The shopping
knowledge network

CEO

Michael Quoc is the founder and CEO of Demand.io. Michael founded Demand.io to apply AI, advanced engineering, and community-first principles to solve everyday consumer problems at scale. Michael’s operating philosophy is to create aligned economic outcomes across his company, his employees, his community stakeholders, and business partners alike. Prior to founding Demand.io, Michael served as Head of Product at Yahoo, where he drove innovation across the Fortune 100 company’s global network. Michael previously held product leadership roles at Desktop.com and investment and strategic advisory roles at Pequot Ventures and Jefferies Broadview. Michael studied Computer Science at UC Berkeley and holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley.

VP of Engineering

Hamid Benbrahim serves as VP of Engineering at Demand.io, where he leads the development of AI-powered commerce platforms and oversees the evolution of ShopGraph, the company's proprietary e-commerce knowledge graph. His work focuses on implementing advanced machine learning systems and GenAI solutions to revolutionize how people discover and purchase products online.

Prior to joining Demand.io, Hamid held senior AI and data leadership roles at major financial institutions including TD Ameritrade and Fidelity Investments, where he founded the Center for Applied Complexity Research. As Chief Data Scientist at TD Ameritrade, he built and led the company's AI strategy while developing innovative risk management solutions. At Fidelity, he pioneered new approaches to evaluating systemic and counterparty risk using advanced AI models. He later founded Natural Numerix, building a scalable AI platform for financial risk management, and advised Fortune 500 companies on AI strategy implementation. Most recently, he led data and AI initiatives at IDS, where he developed AI strategies for businesses across finance, healthcare, and manufacturing sectors.

Hamid holds a Ph.D. in Machine Learning and Engineering from the University of New Hampshire, an MBA from Columbia Business School, and completed the Finance for Senior Leaders program at Harvard Business School. He is a frequent speaker at international conferences on AI and complex systems, and is fluent in English, French, Arabic, and Spanish.

VP of Product Marketing

Elena Madrigal serves as Vice President of Product Marketing at Demand.io, where she leads product marketing strategy across the company's AI-powered commerce platforms. In this role, she directs positioning and go-to-market initiatives for Demand.io's innovative products, including AI-driven shopping experiences and advanced e-commerce knowledge systems.

Prior to joining Demand.io, Elena held senior leadership positions at several pioneering technology companies. As SVP of Product and Marketing at Amaze, she led a 16-person team driving both product-led and sales-led growth strategies, achieving significant improvements in customer acquisition and market engagement. At GoDaddy, she directed product marketing for mobile and AI initiatives, where she launched AI-powered features that achieved 32% adoption rates and drove substantial user growth. Her experience also includes leading product marketing at TrueMotion (acquired by Cambridge Mobile Telematics), where she established the company's product marketing function and expanded their AI-powered telematics platform into five new industries. Earlier in her career, she held key product marketing roles at Canva during its hypergrowth phase, where she doubled daily orders to 5,000 and generated $12M in incremental revenue within two weeks of launching new initiatives.

Elena is recognized as an authority in product marketing, serving as an Expert in Residence at the Product Marketing Alliance where she has led over 15 certification courses and delivered more than 20 keynotes. She holds a Design Thinking for Innovation certification from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business and is a Pragmatic Certified Product Marketer (Level 4). Elena has completed advanced programs in Marketing Leadership, Growth Series, and Product-Led Growth through Reforge, demonstrating her commitment to continuous learning in cutting-edge marketing practices.

Director of Business Operations

Jimmy Doheny serves as Director of Business Operations at Demand.io, where he oversees our content operations team, affiliate operations, crowdsourcing system management, and AI-driven data operations. He plays a key role in scaling the company's innovative commerce technology platforms while managing strategic partnerships across the digital retail ecosystem.

Prior to his current role, Jimmy held increasing leadership positions at Connexity (formerly PriceGrabber), where he drove significant revenue growth through strategic partnerships with major media companies including AOL, PMC, and IAC. As Business Development Manager, he achieved over 300% year-over-year revenue growth from key accounts while pioneering the adoption of new social influencer tools. His experience spans both traditional and emerging commerce verticals, including social influencers, mobile apps, and content publishers.

