CAC: How did participating in the Congressional App Challenge contribute to your personal journey, career path, and accomplishments so far?

HK: Participating in the 2021 and 2022 Congressional App Challenges gave me an early taste of what it means to build something from scratch with a team. From brainstorming to development to presenting our project, I learned the fundamentals of collaboration, iteration, and shipping a real product: skills that became the foundation for launching Lyra and running a software company today.

CAC: Try to remember back to competing in the CAC – what was your app about and why did you create it?

HK: My first year, I built an event and staff-management website for my high school to simplify scheduling and communication. The next year, I created a paperless museum tour pamphlet to make exhibits more interactive and sustainable. Both projects were born from noticing small, everyday inefficiencies and wanting to improve them with technology.

CAC: What are you most proud of in your academic or professional career thus far?

HK: I’m most proud of founding Lyra, which was accepted into Y Combinator and recently raised a $6 million seed round. Turning an idea into a company that attracts world-class investors and customers has been the most challenging (but rewarding) experience of my life so far.

CAC: Let’s look into the future – where do you hope to be in 2035?

HK: By 2035, I hope to be leading initiatives that harness next-generation AI to address some of the world’s most complex challenges.

CAC: What excites you most about the future of technology and innovation?

HK: AI is improving at a breathtaking pace, and I’m excited to see how it can amplify human creativity, strengthen communities, and solve problems we can’t yet imagine. The future of innovation isn’t just about smarter machines, it’s about how those machines help people do more together.