MakerSquare is run by people who have built things in the real world. Not academics. Not theoretical AI researchers.
Marliis has spent years in the operational trenches. Running teams, building systems, and watching firsthand as AI tools went from novelty to necessity in real businesses.
She built MakerSquare because she kept meeting smart, experienced operators who desperately wanted to use AI but had nowhere to actually learn it in depth. Her background spans operations, business development, and startup ecosystems.
Deeply embedded in Austin's tech and founder community. At MakerSquare, she sets the program vision, owns the curriculum direction, and runs the relationships that make Demo Day matter for graduates.
Runs day-to-day program operations for MakerSquare. Owns student onboarding, cohort logistics, and the rhythm of the in-person experience in Austin so instructors and builders can focus on the work.
Community building, content creation, student communications. Runs MakerSquare's social presence and helps coordinate the Austin alumni network.
Runs all in-person sessions and leads Demo Day. Looking for a credible AI builder embedded in Austin's tech scene. Someone who has shipped real AI products and teaches from experience.
Application review and admissions interviews. Maintains cohort quality and student fit as volume grows.
They help shape curriculum, open doors for graduates, and show up at Demo Day.
Additional advisors from Austin's operator, investor, and AI community are being assembled and will be announced before Cohort 1. Interested in advising? Reach out.
Every cohort features operators, builders, and domain experts who share what they've actually done. Not theoretical talks. Real stories.
One session, 60 minutes. Share what worked, what didn't, and what you know now that you wish you knew at the start. No slides required.
Available for occasional 1:1 conversations throughout the program. About 1 hour/week, flexible scheduling. Domain expertise or technical depth.
Join Demo Day as a judge, investor, or hiring partner. See 10-15 real AI products built by non-technical domain experts. Ask hard questions.
Apply to join us as a mentor, guest speaker, Demo Day judge, investor, or hiring partner — tell us how you'd like to contribute.
