Hi, I'm Brenda 👋
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Business & Entrepreneurship student ·
I'm a Business Management & Entrepreneurship student at Santa Clara University, currently a Venture Capital Intern and an MLT Career Prep Fellow. I like understanding things from the ground up — most recently I built a private equity investment thesis on the AI infrastructure buildout, with a full financial model sourced directly from SEC filings rather than pre-packaged data.
A bit about me
Visiting Y Combinator
I got to spend time at Y Combinator's office in San Francisco after competing in the YC Agentic Payments Hackathon, where my team built an AI-driven payment tool at the intersection of AI and fintech.
Being in that room, surrounded by people building at the frontier, was a clear reminder of the kind of environment I want to be around and the founders I want to help back.
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Bain & Company CREW Program
Bain & Company's CREW Program is highly selective, and being chosen for it let me spend a day inside one of the world's top consulting firms, learning directly from Bain consultants and leaders. It pushed me to think more strategically, collaborate under pressure, and see what effective leadership looks like in practice.
Some of the most inspiring people I've met were part of my cohort, and many of those connections have turned into ongoing mentorship and friendships.
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Academic Global Immersion – Abu Dhabi University
I represented Menlo College as part of an Academic Global Immersion program at Abu Dhabi University, where I presented my story as a first-generation student. Engaging with ADU leadership, learning about the Middle Eastern business landscape, and connecting with students across cultures made the experience deeply perspective-shifting.
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Startup World Cup
Conferences, networking events, and hallway conversations. My favorite part is meeting people who are solving real problems and building meaningful solutions.
I take notes, share insights with my network, and look for ways to turn ideas into action together.
View PostI'm passionate about making finance, technology, and education more accessible to people who don't have traditional pathways. Most of my projects start with a simple question: "How would this help my friends and community?"
What I'm focused on
🌱Venture capital & early-stage investing
Sourcing, diligence, and evaluating founders and markets.
📊Private equity & public markets
Building investment theses and financial models from primary sources like SEC filings.
🤖AI & fintech
Explored autonomous agent-driven payments at Y Combinator's Agentic Payments Hackathon.
🛠️Company building
Zero-to-one product, go-to-market, and customer discovery.
I'm recruiting for full-time roles in venture capital, private equity, and investing. Always glad to talk with people building startups or working in those fields.
Beyond the classroom
When I'm not building projects or studying, I love traveling and exploring new places with my American Staffordshire Terrier, Princess. Exploring keeps me grounded and curious.
Let's connect
Interested in collaborating, learning more about my work, or discussing opportunities? I'd love to hear from you.