Hayden A Burgoyne

Education

California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

Ph.D in Space Engineering (2016) and M.S (2012)

• Advisors: Prof. Chiara Daraio (Caltech, ETH Zurich) and Prof. Ravi Ravichandran (GALCIT Caltech)
• Dissertation: “Dynamics of Granular Crystals with Elastic-Plastic Contacts” (link)
• Caltech Aerospace Department Awards: 2016 William F. Ballhaus Award for Most Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation, 2015 Ernest E. Sechler Award for Teaching and Research (link)
• NASA Space Technology Research Fellow 2013-2016

Harvard University

S.B. in Engineering Sciences — Mechanical and Materials Engineering (2011)

• Awards: Magna Cum Laude **with Highest Honors, John Harvard Scholar

Work and Research Experience

Us Folks

June 2025 to Present. Los Angeles, CA

Us Folks is a project I’ve been working on to ensure that representatives—whether they’re HOA managers or Senators—stay aligned with folks like us in the coming age of Artificial Super-Intelligence. I’m building “Perplexity for Polling” so that everyone can access instant insights about our stated motivations and goals. I think this will lead to better governance decisions, lower the barrier of entry to everyone engaging in politics, and foster more empathy.

CEO/Founder

• While on sabbatical from TransAstra, I’m doing the 5050 Program, a Founders bootcamp by 50 Years VC, and the Menlo Ventures Fellowship Program.
• I’m currently making demos and MVPs, doing simulations, doing customer discovery, writing white papers, and seeking for angel investors.