Beyond his professional work, Jimmy demonstrates his commitment to technology education and digital inclusion through founding the Computer Placement Project, which provides free computers to underprivileged organizations and families. He also serves as a mentor at CoderDojo Koreatown, teaching coding skills to youth. Jimmy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and English-Creative Writing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Director of Web Products

Harrison DeSantis serves as Director of Web Products at Demand.io, where he leads development and optimization of the company's web surfaces across its portfolio of AI-powered e-commerce platforms. In this role, he oversees product strategy, user experience, and search optimization initiatives while working closely with engineering teams to integrate advanced AI capabilities.

Prior to joining Demand.io, Harrison spent over three years at TrueCar (NASDAQ: TRUE), first as SEO Director and later as Product Director, where he owned TrueCar's pre-qualification lending product and led cross-functional teams responsible for improving financing products and vehicle research capabilities. At TrueCar, he managed scrum teams focused on optimizing user flows and increasing research traffic through data-driven product enhancements. Earlier in his career, Harrison spent six years at 3Q Digital, where as SEO Director he managed a portfolio of enterprise clients and built the agency's App Store Optimization practice, growing it into a revenue-generating business unit handling over $1M in annual billings.

Harrison holds a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is a Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) and has completed coursework in Python for Data Science, reflecting his commitment to combining technical expertise with product leadership.

Head of Engineering, AI

Jason Toy serves as Head of AI Engineering at Demand.io, where he leads the development of advanced language models and AI systems powering the company's e-commerce intelligence platforms. His work focuses on architecting and implementing large-scale AI pipelines, including the development of LLM-powered shopping assistants and the integration of vector databases for processing hundreds of millions of products.

Prior to joining Demand.io, Jason built an extensive track record of scaling technical products and leading engineering teams. As CPO/CTO at CloudApp, he managed a team of 40 developers and drove a 253% increase in revenue through product improvements. At Filepicker.io (later acquired by Scaleworks), he served as CEO and transformed the Y Combinator-backed startup into a leading file management API platform processing over 400 million files monthly. His experience also includes founding SocMetrics, where he developed machine learning systems for social media analytics, and contributing to pioneering neuroscience research at MIT's Seung Lab.

Jason holds a BS in Mathematics and Computer Science from Northeastern University, with a focus on machine learning and applied mathematics. He has supplemented his formal education with specialized training at the School for Poetic Computation, where he explored generative AI models, and through Reforge's Growth program. He actively contributes to the AI community through his published research on machine learning and maintains an extensive blog documenting his experiments and insights in AI development.

Chief Architect

Brian Stanback, Principal Software Engineer and technical co-founder at Demand.io, brings a background of working with startups, where innovation and agility were key to shaping successful products. From the company's early days, Brian has been instrumental in shaping its technical vision and architecture. Brian’s blend of innovation, cultivated in fast-paced startup environments, along with leadership and a dedication to crafting robust, efficient systems, has guided the engineering team through numerous milestones, aligning with Demand.io's mission. Brian's expertise and leadership within the engineering team help drive the creation of solutions that benefit consumers, creators, and sellers.

Principal Architect, AI & Data Platforms

Minh Nguyen serves as Principal Architect for AI and Data Platforms at Demand.io, where he leads the development of advanced AI architectures and knowledge systems that power the company's e-commerce intelligence platforms. His work focuses on integrating large language models with enterprise-scale data systems and developing novel approaches to commerce knowledge representation.

Prior to joining Demand.io, Minh held key technical leadership roles at notable technology organizations. As Head of AI at Samsung SDS, he developed cutting-edge AI solutions for global products, including the BrityWorks NLP platform which achieved a 90.8% F1-score on Stanford's benchmarks. At Vingroup JSC, Vietnam's largest conglomerate, he served as Chief Data Officer where he built the data department from the ground up and implemented AI-driven solutions that increased user engagement by over 350,000 monthly active users. He later cofounded HealthBridge AI, where he architected HIPAA-compliant AI platforms integrating with electronic medical record systems.

