Vana | Our Team

Imagine building a new universe where our digital selves can freely live, play and prosper.

Vana was born in San Francisco in 2021, with the idea that you should own your data and the value it creates.

By building an open ecosystem to own and experience your digital self, we are empowering individuals to be the drivers and beneficiaries of the AI revolution. We’re making AI more real and more ours.

Savvy Innovators: Intelligence Energized

At Vana, we're all about blending intellectual curiosity with tech-savviness. We're an enthusiastic team of trailblazers, constantly looking at problems from new angles and seeking out-of-the-box solutions. This drive to innovate and challenge conventional wisdom sets Vana apart in the AI landscape. Here, intelligence is not just admired, it's energized, resulting in a dynamic, fast-paced environment that propels us towards the cutting edge of technology.

Bold Visionaries: Courage Ignited

Embracing uncertainty and daring to venture into uncharted territories is at the heart of Vana's spirit. We believe in the power of bold ideas and have the courage to bring them to life. Our team thrives on pushing boundaries, taking calculated risks, and creating transformative experiences in the digital realm. At Vana, we don't just dream, we ignite visions, sparking the flame that illuminates the path towards tomorrow's technological advancements.

Compassionate Catalysts: Kindness Amplified

Vana is a melting pot of diverse talents, backgrounds, and perspectives. We pride ourselves on fostering an environment that's inclusive, empathetic, and kind. We don't just create AI, we ensure it's developed and applied with thoughtfulness and a deep respect for humanity. By amplifying kindness, we're ensuring that technology serves as a catalyst for positive change, creating a digital landscape that's considerate of all voices and experiences.

Our story in numbers.

2021

Vana was founded

700k

Models trained

1.1m

Vana Users

20

Employees

Anna K

Early core developer at Celo, started YC ML startup, former World Bank, Federal Reserve, and ECB. Studied CS at MIT. Ethereum mining with dumpster GPUs in 2015.

Art A

Led Global Impact Sourcing for AI data collection at Appen. Led and scaled teams across 5 continents. Designed and built state Institutions for Prime Minister of East Timor. Policy and Regulatory Expert. Former big law lawyer. Harvard and MIT.

Colin S

Community Operations leader. Formerly Director of Crowd Operations at Appen & Figure Eight. Co-founded a translation company in Chile.

Matthias K

Project and Product Manager with over 13 years of experience in finance, digital assets and AI. After graduating as Master of Finance, played a pivotal role in three startups to launch innovative applications for digital asset trading and DeFi risk modeling.

Kahtaf A

Lead full-stack engineer with over 10 years of experience across various enterprises to startups. Founder of BitSpice Software, built Android apps netting 1M+ installs.

Callum F

User interface designer-developer since web2 kicked off. Previously over a decade as a graphic designer across the globe. Ran vinyl record labels on the side. Interested in living systems, happy accidents, creative fitness, synergy, harmony, language & metaphor.

Ashley H

Business Operations Manager with more than 6 years of experience, adept at elevating lean companies through efficiency optimization. Graduated from Saint Mary's College of California with a BSc in Business Administration. Passionate about fueling business growth.