Matthew Banaag Email and Phone Number

Z Fellows is a program accelerating the top technical talent and helping to inspire them over the course of a week. Acceptance rate is <1%, and fellows are offered an investment of $10k.

- Founded Forge, an incubator/accelerator for Princeton tech startups partnered with Princeton Office of Technology Licensing

- Led design for adversarial reinforcement ML model (CRATER) using complex network analysis (CNA) to optimize red teaming on DoD power grid installations using IEEE-118 power flow data- Invented novel graph heuristic for CNA of defending power grid attacks, most concurrently optimal and realistic in existing literature- Designed synthetic data generator for CRATER model training for fastest AI university supercomputer in world (LLSC)- Automated Typhoon hardware-in-the-loop simulation design for DoD military installations’ power grid GIS data

- Y Combinator S23 Interviewee- Co-founded startup building plug-and-play solar stations for urban services (micromobility charging stations, temperature-controlled food delivery lockers, etc.)- Conducted extensive market validation including a comprehensive survey of 400 students across 50+ colleges, engaging with key industry experts including the Director of Sales and Business Development @Smiota (prominent smart locker manufacturer)- Developed a strong network within the advertising industry by interacting with renowned professionals such as Lucy Guo, Founder of ScaleAI and influencer, as well as the Founder of Dime, a Gen Z advertising company

- Create, simulate, and test racecar body's aerodynamic design- Designed racecar sidepod to optimize engine airflow using CAD modeling in PTC Creo from NASA airfoils, aluminum honeycomb panels, designed for wind-tunnel testing- Machined sidepod mounting system on lathe

- Leading design for next-gen high voltage (~520V) accumulator battery enclosure system using 21700 Li-Ion Cells from Tesla grant- Machined drivetrain axle housings with lathe and micrometer

- Co-founded Asculta Tech, a group of builder friends creating next-gen infrastructure health monitoring tech with a patented ultrasonic plasma acoustic emissions (AE) IoT transducer and ML-powered structural damage detection.- Selected for Y Combinator interview (S23)

National Finalist (44th in the nation), The American Rocketry Challenge (TARC)- Worked with friends to reach the national finals of the world's largest student rocketry challenge within two years, starting with no prior rocketry experience.

Global Finalist, FIRST Innovation Challenge- Headed team in FIRST Innovation Challenge to design VisualEyes – AI-powered device mounted on hat aiding the visually impaired with independent mobility, National Federation of the Blind interested- Recognized by Cheddar News, NJ State Legislature and Altice USA (Excellence in Technology Award)