Minh holds a Master of Engineering in Computer Science from Télécom Paris, one of France's prestigious Grandes Écoles, and completed specialized training at EURECOM in digital communications. His contributions to AI and data science have been recognized through multiple honors, including the EB1-A visa for extraordinary ability and selection for the Global Talent Independent program in Australia.

Staff UX Researcher

Kelly Hirsch, Ph.D., leads the UX research practice at Demand.io, where she shapes research strategy across AI-powered commerce platforms, including SimplyCodes and Product.ai. In her role, she directs foundational and evaluative research initiatives that inform the development of machine learning features and user-centric product experiences.

Prior to joining Demand.io, Kelly built and led research programs at several technology companies, including ZipRecruiter, where she established the research practice for their enterprise business division, and Ethos, where she served as Head of UX Research for their AI-driven insurance platform. At Robinhood, she led research for the mobile app's navigation redesign, transforming it from a trading-focused platform to a comprehensive financial solution. Her early career included work as a research consultant for Trial Behavior Consulting, where she applied experimental and behavioral research methods to high-stakes decision-making contexts.

Kelly holds a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Texas A&M University, an M.A. in Experimental Psychology from California State University, San Bernardino, and completed advanced coursework in Applied Data Analysis at Caltech. Her academic background combines quantitative methodological expertise with deep knowledge of behavioral science, enabling her to design and lead complex research programs that bridge user needs with emerging technologies.

Staff Software Engineer

Isaac Sornborger is Staff Software Engineer at Demand.io, where he leads development of critical engineering tools and infrastructure. His work focuses on architecting sophisticated software solutions that leverage artificial intelligence and advanced modeling systems to drive innovation in e-commerce technology.

Prior to joining Demand.io, Isaac served as Principal Software Engineer at Northrop Grumman, one of the world's leading aerospace and defense technology companies. During his seven-year tenure, he spearheaded the development of mission-critical software tools for large government programs, managing complex CAD systems and 3D modeling platforms used by thousands of engineers. He began as a Software Development Analyst, where he developed automated modeling systems and research solutions for aerospace applications, eventually advancing to lead technical initiatives and cross-functional engineering teams.

Isaac holds both Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Computer Science from Santa Clara University, with specialized coursework in cryptography, secure coding, and computer architecture. His academic projects included creating an award-winning mobile data access solution for underserved communities and developing applications for food waste reduction using React Native and AWS technologies.

Senior AI Engineer

Dylan Ler serves as Senior AI Engineer at Demand.io, where he leads development of large language models and machine learning systems that power the company's e-commerce knowledge platforms. His work focuses on advancing ShopGraph's AI capabilities and implementing novel approaches to natural language processing and knowledge representation.

Prior to joining Demand.io, Dylan spent nearly seven years as a Senior Data Scientist and Machine Learning Engineer at WebMD, where he developed AI-powered recommendation systems and natural language processing solutions that significantly improved user engagement. His accomplishments include building BERT-based medical forum recommendations, implementing automated article linking systems, and creating AI chatbots using GPT-4 and LangChain. He also serves as a Partner at Green Robin Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on AI, biotech, and aerospace investments.

Dylan holds a Master's degree in Computer Science with a concentration in Technology Management from William Jessup University and is currently pursuing an additional Master's in Computer Science specializing in Machine Learning from Georgia Tech. He completed his undergraduate studies in Electrical Engineering at UCLA, where his coursework focused on computer vision, computational photography, and speech recognition.

User Insights Data Analyst

Cansu Kaya leads user insights and analytics at Demand.io, where she shapes data strategy and drives AI-powered user experience optimization. She spearheads the analysis of customer journeys and engagement patterns, leveraging advanced analytics and machine learning to inform product development and enhance user retention across the company's e-commerce platforms.

Prior to joining Demand.io, Cansu was Business Analytics Manager at Yummly, where she led data initiatives that resulted in significant improvements in user engagement and subscription revenue. Her accomplishments included implementing predictive modeling for user behavior analysis and orchestrating a successful migration to Snowplow Analytics. She previously served as Senior Analytics Engineer at Cardinal Path, a Google Marketing Platform partner, where she developed enterprise-scale analytics solutions for Fortune 500 clients. Her experience spans modern data stack technologies including dbt, BigQuery, and Snowplow, as well as advanced visualization tools like Tableau and Looker.

Cansu holds a Bachelor of Science in Management Engineering from Istanbul Technical University, where she developed a strong foundation in quantitative methods, operations research, and data-driven decision making. She remains active in the analytics community as a member of the Digital Analytics Association since 2017.

Senior AI Editor and Content Strategist

Laira Martin is Senior AI Editor and Content Strategist at Demand.io, where she leads SEO content strategy development and AI-driven content optimization across the company's e-commerce platforms. She brings deep expertise in leveraging artificial intelligence for content creation while maintaining high editorial standards and driving measurable business impact.

Prior to joining Demand.io, Laira served as Head of SEO & Content at VEGAMOUR, where she built and led the company's first comprehensive SEO and content strategy during a period of dramatic growth. Her work contributed significantly to the company's expansion, driving over 11x traffic growth and establishing VEGAMOUR as a leader in the clean beauty space. Earlier in her career, she held key roles at Seek Business Capital, where she achieved 23x organic traffic growth, and at ConsumerTrack/GOBankingRates, where she managed large-scale content campaigns for major financial institutions including Wells Fargo, TD Bank, and American Express.

Laira earned her B.A. in Communication with minors in Literature/Writing and Art History from the University of California, San Diego, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the UCSD Guardian newspaper and achieved Provost's Honors recognition.

Senior Full Stack Engineer

Cutler Simpson is a Senior Software Engineer at Demand.io, where he leads HQ full-stack engineering initiatives. He specializes in developing AI-driven applications and cloud infrastructure solutions, leveraging modern technologies to build scalable, enterprise-grade systems.

Prior to joining Demand.io, Cutler served as a Senior Scientific Programmer at Caribou Biosciences, a pioneering CRISPR genome-editing biotechnology company, where he developed full-stack applications for bioinformatics data analysis and led the implementation of cloud infrastructure solutions. His experience includes roles at several leading technology companies, including Google, where he developed enterprise solutions that drove over $5 million in annual revenue, and Goldman Sachs, where he managed global cloud platform initiatives. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated expertise in developing scalable cloud architectures, implementing robust data pipelines, and optimizing system performance across complex technological landscapes.

Cutler holds a Master of Science in Systems Medicine from Georgetown University, where he earned academic excellence honors and conducted research in computational biology and clinical data analysis. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering and minors in Business Administration and Computer Science. His interdisciplinary background uniquely positions him at the intersection of technology, data science, and enterprise solutions.

Product Manager, ShopGraph

Kelli Schall serves as Product Manager for ShopGraph at Demand.io, where she leads the development and evolution of the company's comprehensive e-commerce knowledge graph. In this role, she oversees product development for taxonomy and data ingestion systems, applying her expertise in information architecture to enhance AI-powered shopping experiences.

Prior to joining Demand.io, Kelli was Senior Taxonomy Analyst at System1, a publicly-traded advertising technology company, where she developed classification systems and multilingual taxonomies to support their AI-driven marketing platform. She collaborated with SEM, SEO, and publishing teams to optimize content discovery across multiple web properties, while also building foundational knowledge graph structures using semantic middleware. Her experience includes positions at USC's Science & Engineering Library and Regal Medical Group, where she refined her skills in information organization and data classification.

Kelli holds a Master of Library and Information Science from San Jose State University's School of Information, which is consistently recognized among the top-ranked library and information studies programs nationwide. She also earned dual bachelor's degrees from UC Santa Cruz: a BS in Ecology and Evolution and a BA in Feminist Studies, contributing to her multidisciplinary approach to information systems.

Senior Product Manager

Sinthuja Bates serves as Senior Product Manager at Demand.io, where she leads AI product strategy and development for SimplyCodes. She spearheads the implementation of advanced machine learning models and AI-driven features, focusing on enhancing personalization and automation across the platform's core functionalities.

