From Photons to Founding

K believes curiosity is a superpower. It’s led him from the science of light to entrepreneurship, teaching, and writing, and it’s what now drives him to mentor others at Groundswell.

Photonics, the science of creating, controlling, and detecting light, wasn’t love at first sight. “My first classes in semiconductors and light waves were a disaster. There was no way I was ever going into this field,” he laughed. But later, a professor explained it in a way that finally clicked, and suddenly photons went from confusing to fascinating. That spark pulled him into a field that now powers everything from solar cells to fiber optics to quantum computing.

Entrepreneurship followed a similar path. K didn’t land the internships he applied for in college, so he started his own thing instead. That meant middle-of-the-night supplier calls, figuring things out as he went, and a crash course in resilience. Looking back, he sums it up simply: “Pursue what you actually want. Don’t get stuck in side projects that steal your focus.”

K also loves to teach. During the pandemic, he hosted weekly conversations on Clubhouse to introduce everyday people to the field of photonics. “I love the moment when the light bulb goes off for someone. Those basic questions often turn out to be the most profound.” That same drive to share knowledge led him to write a book on psychology through the lens of artificial intelligence, transforming what started as a research paper into a tool that enables people to understand and map their emotions.

He first walked into Groundswell almost by accident while looking for a place to mentor students. One quick tour and he knew it was different. “It felt like a slice of Bay Area startup culture dropped into Florida. The mindset here is supportive, collaborative, and refreshing.”

For K, curiosity fuels everything. Teaching, building, experimenting, and mentoring are all connected. At Groundswell, he’s found the kind of community that makes all of it possible.