UPDATE: **Thomas Lee Young**, a **24-year-old** founder from Trinidad and Tobago, is making headlines with his innovative San Francisco startup, **Interface**, which uses AI to revolutionize industrial safety. In a bold move, Young aims to address safety documentation issues that have plagued the oil and gas sector, where outdated procedures can lead to catastrophic accidents.
Just confirmed, **Interface** has already deployed its software across three sites of one of **Canada’s largest energy companies**, uncovering **10,800 errors** in standard operating procedures in just **two and a half months**. This rapid assessment has the potential to save companies millions—estimates suggest that similar manual work would cost upwards of **$35 million** and take up to **three years** to complete.
Young’s journey to this pivotal moment is anything but typical for a Silicon Valley entrepreneur. He grew up immersed in engineering culture, with a family history that dates back generations to his Chinese great-grandfather. His childhood in **Trinidad and Tobago**, surrounded by oil rigs, laid the groundwork for his future ambitions in tech.
The former **Caltech** aspirant faced significant hurdles due to the **COVID-19 pandemic**, which disrupted his education plans and drained his college fund, leaving him with just **$350,000** for tuition. Adapting quickly, he enrolled in a **three-year mechanical engineering program** at the **University of Bristol**, UK, where he gained experience with **Jaguar Land Rover** in human factors engineering—an experience that would shape his vision for Interface.
Young recognized a pressing issue: many companies still rely on outdated, ineffective safety documentation methods. When Jaguar showed no interest in his proposed solutions, Young pivoted. He joined **Entrepreneur First**, a talent incubator, where he met his future co-founder, **Aaryan Mehta**, who shares a similar international background and tech expertise.
In a strategic career move, Young left Jaguar under the pretense of attending a wedding in Trinidad, but instead, he impressed the selection committee at Entrepreneur First. Their successful partnership at Interface is now tackling critical safety issues in industrial environments.
The duo’s innovative approach involves using large language models to autonomously audit operations against regulations and internal policies, ensuring that safety protocols are not only current but also effective. The implications are enormous for the industrial sector, which is now realizing the cost of negligence.
As Young describes it, he walks into meetings with seasoned executives who initially doubt his experience. However, his deep understanding of operational challenges quickly turns skepticism into advocacy for Interface, with workers eagerly asking when they could invest in the startup.
Currently, Interface employs **eight** staff members and is racing to hire more to meet growing demand. With contracts exceeding **$2.5 million** annually from major clients, the company is poised for rapid growth in the North American oil and gas market. The total addressable market is vast, with approximately **27,000 oil and gas services companies** in the U.S. alone.
Young’s youthful perspective and unique background, once seen as barriers, are now his competitive advantages. He embraces the intensity of startup life in San Francisco, often working long hours alongside his team. The hard hat on his desk is a constant reminder of the fieldwork and real-world impact his company strives to achieve.
The urgency of young innovators like Young highlights a critical shift in how the industrial sector approaches safety and technology. As Interface expands its reach, the implications for worker safety and operational efficiency could transform industries traditionally resistant to change.
Stay tuned for more updates as Interface continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in industrial safety with its cutting-edge AI technology.
