Neilda Pacquing

Founder

2024

Head of Product, Generative AI | Launched First End-to-End 3D Generative AI Solution

2022 - 2024

• Market Analysis & Customer Insight: Partnered with C-suite (CTO, CEO) to identify new market opportunities, performing deep analysis and conducting customer interviews that uncovered unmet needs. These insights guided product differentiation and expanded our market presence. • Product Innovation Leadership: Led the full development and successful launch of the industry’s first end-to-end 3D generative AI tool for creators and developers, positioning Masterpiece X as a pioneer in the space. • User Experience & Stakeholder Management: Directed a cross-functional team to design and deliver a seamless user experience, setting a new standard for text-to-3D generative AI technology, ensuring both usability and advanced functionality. • Operational Excellence & Team Culture: Founded internal Game Jams to foster innovation, improve QA processes, and expedite the product launch of ‘Masterpiece X - Generate,’ ensuring high-quality output and a performance-driven, engaged team with strong employee retention. Check out the product here: https://masterpiecex.com/

Research Fellow | Published Comprehensive Insights on Leading Tech Companies

2022 - 2023

• Tech Market Research & Trend Analysis: Conducted in-depth research on high-impact private tech companies, providing key market insights for investors and industry professionals. • Authored In-Depth Reports: Published detailed reports on major tech companies like Notion, Miro, Loom, Canva, and Webflow, analyzing their business models, technological advancements, and market positioning. • Industry Insight & Expertise: Provided in-depth analysis on companies such as Vercel and Mutiny, recognized for simplifying complex business structures and technologies for investors and tech enthusiasts alike. • Data-Driven Research Methodology: Utilized a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods to deliver comprehensive, insightful reports that highlighted key trends and opportunities within the rapidly evolving tech landscape. Check out my published work: ➤ Notion - https://research.contrary.com/reports/notion ➤ Miro - https://research.contrary.com/reports/miro ➤ Loom - https://research.contrary.com/reports/loom ➤ Canva - https://research.contrary.com/reports/canva ➤ Whatnot - https://research.contrary.com/reports/whatnot ➤ Vercel - https://research.contrary.com/reports/vercel ➤ Webflow - https://research.contrary.com/reports/webflow ➤ Mutiny - https://research.contrary.com/reports/mutiny

Venture Capital Fellow

2021 - 2022

Venture Fellow with Westwood Ventures and Blockchain Fund at Alumni Ventures Group. • Investment Research & Analysis: Conducted in-depth research on emerging technologies, particularly in blockchain, as part of the Westwood Ventures and Blockchain Fund at Alumni Ventures. • Deal Sourcing & Due Diligence: Assisted in sourcing and evaluating potential investment opportunities, providing critical insights into startups in the blockchain and emerging tech sectors. • Collaboration & Networking: Worked closely with experienced venture capitalists and industry experts, expanding my knowledge of the VC landscape and strengthening my network within the startup ecosystem. We are a Venture Capital firm and community of UCLA alumni investors, executives, entrepreneurs, and innovation enthusiasts. We raise capital from UCLA alumni and friends of the community, and seek to invest primarily in alumni-led startups. We are private, for-profit, and not part of (but friendly with) UCLA. Every year, we build a portfolio of 20-30 companies spanning industry, stage and geography. We co-invest alongside established venture capital lead investors. We are an experienced, diverse community of over 12,000 alumni with different backgrounds and reasons for joining. If you are a Bruin interested in entrepreneurship or venture capital, let's connect. Learn more here: https://techcrunch.com/2018/10/19/alumni-ventures-group-is-the-most-active-venture-fund-youve-never-heard-of/

Principal | Strategic Advisor & Team Leader for Fundraising and Portfolio Development

2021 - 2022

• Leadership & Strategy: Earned two promotions while advising the General Partner on fundraising, strategic growth, and branding, playing a key role in shaping the firm’s direction as part of the leadership team. • Team Management & Development: Managed and trained three teams of MBA interns, guiding them through rigorous due diligence processes and fostering their professional growth. • Portfolio Company Due Diligence: Led the due diligence process for five portfolio companies, ensuring thorough analysis and strategic alignment with the firm’s investment thesis.

