Meet Thomas Lee Young – the 24-year-old CEO who’s turning industrial safety upside down with AI. His journey from Trinidad’s oil rigs to Silicon Valley’s tech scene reveals why sometimes the most innovative industrial tech solutions come from the most unexpected places.
Why Industrial Tech Needs Fresh Perspectives
Young doesn’t fit the typical Silicon Valley mold. With a Caribbean accent and Chinese last name, the Interface CEO brings a unique background to industrial tech that’s proving invaluable. Growing up in Trinidad and Tobago surrounded by oil and gas infrastructure, he developed an intimate understanding of heavy industry that most tech founders lack.
The AI Safety Revolution in Heavy Industry
Interface’s core mission uses artificial intelligence to prevent industrial accidents through autonomous auditing of operating procedures. The AI safety system cross-checks documents against regulations, technical drawings, and corporate policies, catching errors that could prove fatal.
- •Found 10,800 errors in one company’s procedures in 2.5 months
- •Replaces manual work that would cost $35+ million
- •Identified decade-old errors in critical safety documents
Silicon Valley Meets Oil Rigs
Young’s path to Silicon Valley was anything but straightforward. After COVID destroyed his Caltech dreams and college fund, he pivoted to mechanical engineering at University of Bristol. There, he discovered human factors engineering at Jaguar Land Rover – the UX and safety design of industrial systems.
Startup Founder Against All Odds
When Young identified the massive gap in industrial safety technology, he took a massive risk. He secretly attended Entrepreneur First’s selective program (1% acceptance rate) while telling his employer he was at a wedding. The gamble paid off when he met co-founder Aaryan Mehta, and Interface was born.
Accident Prevention Through Technology
The numbers speak for themselves in accident prevention. For one of Canada’s largest energy companies, Interface discovered critical errors including pressure range mistakes that had circulated for 10 years. “They’re just lucky that nothing happened,” notes Medha Agarwal of Defy.vc, which led Interface’s $3.5 million seed round.
| Metric | Impact |
|---|---|
| Errors Found | 10,800 in 2.5 months |
| Cost Savings | $35+ million vs manual work |
| Time Savings | 2-3 years vs weeks |
| Contract Value | $2.5+ million annually |
The Outsider’s Advantage in Industrial Tech
Young’s age and background became unexpected strengths. While initially facing skepticism from executives twice his age, his deep understanding of operations and concrete results quickly won converts. Field workers who typically “hate software providers” have even asked to invest in the company.
Building the Future of Industrial Safety
Interface now faces the enviable challenge of hiring fast enough to meet demand. The company’s unique position at the intersection of AI and heavy industry has become a recruiting advantage for engineers tired of building “low-impact B2B sales or recruiting tools.”
FAQs
What is Interface’s main technology?
Interface uses AI to autonomously audit industrial operating procedures, cross-checking them against regulations and technical documents to prevent accidents.
Who are the founders?
Thomas Lee Young (CEO) and Aaryan Mehta (CTO) founded Interface after meeting through Entrepreneur First.
Which investors back Interface?
Defy.vc led the $3.5 million seed round with participation from Precursor, Rockyard Ventures, and angel investors including Charlie Songhurst.
Where is Interface deployed?
Currently across three sites with one of Canada’s largest energy companies, with expansion planned in Houston, Guyana, and Brazil.
What’s the market opportunity?
With 27,000 oil and gas services companies in the U.S. alone, Interface is targeting multiple industrial verticals beyond energy.
Young’s journey proves that sometimes the most powerful industrial tech innovations come from those who understand the problems intimately from the ground up. His unlikely path from Trinidad’s oil fields to Silicon Valley’s tech scene demonstrates that diverse perspectives can create unexpected competitive advantages in solving age-old industrial challenges.