Mahyar Raissi

Mahyar Raissi is a Canadian-Iranian software engineer and the co-founder and CEO of OpenPhone, a company that modernizes communication technology for small businesses. He co-founded OpenPhone in 2018 while participating in the Y Combinator startup accelerator, alongside his spouse, Daryna Kulya. The platform aims to replace traditional landlines and outdated PBX systems with a more user-friendly subscription app that provides features like shared phone numbers, international calling, and analytics for business communication.12

Raissi holds a Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering from the University of Waterloo. Before founding OpenPhone, he worked at Joist, where he progressed from a Full Stack Developer to a Product Manager. His career also includes internships at notable companies like Zynga and OANDA, where he gained experience in software development and project management.12

Under Raissi's leadership, OpenPhone has successfully raised significant funding, including a $40 million Series B round to enhance its platform and expand its services. The company focuses on providing collaborative tools for teams, enabling better communication and efficiency for businesses with fewer than 500 employees.13