Helena Merk

Helena Merk is the CEO and Co-Founder of Glimpse, a startup that was part of Y Combinator's Winter 2020 batch. Glimpse focuses on enhancing human connections through its platform, which facilitates meaningful engagement in virtual settings, particularly through back-to-back one-on-one video chats. The company aims to combat loneliness and promote mental health by fostering authentic relationships.

Merk's entrepreneurial journey began when she dropped out of Duke University during her sophomore year to join Smartcar, an early-stage startup. After nine months, she co-founded Glimpse with a fellow dropout. Under her leadership, Glimpse gained recognition for its innovative approach to virtual interactions, particularly in the context of remote work.123

In February 2022, Glimpse was acquired by twine, a remote-first company that develops software to enhance community and connection among remote teams. This acquisition was seen as a strategic move to further their shared mission of building meaningful connections in a digital world.23

Merk has also been involved in other ventures, including Streamline Climate, where she currently serves as CEO, focusing on automated grant writing tools for hard tech companies.45