Early Artistic Foundations
Hi, this is Chiao Lin (Yu-Chiao Lin). I’m from Taiwan and a recent graduate of the University of Michigan with a Master of Science in Information, specializing in User-Centered Agile Development. I also hold a Bachelor of Architecture from Tamkang University. My artistic journey began early — I loved drawing intricate lines that my art teacher once compared to Piet Mondrian’s style. That teacher later encouraged me to pursue architecture, where I discovered my strengths in spatial reasoning, design thinking, and conceptual storytelling. Despite being dyslexic, I found my creative language in drawing and reading space.
Learning by Doing: The Cal Poly Experience
During my exchange program at Cal Poly Pomona, I joined the CR1 Mars Habitat Design Studio, where I was deeply involved from conceptual design and prototyping to large-scale model building. I eventually became the project coordinator, leading the final phase of the build. The project taught me the value of teamwork, iteration, and problem-solving under pressure. Tasked with developing the circuit and control systems — an area I had no prior knowledge in — I taught myself through online resources and successfully created a working mechanism. That experience shaped my confidence in self-driven learning and cross-disciplinary design.
Blending Architecture and Algorithms
After returning to Taiwan, I became fascinated with parametric and computational design. I spent a semester diving into programming and explored digital generative methods using Grasshopper. For my final thesis, Algorithm of Regeneration: The Third Generation City, I investigated how digital algorithms could transform the architectural design process from manual drafting to conceptual, system-based creation. The project was selected for the Tamkang University Architecture Class of 2020 Thesis Design Award Final List, marking a milestone in my early design career.
Stepping Beyond Architecture
Even as I thrived in an architecture firm in Taipei, I felt drawn toward technology. I began taking freelance projects in web design, SEO, and digital marketing — working remotely with companies across California, Houston, and Okinawa in industries ranging from e-commerce to real estate and SaaS. Those three years taught me the power of self-initiative and the possibilities of learning online. Every project helped me grow both technically and professionally, while also funding my dream to pursue graduate study abroad.
Discovering XR at the University of Michigan
In 2023, I was admitted to the University of Michigan with a half scholarship, aiming to become a product designer. Yet, my path took a surprising turn at the 2024 MIT Reality Hack, where my team and I built a mixed reality project that won the Enhanced Learning Track Honorable Mention and became overall finalists among 100+ teams. That experience completely changed my perception of XR — I saw its potential as an intuitive and immersive medium for learning and creation. (For the continuation of this story, see: “Journey to OXR: How I Became a Founder Building XR for All.”)
Learning Entrepreneurship at the University of Michigan
Finding a passion for XR was one thing; learning how to build a company around it was another. In 2024, I was selected as one of only 15 students to join the Zell Entrepreneurs Program, a highly competitive fellowship designed for founders building real, scalable ventures. I remember walking into our first session surrounded by MBA and BBA students from the Ross School of Business — many were ex-founders, seasoned professionals, or already running successful startups. As an international student with an information science background and no formal business training, I initially felt out of place and unsure why I had been chosen. But over time, I realized that my design mindset, persistence, and ability to build things from scratch were exactly what made me stand out.
Through the program, I learned that entrepreneurship is as much about resilience and clarity as it is about innovation. I spent countless hours refining my pitch, learning to tell a compelling story, and understanding what it means to translate vision into a viable business model. My project at the time, CodeBloc, a mixed-reality coding app designed to make programming more intuitive and visual, was accepted into the Ann Arbor SPARK Incubator, marking a major validation of my work. That milestone not only gave me credibility as a builder but also taught me how to communicate the value of XR to educators, investors, and non-technical audiences alike.
Beyond the technical challenges, I learned the human side of entrepreneurship — building trust, nurturing relationships, and leading with empathy. I realized that a startup is not just a product; it is a shared belief system among people who dare to build something new. During this time, I also learned to navigate complex startup logistics — from forming a Delaware C-Corp to structuring equity and preparing for early-stage funding. Every conversation with mentors, investors, and peers helped me grow from a maker into a founder.
By the time I graduated, I had accomplished more than I ever expected. I became a two-time winner of the University of Michigan’s Learning Lever Prize, received the UMSI Edmon Low Award, and was honored as the Weiser Family Graduate Entrepreneur of the Year. Those recognitions meant more than trophies; they were reminders of how far I had come — from a dyslexic kid in Taiwan who drew abstract lines to someone now shaping how others learn and create in extended reality. Today, I continue to bootstrap my company, Mixel Studio, Inc., and lead the development of OXR, a platform built to make XR creation as simple and accessible as using Google Slides.
