Sign In

Kacy Qua

Startup Operator, Advisor, Investor

Kacy Qua is a startup operator, advisor, and investor based in Santa Monica, California.1 She currently works as an operator at Water From Air, a seed-stage atmospheric water generation startup incubated by Idealab.12

Professional Background

Kacy has extensive experience in solving complex problems and working with visionary entrepreneurs. Her career highlights include:

  • Designing X PRIZEs with Peter Diamandis
  • Experimenting in decentralized organization with Tony Hsieh
  • Tackling the water crisis with Bill Gross at Water From Air
  • Advising, operating, investing in, and mentoring numerous impact organizations focused on challenges such as climate change, water scarcity, poverty, data ownership, and democracy1

Education and Skills

Kacy's educational background includes:

  • BS from Cornell University
  • MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles - The Anderson School of Management
  • Certificate in Arbitration Advocacy from Labor Arbitration Services Inc.
  • Executive Program Certificate from Singularity University1

Recent Work

At Water From Air, Kacy is involved in various aspects of the startup's operations, including:

  • Business development
  • Strategy
  • Hiring
  • Learning and development
  • Budgeting
  • Defining vision, mission, and values1

Additional Roles and Interests

Beyond her work at Water From Air, Kacy:

  • Advises a founding CTSI on innovative translation of academic research to improve public health
  • Consults for a Public Benefit Corporation connecting causes with activists, music artists, festivals, and donors
  • Provides guidance to web3 founders working on decentralized physical infrastructure
  • Writes about entrepreneurship, innovation, first principles, basic income, and the future of work for publications like Thrive Global and Medium
  • Facilitates and speaks at various events and conferences, including X PRIZE Visioneering, U.S. House of Representatives Congressional Committee on Education and the Workforce, and Summit Series13

Kacy Qua is known for her passion for solving "big, messy, existential challenges" and her diverse experience across globally renowned companies, top-tier universities, innovative foundations, and fast-growing startups.1

Highlights

Aug 8 · bloomberg.com
Startups Are Racing to Make Water Out of Thin Air - Bloomberg News
Startups Are Racing to Make Water Out of Thin Air - Bloomberg News
Mar 11 · youtube.com
This startup is making fresh water from air (1/2) - YouTube
This startup is making fresh water from air (1/2) - YouTube
You Should Be Working On Hardware - Casey Handmer's blog
Aug 10 · bizjournals.com
Inno on Fire: These D.C.-area companies are powering the region's ...
Jun 6 · Thrive Global
Ikigai For Startups - Thrive Global

Related Questions

What inspired Kacy Qua to join Water From Air?
How has Kacy Qua's work impacted the water crisis?
What are some of the biggest challenges Kacy Qua has faced in her career?
How did Kacy Qua's experience with Tony Hsieh and Peter Diamandis influence her approach to problem-solving?
What other startups has Kacy Qua advised or invested in?
Kacy Qua
Kacy Qua, photo 1
Kacy Qua, photo 2
Add to my network

Experience

Operating a seed stage Atmospheric Water Generation startup; advising various impact orgs and web 3 founders.

Education

Labor Arbitration Services Inc. (Arbitration Advocacy Certificate), Singularity University (Executive Program Certificate), Københavns Universitet - University of Copenhagen (Certificate), UCLA Anderson School of Management (MBA), Cornell University (BS)

Location

Santa Monica, California, United States