Thomas Young, a 24-year-old entrepreneur from Trinidad and Tobago, is one such innovator, shaking up the local tech sector. As the cofounder and CEO of Interface, a San Francisco-based startup, he uses artificial intelligence (AI) to make industrial work environments safer. Young’s inspiring journey is significantly influenced by a long family lineage of professional engineers. Though atypical for his field, with his ambitious vision for the future of industrial safety, he is a leader in his industry and an inspiration to budding tech innovators hailing from all backgrounds.
Interface’s mission is to stop industrial accidents before they happen by using AI to identify and refine standard operating procedures. The company recently showcased its potential when it identified 10,800 errors and opportunities for enhancement within a Canadian energy company’s operations in just two and a half months. That remarkable accomplishment has netted them a highly profitable contract of over $2.5 million each year. It also serves as a good example of Interface’s technology effectiveness in an industry often plagued by unsafe conditions.
Young’s world, though, is just as colorful and dynamic as the technology he’s creating. He has a strong Caribbean accent, and a Chinese last name that marks him immediately as the heir to that side of his family’s history. His paternal great-grandfather immigrated from China to then-British Trinidad and Tobago, starting a Young family engineering dynasty that endures to this day within Young’s own family. Just a few dozen miles away in Houston, he had grown up around oil rigs and energy infrastructure. As a child, he grew mesmerized by the business.
At only 11 years old, Young had aspirations of going to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). He imagined a future that would give him more agency to contribute to breakthrough technologies. His educational path ultimately took him to the University of Bristol in England, where he studied mechanical engineering. This education gave him the technical expertise to run Interface and innovate in the industrial tech field.
Young’s linguistic talents, combined with his engineering expertise, set him apart in an ever more international field. Fluent in five languages, he leverages his communication skills to build productive relationships with clients and industry leaders across the globe.
Young’s path has not come without adversity. His $350,000 college fund was wiped out by market crashes from the Great Recession and continued to create financial challenges throughout his education. Navigating visa issues during the pandemic complicated his journey even further. Like so many immigrant entrepreneurs, he had to reduce fiercely competitive accolades to make himself felt in that high-stakes pressure cooker known as Silicon Valley.
In his pitch meetings with oil and gas executives, Young often references his roots and experiences growing up in Trinidad. He knows those testimonials will connect with prospective customers, connecting the dots from his personal journey to his career goals.
“I think back to what life was like in Trinidad. I mention these ideas to people back home, and they just don’t believe me.” – Thomas Young
Young’s deep-rooted relationship with his homeland nurtures his appetite to excel. He knows that few outside of Silicon Valley appreciate the dynamic, innovative landscape that makes up the valley’s ecosystem. His past has brought him present and turned him into the preeminent young entrepreneur who welcomes the magic and peril of the wild west tech world.
At the same time he’s charting a course through this challenging landscape, Young reveals the loneliness often felt by those on an entrepreneurial journey. He looks back on personal sacrifices incurred in the pursuit of success, saying,
“Over the last week, I’ve seen [Aaryan] at home for maybe a combined total of 30 minutes.” – Thomas Young
Aaryan Mehta, one of Young’s frequent collaborators at Interface, reflects on how their similar international upbringings often come into play. He further emphasizes their deep technical knowhow.
“He’s super international. He speaks five languages, very technical, amazing guy, and we got along very well.” – Thomas Young (about Aaryan Mehta)
Their friendship is what’s needed as they stretch their friendship, relationship, company, startup to the limits. Combining passions, they manage the startup stresses every new business faces.
As Young navigates the complexities of running a startup in Silicon Valley, he is keenly aware of the competitive environment. This is why he feels a certain amount of entrepreneurs, who are grossing huge funds and finding success, very fast.
“You see people online talking about, ‘Oh, you go to a park and the person sitting next to you has raised $50 million building some insane AI agent.’ But it is actually like that.” – Thomas Young
Despite these challenges, Young remains undeterred. The once people wrap their heads around the value proposition of Interface’s products, they are fierce supporters of the technology, according to him.
“Once you can flip them, they will absolutely love you and advocate and fight for you.” – Thomas Young
Young’s path from Trinidad to Silicon Valley is a true story of grit and determination. As he continues to steward Interface through its hyper growth phase, he represents the collaborative, tech-driven entrepreneurial spirit at the center of many emerging startups today. We hope that the legacy of Thomas Young will continue to inspire future generations of entrepreneurs from all backgrounds. His family legacy continues to drive him today, and he is committed to making industrial worksites safer using AI.