Daan van der Zwaag has been designing and building software since he was 14. He founded Gaia Computer Technologies, Inc., a VC-backed startup building AI design tools for architects, and is currently a PhD researcher at the Technion — Israel Institute of Technology, developing artificial behavioral simulation interfaces for generative architecture within the EU-funded SONATA project. He consults across Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East through Metyis and Hermetica, delivering AI agent systems, digital products, and growth strategies for clients including Hugo Boss, ADQ, Limbic AI, Orbio, Addionics, and Hastens, helping raise over $50M across pre-seed to Series D ventures worldwide. His work spans the full stack: product architecture, engineering, and go-to-market. He holds a dual MSc in Information Science (Cornell Tech, NYC) and Urban Technology (Technion, Haifa), and a BS in Communication & Multimedia Design and Innovation & Entrepreneurship. His work has been recognized by MIT, University of Michigan, Google for Startups, Stability AI, Accenture, Hyper Island, and The Next Web.