Prior to joining Demand.io, Sinthuja established a strong track record of driving AI innovation in enterprise software. At Sana Benefits, she led the development of predictive ML models for insurance underwriting, achieving significant operational efficiencies. At PopSQL, she directed a cross-functional team in integrating generative AI capabilities, successfully launching a ChatGPT-powered feature that achieved an 80% adoption rate. Earlier in her career, she gained valuable experience at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, where she built data analytics infrastructure supporting personalized learning for hundreds of schools nationwide. She also founded and led Tilt Access, an edtech platform that leveraged AI to help students with college admissions.

Sinthuja holds a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence from the University of San Diego, where she focused on natural language processing and computer vision, an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, and graduated magna cum laude from UCLA with degrees in Business Economics and Political Science.

Senior Visual Designer

David Guzman serves as Senior Visual & Brand Designer at Demand.io, where he leads the development of AI-driven brand experiences and design systems across the company's digital commerce platforms. He directs visual identity and brand strategy while integrating emerging technologies to enhance user experiences and product visibility.

Prior to joining Demand.io, David held key creative roles at prominent Los Angeles agencies, including NVE Experience Agency and Omelet. At NVE, he led creative direction for experiential marketing campaigns for global brands such as Amazon, Disney, and Adidas, specializing in immersive brand activations and digital engagement. As Designer/Art Director at Omelet, he produced visual content for leading technology and retail brands including Google, Walmart, and Netflix, developing cohesive cross-platform campaigns and brand narratives.

David holds a degree in Graphic Information Technology from Arizona State University's Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, where he specialized in UX/UI design and digital media production. His technical foundation in front-end development and interactive design complements his creative expertise, enabling him to bridge visual aesthetics with technological innovation

Senior Product Designer, AI

Drishti Vidyarthi is Senior Product Designer, AI at Demand.io, where she leads product design for AI-powered shopping experiences. She focuses on creating intuitive interfaces for generative AI and conversational systems while ensuring transparency and explainability in AI interactions. Drishti drives the user experience strategy for SimplyCodes and Product.ai, combining user research initiatives with design systems development.

Prior to joining Demand.io, Drishti was a Senior Product Designer at IBM, where she shaped the core experience of IBM's newest generative AI business intelligence tool. She led the design of end-to-end user experiences for AI-powered features, including onboarding flows, conversational interfaces, and interactive dashboards. Earlier in her career, she worked as a Design Consultant for Telosity Ventures, advising portfolio companies on integrating ethical AI design principles in mental health technology. She also contributed to Microsoft's Power BI accessibility initiatives, developing solutions to make data visualization tools more inclusive.

Drishti holds a B.S. in Informatics with a focus on Human-Computer Interaction from the University of Washington, where she graduated with honors as a Purple and Gold Scholar and Dean's List recipient. She is currently pursuing her d.MBA in Design and Business Strategy, furthering her expertise in strategic design leadership.

Product Designer

Janelle Hizon brings expertise in AR/VR product design and 3D prototyping to her role as Product Designer at Demand.io, where she develops AI-powered commerce experiences. Her work focuses on creating intuitive interfaces for emerging technologies and spatial computing platforms.

Prior to joining Demand.io, Janelle held key design roles at several innovative technology companies. At Meta Reality Labs, she helped shape AR product vision for remote collaboration, developing features for virtual workspaces that received executive approval. At Discord, she worked on the Nitro team's avatar customization system, a core feature of their $200M+ revenue business. She also served as Lead Designer at PlaybookXR, where she pioneered accessible 3D prototyping tools for immersive experiences. Her work spans avatar systems, spatial interfaces, and AI-enabled design tools.

Janelle graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. As President of USC's Innovative Design agency, she led a team of 80 students delivering professional creative services. She was selected as a Kleiner Perkins Fellowship finalist and holds multiple academic honors including the Trustee Scholarship and Engineering Fellowship.