Founder & CEO | Led MindGlow to Acquisition

2017 - 2022

*Acquired 2022* MindGlow uses the immersive experience of VR to train employees to know what to do in emergencies, starting with active shooter training. Our training mission is to save lives through empowerment and engagement. www.mindglowinc.com • Visionary Leadership & Growth: Founded MindGlow to leverage the immersive power of VR for emergency preparedness, starting with active shooter training to empower employees and save lives through training. • Acquisition & Impact: Successfully led MindGlow through its growth and eventual acquisition by Sisu VR in 2022, validating its mission and market impact. • Innovative VR Training Solutions: Pioneered immersive VR-based employee training programs, focusing on real-world emergency scenarios to enhance preparedness, retention, and engagement. The product was a finalist for Best Societal Impact at Augmented World Expo 2023 and 2024. • Mission-Driven Approach: Built a company culture centered on safety, empowerment, and life-saving education, ensuring that every product served a critical purpose in workplace safety. Explore more: https://www.sisuvr.com/mindglow/

Graduate Student Mentor | UX & Product Design Instruction & Mentorship

2021 - 2021

• Mentorship & Instruction: Provided in-depth mentorship to graduate students in UX/Product Design, utilizing my industry experience to enhance their learning and prepare them for real-world challenges. • Engaging Lectures & Presentations: Designed and delivered comprehensive lectures covering UX principles, design tools, and industry best practices, effectively simplifying complex concepts for students. • Academic Evaluation & Feedback: Evaluated student work with a focus on academic rigor, offering constructive feedback that fostered skill development and encouraged creative problem-solving. • Practical Workshops & Interactive Sessions: Led hands-on workshops, equipping students with practical experience in UX principles and design software, bridging theory with real-world application. • Portfolio Development: Guided students in building professional portfolios, helping them present industry-ready skills and showcasing their capabilities to future employers.

Nasdaq Milestone Maker | Selected Entrepreneur for Elite Startup Program

2019 - 2019

• Exclusive Selection & Leadership Recognition: Chosen as 1 of 17 entrepreneurs for the Nasdaq Milestone Maker program, recognized for leadership and innovation in the startup ecosystem. • Startup Representation & Impact: Represented my startup, MindGlow, showcasing its pioneering role in virtual reality training and education within an elite network of entrepreneurs and business leaders. • Business Development & Mentorship: Participated in advanced business development workshops, mentorship, and high-level networking sessions to gain insights on scaling, strategic growth, and achieving critical milestones. • Strategic Refinement & Growth: Refined MindGlow’s business model and strategic direction, directly contributing to its growth trajectory, enhanced market presence, and long-term success.

Oculus Launch Pad Fellow | Emerging Leader in VR Development

2018 - 2018

• Exclusive Selection & Leadership Recognition: Chosen as 1 of 100 professionals for the prestigious Oculus Launch Pad program, acknowledging my potential as a leader in virtual reality development. • Hands-On Training & Mentorship: Attended Oculus’ Boot Camp, where I received hands-on training and mentorship from top VR industry experts, enhancing my skills in cutting-edge VR technologies. • Innovation in Socially Impactful VR: Collaborated with fellow participants to develop an innovative VR self-defense training program to empower women, demonstrating my commitment to creating socially relevant and impactful content. • Advanced Access to Oculus Resources: Leveraged hardware support and specialized resources from Oculus to push the boundaries of VR development and design user-centric, high-impact applications. Check out the program: https://developer.oculus.com/launch-pad/

XR Studio Fellow | Advancing Mixed Reality & Machine Learning Innovation

2018 - 2018

• Exclusive Selection & Industry Collaboration: Selected to participate in Mozilla’s cutting-edge XR Studio program, fostering innovation in machine learning and mixed reality. • Collaborative Development Environment: Worked alongside 32 professionals from both indie and industry sectors, contributing to discussions and projects that pushed the boundaries of XR and AI. • Innovation in Mixed Reality: Developed hands-on projects exploring the integration of machine learning techniques in mixed reality applications, leveraging state-of-the-art resources and mentorship from industry leaders. • Community Engagement & Networking: Engaged with a diverse network of experts, exchanging knowledge and contributing to the growth of the XR and AI community. Learn more about the program: http://xrstudio.co/