Santa Monica, CA – March 24, 2026 – 1752vc recently hired Grace Cupat as Senior AI Engineer, further strengthening the firm’s technical leadership as it expands its AI-driven venture platform.
Grace brings more than 15 years of experience across full-stack engineering, artificial intelligence systems, and product development. Her technical expertise spans React, Next.js, Python, and emerging AI and retrieval-augmented generation architectures. As both an engineer and a founder, she previously built VIASKILL, an AI-powered career operating system, giving her a practical understanding of the challenges founders face and the importance of building tools that deliver real leverage.
Notably, Grace is also a graduate of 1752vc’s Ignite startup program. Her transition from program participant to core team member reflects the strength of the firm’s ecosystem and highlights an emerging advantage: its programs are not only a source of deal flow, but also a pipeline for high-caliber talent already aligned with how the platform operates.
In her new role, Grace will lead key initiatives across platform development and AI infrastructure, supporting 1752vc’s efforts to enhance how it sources, evaluates, and supports early-stage companies.
“Grace brings a rare combination of deep technical expertise and founder perspective, and will play a pivotal role in helping make 1752vc an AI-first venture platform. As we continue to scale, her impact will shape both our infrastructure and how we support founders,” said Ben Kahan, Principal at 1752vc.
As 1752vc expands, the firm is focused on evolving beyond a leading accelerator in Southern California into a globally competitive venture platform. The addition of Grace Cupat marks a meaningful step in that direction, with further developments in its AI systems and infrastructure expected in the coming months.
About 1752vc
1752vc (formerly Pegasus Angel Accelerator) is the #1 investment and growth acceleration firm in Southern California dedicated to identifying and scaling high-potential startups. Combining strategic capital with deep industry expertise, 1752vc helps transform innovative businesses into market leaders. Headquartered in Santa Monica, the firm’s team of seasoned entrepreneurs, operators, and investors brings decades of experience building and scaling successful companies.
Learn more at 1752.vc and 1752.ai
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