My Story

Listen to how I bridge faith, AI, and movements to engineer a flourishing future

Hey, I'm Gary. I am an AI-first software engineer based in Austin, Texas, bridging technology, education, and movement building.

My mission is Engineering the Golden Age by 10xing leaders using AI to accelerate human flourishing. I founded Hyperagent Labs to pursue this.

With experience at Google, in web3, and AI, I combine technical expertise with community building and deep faith.

I partner with well-funded leaders and causes aiming for massive impact.

Me after hosting a 3,000 person tech event in 2024

Me after hosting a 3,000 person tech event in 2024

TL;DR

My story begins way before I was born, with my great-grandfather serving as a pastor in southern China during the 1930s and 40s, before Christianity was banned. His dedication to faith and community laid the foundation for our family's values.

A big part of my story is also the story of my grandfather, driven by ambition and faith in possibilities, who left his village to become a rocket engineer in a major Chinese city. Then came the Communist revolution.

For the simple fact that his family owned land, he was torn from his five-year-old son — my father — and imprisoned in a labor camp for six years. Despite the futility, my grandfather became known for his iron will, protesting his unjust imprisonment every chance he got — a testament to unwavering faith in truth and justice.

The treatment my grandfather received

The treatment my grandfather received

Origins

My parents' determination to provide a better life for themselves and their future children led them to top universities in China and eventually to the United States as graduate students.

My brother was born shortly before the Tiananmen Square massacre, a pivotal moment that transformed our family's status from student visa holders to permanent residents, thanks to the Chinese Student Protection Act supported by Nancy Pelosi and President George H.W. Bush.

I was born in the United States soon after.

Two students dancing during the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989

Two students dancing during the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989

Parents' Journey

Growing up in suburban America, I had the privilege of attending the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy IMSA, founded by a Nobel laureate.

Beyond academics, I discovered my talent for organizing communities — from coordinating DOTA tournaments across dorm rooms to negotiating sanctioned dance parties with administrators.

As tennis team captain and event organizer, I learned early on how to bring people together around shared interests.

The IMSA campus

The IMSA campus

Early Education

At Duke University, early mentors introduced me to coding in my sophomore year, opening up a new world of possibilities.

The experience was transformative, tied only with the diversity of people I met and my role in the leading dance team. Organizing large dance shows further developed my skills in bringing people together and creating memorable experiences.

Duke University

Duke University

University Years

I began my career at Google, leading a small team on Google Cloud's frontend. This experience instilled in me the importance of structured thinking, comprehensive design documents, and cross-team coordination.

During this time, I also co-founded Dancing Pineapple, producing 24 concerts and parties across NYC and LA over two years. Through this platform, we helped launch electronic music artists who later performed at major festivals like Coachella and EDC Vegas, while creating transformative experiences that brought diverse communities together.

Amid the social upheaval of 2016-2019, I left Google to co-found Civics Unplugged, a nonprofit focused on civic education and innovation. Our work empowered thousands of young people across 70+ countries to engage meaningfully with democracy and public service.

We gained support from notable partners including Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Andrew Yang, Coinbase, and the Ethereum Foundation. This work earned me recognition in the Forbes 30 Under 30 2021 list and was featured in PBS's "Roadtrip Nation" documentary on Changemakers.

The NYC Google office

The NYC Google office

Professional Journey

My journey then led me into the web3 space, where I was captivated by the potential of permissionless systems.

I contributed to multiple projects through product design, community building, event production, and product marketing, working with various companies in consulting roles.

A highlight was contributing to the early days of Vitalik Buterin's Zuzalu, a pioneering pop-up city community first launched in Montenegro that demonstrated new models of innovation and community living.

Being immersed in the web3 space inspired me to explore all sorts of what I call foundational technologies — solutions that enable hyperlocal resilience, self-sustainability, dynamism, and ecological regeneration. I explore these ideas in my Substack newsletter "America 2.0", where I write about making the acceleration toward humanity's Golden Age an engaging game that everyone wants to play.

Me with my friend at Zuzalu in Montenegro

Me with my friend at Zuzalu in Montenegro

Web3 & Community Building

In August 2024, discovering Cursor marked a turning point in my relationship with software engineering. The AI revolution has transformed development, creating a golden age for high-agency individuals with big ideas.

After completing an intensive, elite AI bootcamp called Gauntlet AI among the top of my class, I've fully embraced this new paradigm. I spent 80-100 hours a week building with cutting-edge tools, solidifying my comfort with rapid iteration and constant learning.

I've been coding almost daily since August 2024, building dozens of AI-first and voice-first tools for myself and clients—including tools to assist the elderly in telling their life stories.

Throughout this journey, my faith has been a guiding force, helping me see the miraculous potential in technology to enhance human experience and connection.

Speaking at the Gauntlet AI graduation in March 2025

Speaking at the Gauntlet AI graduation in March 2025

Present Focus: AI-First Movement Engineering

I'm now based full-time in Austin, Texas, focused on becoming an exceptional AI-first, frontend-leaning full-stack engineer who helps people experience the wonder and miracle of life.

I'm actively building Hyperagent Labs, my movement engineering agency. We leverage AI to help leaders 10x or 100x their ability to create meaningful cultural and policy change, starting with education reform. This agency combines my passion for technology, education, and movement building.

If you represent a well-funded leader or cause looking to massively scale your impact, let's connect. Otherwise, please connect with me on X to follow my journey!

My unique combination of technical skills, educational ability, and community building experience — all grounded in deep faith — positions me perfectly for roles and partnerships requiring innovation from zero to one. 2025 is going to be a year of prolifically building tools and movements that help people feel more alive.

Building the future from Austin, Texas

Building the future from Austin, Texas

Let's Build the Future Together
  1. Lead with Faith & Wonder — Approach each day as a miracle waiting to unfold

  2. Build for Human Flourishing — Create tools and spaces that help people feel more alive

  3. Bridge Worlds & Communities — Connect different perspectives, cultures, and possibilities

  4. Choose Radical Optimism — See challenges as opportunities for transformation

  5. Stay Aggressively Curious — Embrace continuous learning and open-mindedness

  6. Pursue Impact Over Comfort — Focus on what matters, not what's easy

  7. Foster Joyful Resilience — Face challenges with both determination and lightness

  8. Create with Love & Craft — Combine technical excellence with deep care for people

My guiding principles

My guiding principles

My Guiding Principles
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