founder | technology
Seth Raphael, founder of Hello Wonder, has spent over two decades waiting for AI to catch up with his vision—to create transformative education tools that foster collaboration between kids, families, and educators. Raising five children during the COVID-19 pandemic led him to develop Hello Wonder out of necessity. Previously, Seth led AI prototyping at Google, driving AI, AR, and VR advancements and launching the first version of Google Photos. He is a TED Fellow and an accomplished magician who once fooled Penn & Teller.
Dan
Shiplacoff
co-founder | product design
Daniel Shiplacoff is a pioneering product and systems designer who has transformed our interactions with modern computing. At Palm and Google, he designed the foundational systems and gestural and interaction models that define how we navigate phones and apps today. He led design teams that shipped Google’s first personal and assistive AI, introduced Material Design, and extended Android into automotive, television, and wearable tech.
co-founder | children's media
Brian Backus is a children’s media expert with 20+ years of experience delivering content that delights and inspires kids and their families. Before Hello Wonder, Brian led an educational game studio for Amazon, releasing 53 games in 2 years. He was also a game producer at Disney, DreamWorks, and NBCUniversal and is a three-time founder of kid tech companies. Brian holds an MBA and AB from Harvard and an MFA in Film Production from USC.
Mandy
Ross
Head of Community
Mandy is a technical program management and community leadership expert with over 25 years of experience in the tech arena. She excels at amplifying customer voices to drive product success, seamlessly integrating community insights with data-driven strategies. Mandy has played a key role in shaping industry-leading technologies and community initiatives at companies like Apple, Atlassian, Palm, Boeing, and startups, transforming products and how communities thrive.
Raffy
Kaloustian
Head of Engineering
Raffy is a seasoned software architect with 30+ years of experience in enterprise applications and SaaS solutions. He has a strong track record in startups, supporting companies from Angel Round though Series D. His expertise includes AWS cloud infrastructure and multiple programming languages including Python, Go, Rust, Swift, and TypeScript. With a passion for building high-performing teams and innovative solutions, Raffy excels in both hands-on development and strategic leadership.
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