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.
Ravi and Marliis co-founded the original MakerSquare — one of the most respected coding bootcamps in the country. The program trained thousands of developers before being acquired by Hack Reactor. That track record, and that Austin network, is what the MakerSquare AI program is built on.
After MakerSquare, Ravi co-founded Heap, a YC-backed product analytics platform that scaled to hundreds of enterprise customers before being acquired by Contentsquare. He then built RoverPass, a booking and management platform for RV parks and campgrounds that he operates as CEO today — embedding AI into every team he leads.
He rejoined forces with Marliis to bring MakerSquare back — this time not to train developers, but to turn experienced operators and domain experts into AI builders. The timing is finally right.
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.
Content, social, newsletter, and student communications. Runs MakerSquare's marketing presence and helps build the Austin builder community.
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.
Owns the enrollment funnel and student experience from first touchpoint through Day 1. Scales cohort quality 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.
