Aaron Wang
| Aaron Wang | |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, software executive |
|---|---|
| Known for | Co-founder and CEO of Alex (formerly Apriora) |
Aaron Wang is an American entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Alex (formerly known as Apriora), an artificial intelligence recruiting platform that conducts live video interviews with job candidates. The company participated in Y Combinator's Winter 2024 batch and is based in San Francisco.[1]
Career
Prior to founding Alex, Wang worked in hiring and AI development at Facebook AI Research (FAIR) and at several hedge funds.[2] He has a background in computer science.[3]
Wang co-founded the company—originally named Apriora—with John Rytel, whom he met during their college years. The company was accepted into Y Combinator's Winter 2024 batch. Its core product is an AI-powered recruiter that conducts live video-call interviews with job candidates. The system uses interview questions selected by the employer or recommended based on a job description, and it asks personalised follow-up questions in real time based on each candidate's responses. The platform is designed to serve as an autonomous recruiting agent, handling tasks such as outreach, phone screening, video interviews, and building shortlists of top candidates.[4]
The company initially focused on the staffing industry, where it reached seven-figure revenue through founder-led sales before expanding into corporate talent acquisition. Alex has conducted thousands of interviews across sectors including engineering, information technology, retail, and hospitality.
In 2025, the company rebranded from Apriora to Alex after acquiring the domain alex.com, a purchase Wang has said cost over $500,000. He justified the expense by citing measurable increases in inbound interest and word-of-mouth referrals, noting that the previous name created friction in pronunciation and memorability.
In September 2025, Alex raised a $17 million Series A round led by Peak XV Partners. The company announced in 2026 that it had raised a total of $20 million. Other investors include Pioneer Fund and 1984 Ventures.[5]
Wang has spoken publicly about his approach to decision-making, describing it as rooted in optimisation theory, and about his interview philosophy, which centres on understanding how candidates have made significant life decisions.
References
- ↑ "Alex – Y Combinator". 'Y Combinator}'. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
- ↑ "Aaron Wang – UNLEASH America 2026". 'UNLEASH}'. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
- ↑ "Optimizing for Success: Aaron Wang on Decision-Making, Co-Founder Trust, and Building Apriora's AI-Driven Recruiting Platform". 'Pioneer Fund}'. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
- ↑ "Alex". 'Alex}'. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
- ↑ "Aaron Wang – UNLEASH America 2026". 'UNLEASH}'. Retrieved 2026-03-18.