👋🏾 Nice to Meet You
Thank you for finding your way to my website! I’m Erika Alexandra Hairston, also known to some as “bballerika” (bball + Erika) —a nod to my love for basketball 🏀.
- I’m the proud youngest of five.
- I geek out on code 👩🏾💻, personal finance, fiction books, and any Tems track. 🎵
- To many, my most fun fact is that I met Beyonce this year and she posted me on her Instagram and website.
- I also LOVE to write and have a blog called Ever Erika. ✍🏾
Last updated @December 16, 2024
Bio
Professionally, I studied Computer Science (CS) and African American Studies at Yale, developed an app that was featured as Apple’s App of the Day, interned as a Software Engineer at Facebook, and became a Product Manager at LinkedIn. I then co-founded Edlyft, a startup that completed Y Combinator, raised ~$2M in venture funding, and grew to help thousands of students excel in CS and launch careers in tech. Edlyft surpassed seven figures in revenue from bluechip enterprises including Netflix, Google, and Dropbox and was featured in Forbes, Business Insider, Teen Vogue, and more.
After acquisition earlier this year and months of reflection, I’ve decided that I’m now excited to go deep on Product at the vanguard of AI working with brilliant people. If you know something that fits the bill - email me. 😉
Work
Investing
I actively make angel investments in WOC tech founders and advise a few select startups.
Select direct investments:
