Danny Castonguay

Direct, driven (and mostly tolerable).

About Me

Father of 3 and CEO of bld.ai and fairstock.trade. I exercise everyday and I don’t compromise on sleep, nutrition, and relaxation. I challenge my teams, I create accountability structure, and I give a lot of (tough) love.

Experience

bld.ai

www.bld.ai

Founder & CEO

2018 - Present

bld.ai is a platform where clients explore what they can build with artificial intelligence. Our AI-powered agents help structure well-defined proposals, outlining the situation, complications, resolutions, milestones, and cost estimates. We don't just assemble teams: we provide a mix of AI-driven solutions and top-tier professionals, including designers, engineers, data scientists, attorneys, policy experts, and more. By combining AI with human expertise, we deliver scalable, high-impact solutions that drive real innovation.

  • Crafted the company vision and led its growth from zero to millions in revenue
  • Recruited the initial network of service providers and built an industry-agnostic professional services firm
  • Developed a curation model to recommend the best AI solutions, integrating software, hardware, and human expertise
  • Led projects for Fortune 500 companies and well-funded startups across mining, energy, retail, banking, Web3, logistics, and more
  • Delivered AI-driven innovations across diverse functions, including finance, HR, procurement, digital twins, and real-time platforms

McKinsey & Company

mckinsey.com

Expert Associate Partner

2007 - 2010, 2013 - 2017

McKinsey & Company is the trusted advisor and counselor to many of the world's most influential businesses and institutions.

  • Developed and deployed machine learning solutions for logistics, manufacturing, and energy clients
  • Led digital transformation initiatives across railroads, mining, oil & gas, and banking industries
  • Created and delivered training programs in machine learning to consultants
  • Established academic partnerships focused on deep learning, reinforcement learning, and quantum computing
  • Managed client relationships with C-suite executives at Fortune 100 companies

Kalibrr

kalibrr.com

Co-Founder, CTO

2012 - 2013

Kalibrr helps people get hired at the best companies in Southeast Asia, with 2M+ users, 800+ companies, and 66,000+ hires in 2018. Raised $5M, including Y-Combinator.

  • Led technical strategy and product development, growing user base from 0 to 100K in 12 months
  • Built and managed engineering and design teams
  • Developed scalable architecture supporting 2M+ users and 800+ companies
  • Secured $5M in funding from top-tier investors including Y-Combinator

MIT | UP Diliman

https://gsl.mit.edu/

Instructor | Adjunct Professor

2012 - 2013

MIT GSL trains and funds top MIT students and alumni to conduct technology incubator courses globally.

  • Developed and delivered curriculum for technology entrepreneurship course
  • Mentored students through ideation to prototype development
  • Organized hackathons resulting in 2 teams presenting at Google Developers Day
  • Created assessment framework for evaluating startup potential

Education

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MBA

2011 - 2013

Awarded a $50,000 fellowship by the Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship.

  • Focused on Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation
  • Key courses: Linked Data Ventures (Tim Berners-Lee), Sustainability (Jason Jay), Macro-economics (Roberto Rigobon), Robust Optimization (Dimitris Bertsimas)
  • Co-founded Kalibrr during studies, joined Y-Combinator
  • Led MIT Technology Entrepreneurship Club
  • Conducted research on emerging technologies in developing markets

McGill University

Undergrad and Master of Electrical, Computer and Software Engineering

2001 - 2006

Awarded both provincial scholarship by the FQRNT, and federal scholarship by the NSERC.

  • Advanced coursework in Artificial Intelligence, Random Processes, Human Computer Interface, Game Theory, and Quantum Cryptography
  • Master’s Thesis under Shie Mannor (Canadian Chair of Machine Learning)
  • Technical projects in robotics and machine learning
  • Research in peer-reviewed journals
  • Graduated with distinction

A Little More About Me

Alongside my interests in technology, design, sustainability, education, and finance, some of my other interests and hobbies are:

  • Muay Thai, Jiu Jitsu, Yoga
  • Meditation
  • Card, board, and video games