August Chen
| August Chen | |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, software executive |
|---|---|
| Known for | Co-founder and CEO of Hazel |
| Alma mater | Harvard University |
August Sun Chen is an American entrepreneur and the co-founder and chief executive officer of Hazel, a technology company that develops artificial intelligence-powered procurement software for U.S. government agencies. Hazel was part of the Y Combinator Winter 2024 batch.[1]
Early life and education
Chen is a graduate of Harvard University.[1] Before founding Hazel, he worked at Palantir Technologies.[1]
Career
Chen co-founded Hazel, a New York City-based company that builds AI-enabled procurement tools for state, local, and federal government agencies in the United States. The company's software automates multiple stages of the public procurement process, including requirements generation, market research, solicitation drafting, and proposal evaluation. Hazel's platform allows agencies to generate complete request-for-proposal (RFP), request-for-quotation (RFQ), and request-for-bid (RFB) documents using an agency's own templates, policies, and past awards.[2]
Hazel participated in Y Combinator's Winter 2024 cohort and operates in the government technology (GovTech), procurement, and AI sectors.[1]
According to the company's website, Hazel's clients include agencies at multiple levels of government. Notable users listed on the site include the City of Dallas, the City of Atlanta, PhilaPort (the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority), and the United States Air Force. The company states it has supported over $2.5 billion in procurement and serves more than ten clients across state, local, and federal government.[2]
Prior to founding Hazel, Chen's professional background included roles in sales, business development, and account management. He has also volunteered as a sophomore mentor with Minds Matter NYC, a nonprofit organization focused on helping students achieve academic success.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Hazel – Y Combinator". 'Y Combinator}'. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Hazel AI – AI for Government Procurement". 'Hazel AI}'. Retrieved 2026-03-18.