Marketing Specialist, Product

Jessica Ho serves as Marketing Specialist, Product at Demand.io, where she leads product marketing initiatives for SimplyCodes and collaborates on AI-driven shopping experiences. She specializes in developing data-driven content strategies and implementing AI-optimized marketing workflows.

Prior to joining Demand.io, Jessica built a diverse background in technology and digital marketing. She managed B2B content strategy at Crexi, a leading commercial real estate platform processing over $540B in annual deal flow. At the Entertainment Technology Center at USC, she covered emerging technologies in media production, writing for major studios and tech companies including Disney, Microsoft, and Verizon. Her experience includes developing marketing campaigns for innovative platforms like Evercast's Emmy-winning collaboration software and creating content strategies for luxury real estate brands through WICKED+ Creative.

Jessica graduated summa cum laude from the University of Southern California with a B.A. in Communication and a minor in Cinematic Arts. She was recognized as a Presidential Scholar and inducted into Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. She also completed an international business exchange program at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, with High Distinction.

AI Content Strategist

Sean Fisher serves as AI Content Strategist at Demand.io, where he leads the development of AI-driven content creation strategies and oversees the integration of large language models into the company's editorial workflows. In this role, he focuses on leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance content quality and drive engagement across Demand.io's digital properties.

Prior to joining Demand.io, Sean held key editorial positions at major digital platforms. At GoBankingRates, he pioneered the company's AI content initiatives, serving as the first editor of their AI team where his articles reached over five million readers. He developed innovative approaches to financial content creation, combining AI technology with traditional journalism to produce highly engaging content. Earlier in his career, Sean worked as a Medical Editor at WebMD, where he managed editorial teams and maintained rigorous content standards for one of the web's most trusted health information sources

Sean holds a Bachelor's degree in Film and Media Studies with a minor in English from UC Santa Barbara, where he was recognized with First Place in the Corwin Awards for screenwriting excellence. He also earned an Associate's degree in English from Orange Coast College, developing a strong foundation in writing and narrative structure.

Executive Operations & Coordinator

Eunice Kim serves as Executive & Operations Coordinator at Demand.io, where she drives strategic operational initiatives and leads the company's recruiting operations. In her role, she manages full-cycle recruiting processes, oversees HR programs, and coordinates executive functions while implementing advanced operational systems that support the company's AI-driven commerce platforms.

Prior to joining Demand.io, Eunice held key positions at several prominent technology companies, including Block (formerly Square) and Snap Inc. At Block, she served as Technical Program Manager, leading AP automation and e-invoicing projects across eight countries that achieved significant efficiency improvements. At Snap Inc., she managed data annotation projects and launched the company's Research Blog, while also optimizing legal and privacy processes during a period of rapid growth. Earlier in her career, she contributed to innovative projects at SciFutures, collaborating with Fortune 500 companies on pioneering voice technology initiatives.

Eunice holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Language & Literature from UCLA and began her academic journey at Santa Monica College. She maintains professional certifications in Agile Project Management and brings a data-driven approach to operational excellence.

Associate Product Designer

Andrew Kesler is a Product Designer at Demand.io, where he designs AI-powered commerce experiences and contributes to the development of ShopGraph, the company's comprehensive e-commerce knowledge system. His work focuses on creating intuitive interfaces that seamlessly blend artificial intelligence with human-centered design principles.

Previously, Andrew was a UX Design Intern at Samsung Research America, where he contributed to the development of enterprise-grade software solutions for Samsung Knox, implementing the platform's first design system and improving cross-functional collaboration among global teams. At Sleeper, he led research and redesigned the onboarding experience for their sports engagement platform, achieving a 23% reduction in drop-off rates while working closely with marketing and product teams to enhance user engagement for their community of over 3 million users.

Andrew is currently pursuing his Master of Design in Interaction Design at ArtCenter College of Design, consistently ranked among the world's top design schools. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Design from California State University, Long Beach, where he graduated with honors. His unique background spans enterprise security, consumer applications, and community-driven platforms, enabling him to create sophisticated yet accessible user experiences that drive meaningful engagement.