Catherine Yeo, a graduate of Computer Science and English alongside a Concurrent Masters in Computer Science. Originally from San Jose, she is passionate about storytelling and entrepreneurship. She previously co-founded Sesame (a student productivity tool), invested in startups for early-stage venture fund Contrary, and published The Creator Revolution, an Amazon bestseller in Business Technology & Innovation. She has been an engineering or AI research intern at Disney, Apple, and IBM Research. At Harvard, she is a Roberts Family Fellow, Director of HackHarvard, and a member of the Stand Up Comic Society. She will be a software engineer at Warp, a developer tools startup. 

HTR:

What does being an innovator mean to you, and how do you manifest it in your daily life?

Catherine:

I often think about building technology and writing stories in parallel. Both begin with the same basic tools – a blank page and ink. But an innovative writer, they go beyond what’s already written on the pages they’ve read. They challenge convention fearlessly and thoughtfully. They breathe life into new worlds and craft stories that seek to inspire, challenge, and leave a lasting legacy with the reader. Tech innovation shares this approach. You observe what’s in your everyday life and then push beyond. You take risks and build new, impactful solutions to problems you’ve identified, solutions that redefine and revolutionize what we thought was possible.

How I try to manifest this in my daily life is by choosing to walk a path that I see fit to embark upon no matter what anyone else is thinking or doing. At Harvard, there’s often pressure to tread the path that everyone else has walked before, since we know how to navigate it. But in my pursuit of innovation, whether as a builder, founder, writer, or any other role, I want to take risks and create something new, something that genuinely creates impact.

HTR:

You’ve talked about embarking on an unconventional journey by writing a book. What inspired you to write the book, and what were the challenges and successes that came with the whole process from ideation through publication and beyond?

Catherine:

My first business was being a content creator. I used to sell fiction writing and art online, mainly on Tumblr, to an audience of over 400,000. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, there was an explosion in the amount of content being both created and consumed. As someone who’d been creating and monetizing artistic content on the internet for a long time, I found this fascinating. I also noticed how the supporting technology was evolving to accommodate this trend. Many people who were starting to create or consume more content didn’t really understand the whole world behind it. I felt a need to tell the stories of various creators and the history behind it.

The book was a result of this desire to share these stories in a nuanced and comprehensive way. Writing a book in college isn’t quite the conventional thing to do, but I saw a necessity and I wanted to amplify the voices featured in it.

As for the successes and challenges, it’s always exciting when people reach out with feedback about the book. The book has prompted discussions and educated different communities, which I’m happy about. On the other hand, writing a book is a massive and time-consuming endeavor, especially as a student. 

HTR:

You’ve been deeply involved in the startup space, including hackathons, nonprofits, and your own startups. Can you tell us why you’re so invested in startups?

Catherine:

In my view, there’s never a better time and place to explore new ideas than during one’s time in school. I went to a lot of hackathons in high school to build random things and started hosting hackathons as well. They provide a creative space for people to build something they want, a space that’s often missing within the structured environment of a school. This is something I worked heavily on at Contrary. The tech and startup world isn’t as diverse as it could be, and a lot of my work involves building a welcoming community for all people. 

HTR:

Is there a moment in your work at Contrary that you’re particularly proud of?

Catherine:

For three years, I’ve been hosting an event at Visitas, the admitted students’ weekend, called “How to Start a Startup at Harvard.” It’s an event that provides newly admitted students with a snapshot of the entrepreneurial journey and the resources available at Harvard.  What I’m particularly proud of is the fact that this event has grown each year. More and more students are interested in startups and entrepreneurship. It’s exciting to see them inspired, their minds buzzing with ideas and possibilities, ready to dive into the entrepreneurial journey.  

HTR: 

What advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing entrepreneurship or startups?  

Catherine: For anyone interested in entrepreneurship, my advice would be to start now. Start small, but start nonetheless. Start with a small project or idea, work on it, iterate, and learn from it. Don’t wait for the perfect idea or the perfect time, because they don’t exist. It’s about learning, iterating, and growing. Take advantage of the resources and people around you. Ask for help, seek advice, and never be afraid to fail. Every failure is a learning opportunity.     

HTR:

You’ve been involved in mentorship, but who would you say has been a mentor to you or an inspiration during your time at Harvard?

Catherine:

There have been quite a few, but one mentor that stands out to me is HBS Professor Scott Kominers. His advice has been influential to me in many ways, one quote that I’ve kept close to heart was when he told me to think of myself as a startup, that I would inevitably pivot many times. This perspective has helped me connect the dots between various aspects of my life and I often reflect on it. He’s not only been a terrific mentor but also embodies innovation and the spirit of carving one’s own path.

HTR:

Looking at all the work you’ve done, in research, startups, and other areas, how do you envision directing your life towards a certain purpose or path? How do you juggle and prioritize your different interests?

Catherine:

To be completely honest, I’m still figuring it out. What I do know is that I have a deep love for building and creating things that excite me. This could be AI research or joining a startup after graduation, or even storytelling through writing and performing comedy. I just know that I deeply enjoy these activities and I hope to maintain this love in some balance or intersection of them as I move forward. 

HTR:

Could you expand on your AI research and your other research? What were some of the most meaningful experiences you’ve had in that area?

Catherine:

One of my favorite research projects was during a summer internship at Disney. There I was working inside a startup-like structure that was building experimental and innovative technology for all the studios. I worked on a neural style transfer project, in collaboration with animation artists from Walt Disney Animation Studios, who are behind movies like Frozen and Moana. This project was unique because I worked with not only researchers and engineers, but also artists and producers. It was a fascinating experience, especially since it was years before the current generative AI boom, seeing how Disney, a media company, was exploring the use of AI to assist their production pipeline.

HTR:

On the flip side of things, you mentioned comedy and other hobbies. What hobbies and interests outside of your work do you think have been most influential to you during your time at Harvard?

Catherine:

During my latter years at Harvard, I started performing stand-up comedy and I’ve found it to be a refreshing medium of art. Recently, I hosted and performed at a tech-themed comedy show where we spent an hour and a half roasting the tech industry. 

HTR:

What are your plans for post-graduation? 

Catherine:

I’m joining a startup called Warp, and we’re working on a modern, collaborative terminal. The terminal is such a fundamental piece of a developer’s toolset, yet its interface has barely evolved over the years. The idea of bringing collaboration and modernity to this space really excites me. I’m looking forward to working with a small, dynamic team where I can make a significant impact.

HTR:

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to a student interested in AI and entrepreneurship?

Catherine:

One piece of advice I would give is to remain curious. AI is a fast-paced field with new developments happening all the time, and entrepreneurship requires you to continuously learn and adapt. So, keep asking questions, keep learning, keep pushing the boundaries of what you know. This not only applies to technical skills but also to understanding people, markets, and trends.

I believe in the potential of every individual to create something meaningful. Don’t be afraid to try new things, to take risks, to make mistakes. That’s how we learn and grow. There’s no perfect path or one-size-fits-all solution. It’s your journey, and it’s unique. So, embrace it and make the most of it.