Blending Technology & Business to Shape Tomorrow.

If a lion could speak, we could not understand him

The Body Does Not Speak English

Yan Katch

Feb 222 min read

Anxiety Dancing

Yan Katch

Feb 183 min read

Aim for the Moon, and the Stars Surely Won’t Get In the Way

Yan Katch

Feb 43 min read

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This is Yan

Welcome! I’m Yan, a Toronto-based Tech Product Manager, AI Researcher, and Entrepreneur with industry-spanning experience in start-ups and technical project management. My journey through developing and leading innovations in the tech space has been as challenging as it was thrilling, and it’s far from over. Dive in to explore my path, milestones, and the wisdom gleaned along the way.

Engineering Artificial Intelligence
Product Management

Innovation Product Growth

Business Strategy Startups Leadership

AI Research

"Predicting Startup Funding Using AI and CFA"

📄 Paper Highlights: Using over 600 verbal startup pitches, we’ve developed a framework leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Critical Factor Assessment (CFA) to predict funding outcomes. Unlike previous studies focused on pitch metadata or voice, we used a Large Language Model (LLM) to synthesize factors from CFA across eight critical dimensions. Our approach, incorporating models like Naive Bayes and Support Vector Machines, achieves:

79% accuracy
F1 score of 0.85
Average precision of 0.84

See Research

Career Highlights

Entrepreneurial Leadership & Product Management:
- Conceptualized and executed diverse ventures including the development and deployment of Schoolio's online LMS platform and founding a successful eCommerce brand. Expertly led projects, managing all facets from inception to completion, including overseeing a transition to Google Cloud and leading software development projects for notable institutions like Sheridan College and the University of Toronto.
Innovative Technical & Software Development Prowess:
- Demonstrated a robust technical aptitude by spearheading software system creation featured on the Canadian Armed Forces portal and executing critical, high-value software delivery projects exceeding $2M. Managed and motivated teams of 10+ developers, translating intricate business requirements into developer tasks and driving best practices.
Strategic Fundraising and Financial Acumen:
- Successfully fundraised over $5M with Katch Media Group and forged lucrative partnerships, such as with Canada's Winter Snowboarding Olympic team. Managed substantial advertising budgets across ventures, tailoring growth campaigns for optimal ROI, and launched and exited an eCommerce brand.
Cutting-edge AI Research and Development:
- Conducted pioneering AI research under Dr. Andrew Maxwell’s mentorship, deploying 3 AI projects in production to catalyze transformative business changes. Recognized by top Google leaders for tech roadmap and AI ecosystem development, and employed data-driven strategies to enhance product features and UI/UX, significantly boosting conversion and retention metrics.

Get in Touch

Projects &
Experience

Let’s dive into a tech adventure where my passion for pioneering projects and eclectic entrepreneurship take the lead! Buckle up, as we explore a landscape dotted with innovative ventures, splashy startups, and a trail of transformative solutions across the digital universe.