Yuri Gui

About Me

I'm an AI engineer and Co-Founder & CTO at Preferred Insights. I build AI applications, infrastructure, harnesses, and runtimes.

I started writing C++ in 2015 — building computer vision at DJI and programming robots for my FRC team. At NYU, I taught C++ and Python while competing in ACM ICPC.

That work draws on seven years across venture capital and growth equity at Balyasny, The Chernin Group, and BDC Capital.

I operate the systems I build, focusing on safe data access, durable context, and credential security.

Outside work, I'm a professional skydiving instructor with 1,700+ jumps and a Canadian HAHO record.

Decade+ of Building Cool Things

2015

Team captain and chief programmer. Designed, built, and programmed autonomous and teleoperated robots.

Java
2015

Engineered, prototyped, and demonstrated the object detection and avoidance algorithm. The algorithm is still shipping in Mavic drones today.

C++
2015 – 2018

Taught C++ and Python in tutorial sessions. Competed in ACM ICPC using C++. This was before LeetCode became a thing.

C++Python
2017 – 2020

Operated 30 RX 580 GPUs (10 kW of power capacity). Wrote software that automated miner management and real-time monitoring. Also a fair share of BIOS/vBIOS tinkering to optimize hashrates.

BashPython
2023

Co-founded a SaaS platform that automates VC deal modeling, from data ingestion to financial analysis.

PythonTypeScript
2025

Built an open-source MCP server connecting AI agents to Postgres, MySQL, ClickHouse, and more.

PythonTypeScript
2026

Developed an open-source agentic plugin for VC workflows — deal screening, investment memos, cap table modeling, and financial projections.

Skills.mdPython

Experience

Preferred Insights
2023 - Present

Co-Founder & CTO

Building AI applications and the infrastructure, harnesses, and runtimes behind them.

  • Operate persistent agents with custom skills, automations, MCP integrations, and web/API access.
  • Build secure data access, durable context, and credential controls across Python, TypeScript, and Go.
BDC Capital – Growth Venture Fund
2023 - 2026

Investment Associate

Built forecasts, portfolio analytics, and financing models across four portfolio companies and $300M+ of late-stage financings.

  • Cohere — supported diligence and execution for its $500M Series D at a $6.8B valuation.
  • StackAdapt — supported financial and business diligence for its $235M Series C at a $2.4B valuation.
  • KOHO — modeled deal structure for its CAD $86M Series D extension at a CAD $800M valuation.
The Chernin Group
2019 - 2020

Investment Associate

Built financial, cohort, and market models across $250M+ of consumer technology investments.

  • Lovevery — sourced and supported TCG's lead $100M Series C at an $800M valuation.
  • Unannounced consumer services company — analyzed utilization and cohorts across 20+ locations for a lead $40M Series B.
Balyasny Asset Management
2018 - 2019

Investment Analyst

Led quantitative diligence on private technology investments totaling $100M+ and maintained a 160+ company pipeline.

  • Peloton — modeled retention, pricing, unit economics, and LTV/CAC for its $325M Series E and $550M Series F.
  • Coinbase — evaluated the market, products, growth, and competitive position for its $100M Series D.
  • Zola — modeled unit economics and conversion for its $100M Series D; advised on tuck-in acquisitions.

Education

New York University

Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Mathematics

2015 - 2018

Awards

  • University Honors Scholar & NYU Founders' Day Award
  • Dean's List

Teaching

  • Tutored Object-Oriented Programming / C++ (CS-UY 1124)
  • Tutored Introduction to Programming / Python (CS-UY 1114)
  • Tutored Calculus I and II (MA-UY 1024)

University of Toronto - Rotman School of Management

MBA in Business Administration

2021 - 2023

Awards

  • Dean's List & Bregman Scholar (Top 10% of Graduating Class)
  • Andrew Alexander Kinghorn Fellowship (Top 10% of First-Year MBA Class)
  • TorQuest Scholars Award

Teaching

  • TA for RSM333 Corporate Finance
  • TA for RSM1231 Finance I: Capital Markets & Valuation
  • Rotman Scholar for RSM1222 Managerial Accounting

Skills

Languages

PythonTypeScriptJavaScriptGoC++SQL

Frameworks

ReactNext.jsNode.jsFastAPIpytestPlaywright

AI & Agents

MCPHermes AgentA2AACPRAGAgentic Tool Use

Infrastructure & Security

LinuxDockerPostgreSQLMySQLClickHouseSecrets ManagementEgress Control