 public talks
🐫

Desert Rider

2023-04
🐟

School of Fish

2023-04
🌋

Subaquatic Geologist

2023-04
🔦

Night Diver

2023-05
🩸

Bloodshot

2023-05
🛄

Hobo Tourist

2023-04
🏠

Home Gym Architect

🥩

Mass Gainer

2023-12
🏋️

Heavy Lifter

2023-12
🦇

Gravity Defier

2023-12
👟

Goggins Mode

2023-12
🩹

Flesh Wound

2023-02
💰

Sponsored Creator

2025
🎙️

Media Personality

2025
🤝

Diplomat Advisor

2025-11
👨‍⚖️

Expert Panelist

2025-10
🗣️

Paid Speaker

⚖️

Hackathon Judge

🔑

Head of Household

2025-04
💳

Credit Owner

🚗

Car Owner

💰

Six-Figure Earner

🤹

Corporate Juggler

🌊

Flyboarder

2025-01
🦇

Spelunker

2025-11
🧶

Tufter

2025-01
👜

Leather Worker

2025-04
🗽

American Dreamer

🔒
🍜

Ramen Profitable

🔒
📜

Grant Winner

🔒
📝

Daily Logger

🔒
🌟

Cult Leader (100k)

🔒
🦍

Deadlift Specialist

2024
💪

The 100kg Club

2024
🏋️‍♂️

Shoulder Presser

2024
🦇

Gravity Defier

2024
🤸

Handstand Pusher

2024
💯

Century Runner

2024
📰

Forbes 30u30

🔒
🎓

Elite Institution

🔒
👼

Angel Investor

🔒
🦵

Ultra Marathoner

🔒
🏃

Centurion Runner

🔒
🎥

YouTuber

🔒
🤿

Divemaster

🔒
🎬

Screen Actor

🔒

70 / 98 Achievements Unlocked

71% complete

Books

I would like to read more books. Keeping a list of all the books I've read and enjoyed will hopefully help me do that. Each book links to its corresponding page on the awesome book platform Hardcover .
Books read in
  • 2026 6
  • 2025 15
  • 2024 10
  • 2023 20
  • 2022 10
  • 2014 3

Lists

Curated collections of my favorite products, podcasts, blogs, music, games, and people that I recommend.

Startup Accelerators

22
  • Y Combinator ($500k for 7%)
  • Antler ($100K-$400K for 10%)
  • 500 Global ($150k for 6%)
+19 more
View all

Building MVPs

13
  • How to Build an MVP (YC)
  • Vibe Coding Guide (Claude Code & Codex)
  • Lovable Best Practices
+10 more
View all

Favorite Novels

6
  • Project Hail Mary
  • Babel
  • Red Rising
+3 more
View all

Startup Fundraising

15
  • How to Raise Money (Paul Graham)
  • How to Convince Investors (Paul Graham)
  • How to Raise Your First Round (Founder Institute)
+12 more
View all

Startup Learning Resources

15
  • Y Combinator Startup School
  • Paul Graham's Essays
  • Sam Altman's Blog
+12 more
View all

Favorite Anime

12
  • Code Geass
  • Death Note
  • To Your Eternity
+9 more
View all

AI Tech Stack

22
  • Convex
  • Supabase
  • Trigger.dev
+19 more
View all

My Startup Tools

7
  • Linear
  • Notion
  • Granola
+4 more
View all

Developer Ambassador Programs

9
  • Google Developer Expert (GDE)
  • Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP)
  • AWS Hero
+6 more
View all

Recent Bookmarks

Interesting articles, videos, and resources I've recently saved and found valuable.

Media Kit

Speaker photos, bios, logos, and brand assets for event organizers and media coverage.