From CS Student to CEO of an $11M Company

Kathy, 21, dropped out of Princeton & built Dedalus Labs — the simplest way to build and deploy AI agents.

⚡ The Shift

Just a few months ago, Kathy was a rising senior at Princeton studying computer science. She had a solid big-tech offer lined up, and a traditional career path waiting. Instead, she co-founded Dedalus Labs, went through YC (summer batch), and now leads a company valued at $11 million.

📊 Key Numbers

$11M

company valuation

years old · founder age

5 min

before YC deadline

customers · revenue at start

💡 Pivot Point

Kathy grew up in China with both parents in tech. She always assumed she would join a big tech company. But a shift happened: "I figured that life is too short to not do something that I actually found fun." She applied to YC five minutes before the deadline — and everything changed.

🚀 YC Experience

When they applied to YC, they had nothing but an idea and a clear vision of how it would play out. No customers, no revenue. Yet the YC community — both current batchmates and alums — became a powerful support system. "They're all so willing to give you advice and help."

There's no better time to start founding than now. Why would you wait?

— Kathy, CEO & co-founder of Dedalus Labs

Actionable Takeways

Trust your vision even when you have zero customers or revenue.

Don't wait for the “perfect” moment — apply, launch, iterate.

Lean into communities (like YC) where people genuinely help.

Follow what you find fun — life is too short for a path you don't love.

🔍 In Short

Kathy went from a Princeton CS student with a big-tech offer to a YC-backed founder of an $11M company — all by choosing what she found fun, applying at the last minute, and betting on a vision. Her story is a reminder that timing, courage, and community can rewrite your trajectory.

From Student to CEO – Kathy's Story