My Role
Founding UX/UI Designer
Company
Meela Inc. (Y Combinator–backed startup)
Team
Founders from Meela Inc.
Duration
July 2025
When Meela Inc. received their first round of seed funding through Y Combinator, the two founders approached me with an ambitious vision:
“Transform AI problem-solving into a gamified experience for students.”
Unlike most educational AI products that simply provide answers, Meela aimed to teach students the process of problem-solving itself. My job as the solo designer was to translate this abstract idea into a tangible, testable product, from research and strategy to final UI design.
To make Meela successful, it needs:
1. Clear team roles: Marketing owns audience/content, Product owns features/tech. Minimal overlap.
2. Feedback loops matter: User input directly shapes product improvements and marketing messaging.
3. Test before launch: Multiple validation points across channels reduce risk before going all-in.
