Dante
Maggiotto

Maker · Scientist · Generalist

Hey, I'm Dante :)

Here's a more personal side of mine - what makes me tick.

Chapter I

About Me

I enjoy working across disciplines, because learning and adapting is what makes us great.

Previously, I did research on wildfires, scaled Socratica in Waterloo, biocomputational research, and I enjoy running.

Currently, I'm interested in tinkering with new growth + pricing models.

Chapter II

Work

01

Data Analytics at Hatch

Analytics & ML

Built executive level data analytics metrics on Hatch's $10B+ revenue pipeline. Built out an ML Model to forecast total utilization monthly. Bypassed a lot of AI blockers.

Hatch Logo
Hatch's vision, plus delta, stands for positive change. I really resonated with that.
02

Crypto at OSFI

Policy & Research

OSFI is the Canadian government branch regulating banks. Researched digital innovations in banking, incl. crypto, stablecoins, blockchain, CBDCs. Got to analyze classified exec meetings within big banks, and had round table meetings with major finance companies like Interac, Binance, Wealthsimple, etc.

03

Processes at Nicoya

Operations

Series A startup, builds SPR machines using microfluidics cartridges for drug discovery and molecule-molecule binding interactions. Designed SOPs, did lab testing, and ate a lot of Tim Hortons.

04

Firebird

Co-founded a startup

Co-founded an AI wildfire prediction startup. We used satellite imagery + DL to forecast for ignition hotspots based on 80+ parameters. Won the Conrad e-launch pitch. Published an article with UWaterloo News that captured national attention and was commended by Vivek Goel, current UW President.

05

Residence Life Advisor

Leadership

Got to work with 100s of cracked first year engineers, and made sure everyone survived midterms/exams. Hosted weekly floor events, ran community building, and was the on-call for the 1,000+ students in residence, did lots of resume reviews.

Residence Life Advisor 1 Residence Life Advisor 2
06

Director of Waterfront

Leadership

Went to summer camp every year. Eventually they hired me to run waterfront—one of my most valuable experiences. Taught 500+ kiddos to swim, trained guards, but learned most about owning problems and leadership/communication. Also got to live in a cabin with my best friends for 4 months.

Director of Waterfront 1 Director of Waterfront 2
Chapter III

Projects

Socratica ⁂

Community

We're a global community of makers, artists, engineers, and everything in-between! Hosting weekly co-working sessions at 40+ nodes worldwide. We run the largest independent student-run event in UWaterloo, Socratica Symposium, and I get to work with some of the coolest people and companies I know <3

Socratica 1 Socratica 2 Socratica 3

Design

Creative

I like making beautiful things.

Websites

Development

Built some websites for various projects

Writing

Substack & More

I used to love writing, but school started to make it feel like a chore. I've started rekindling my love for it by writing about things I'm passionate about, on Substack and other.

Science

Research

I am a biochemist by trade, after all. Have worked in Wet and Dry labs doing Pipetting, electrophoresis, PCR, microscopy, spectrophotometry, data modeling, statistical analysis, experimental design, etc.

  • CNL Biodosimetry Capstone

    Led biochemistry validation and fundraising for a portable γ-H2AX biodosimetry device with Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, compressing radiation dose assessment from 24+ hours to under 1 hour. Won the iCapstone Technological Futures Award, raised $8,500+ from 1517 Medici Fund and UWaterloo.

  • BIOL 499 Honours Thesis

    Computationally designed TNFR1-selective peptide antagonists from sea snake venom for IBD therapy across molecular docking, alanine scanning, and molecular dynamics.

Wacky Experiments

R&D

Random things I've built or tried that didn't fit anywhere else.

Videos

Orchestrating

  • Claude Video

    Directed a video for Anthropic highlighting some really cool projects being built with Claude

  • Chris Hadfield × Socratica

    Got the most famous Canadian astronaut to invite people to our event

Innosolve

Community

I founded the first Science club formed in over a decade, scaled to ~15 people across 3 cocreation teams, with the objective of learning more technical skills, doing more independent group work that I didn't see executed with curriculum.

Innosolve Innosolve
Chapter IV

The Other Stuff

Public Speaking

Talks & Panels

For years, I was terrified of public speaking. I always had confidence on what I was saying, but it's truly an art form to perfect stage confidence. After dozens of pitches, case competitions, and training from some of the best mentors I've ever had, my stage presence is far improved.

Public Speaking Public Speaking Public Speaking

Investing

Portfolio

Currently heavy gold, some US equities, and cash. My current TFSA allocation ($11,683.27 CAD):

Beta Testing & Tools

Early Adopter

AI and productivity tools I've accumulated over the years. I love being early and doing user interviews.

Events

Hosting & Attending

I love understanding event dynamics. Have attended 150+ through Luma and hosted dozens. Amazing things can happen when you bring a group of people together. Some amazing ones:

Iron Man 70.3

Endurance

Trained up from zero experience to Iron Man 70.3 Victoria in 6 months, had a bunch of amazing friends from Waterloo and SF join. The journey is so hard yet so worthwhile!

Iron Man 70.3 Iron Man 70.3
Soundtrack

Music

What I've been listening to lately.

Recently Played

All-Time Favorites

Passions

Hobbies

What I do when I'm not working.

Scuba Diving

Scuba Diving

Did my scuba certifications in Lake Ontario mid-October/November. Not super pleasant as you can imagine, but it opened the doors to a whole new world. I have ~10 dives on record across Canada, Barbados, Cancun.

Running

Running

Picked up running as a way to clear my head between everything else I juggle. I love the discipline of building mileage, dialing in pace, and zoning out on long solo runs around Waterloo.

DJing

DJing

I started obsessively DJing when I bought my first controller, an FLX2. Since then, it's become my mindless therapy. I even bought a strobe light →

Sports

I grew up playing many sports, namely hockey, soccer, swimming, and I played badminton + curling in high school. Also played a lot of basketball — my team is 2x semi-competitive champions for UWaterloo.

Wanderlust

Travel

Places I've been, memories I've made.

Florence, Italy Florence, Italy
Barcelona, Spain Barcelona, Spain
Nice, France Nice, France
Valencia, Spain Valencia, Spain
Lisbon, Portugal Lisbon, Portugal
Cancun, Mexico Cancun, Mexico
Madrid, Spain Madrid, Spain
Florence, Italy Florence, Italy
Nice, France Nice, France
Barcelona, Spain Barcelona, Spain
Lisbon, Portugal Lisbon, Portugal
Valencia, Spain Valencia, Spain
Madrid, Spain Madrid, Spain
Cancun, Mexico Cancun, Mexico

MORE PLACES (AND PHOTOS) COMING SOON

Guestbook

You made it to the end! Draw Something.

Draw something ↓

Chapter V

Connect

I love meeting amazing people!