Rafael Garcia is the Co-Founder of Kernel, a company building browser agents for developers. A Harvard University graduate, he began his career as an algorithmic trader before co-founding Clever Inc. , where he served as CTO. He is a two-time Y Combinator alumnus with deep experience in building and scaling technology platforms.
After first participating in Y Combinator at age 24 with his first company, he returned to the accelerator 13 years later with his second startup, Kernel.
Rafael Garcia
Co-Founder at Kernel
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Overview
Topics They Care About
Developer Tooling
Co-founded two companies, Clever and Kernel, focused on creating powerful, opinionated tools that empower small engineering teams.
Performance Optimization
Draws on his background as a high-frequency trader to obsessively benchmark and relentlessly optimize product speed and efficiency.
Startup Incubation
A two-time Y Combinator participant, first in 2012 and again thirteen years later, demonstrating a strong belief in the accelerator model.
Media Appearances
Kernel AI Browser Startup - $22M in Funding. Featured in Cincinnati Business Courier (BizJournals)
Work History
3-2025
Co-Founder at Kernel
1-2023 - 1-2025
Advisor at Clever Inc.
3-2012 - 2-2023
Co-Founder and CTO at Clever Inc.
6-2009 - 3-2012
Algorithmic Trader at Jump Trading, LLC
Education
2005 - 2009
AB from Harvard University
More Information
Social Presence :
Prographics :
Exp : 16
Location : Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Job Level : Leadership
Designation : Co-Founder at Kernel
