About Us
We are a group of scientists, designers, and technologists driven by a shared mission: To help people create flourishing lives in flourishing communities, online and offline.
Team Flourish
Dr. Xuan Zhao is an expert in the psychology of social connection, well-being, and technology and a Research Scientist at Stanford University. She has rich experiences designing science-based products to share research insights, create inclusive environments, and cultivate meaningful social connections. Xuan earned her PhD in Psychology from Brown University and completed her postdoctoral training at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Her research is published in top academic journals and featured in media outlets such as New York Times, Harvard Business Review, BBC, and NPR Science Friday. When she is not contemplating about human behaviors, she loves watching birds.
SHE/HER
Xuan Zhao, PhD
Social Psychology, Co-Founder
Julie is a PhD candidate in Psychology at Stanford University and a Leadership in Inclusive Teaching (LIT) Fellow. She is passionate about empowering people to cultivate their own and others’ well-being using evidence-based tools. Prior to Stanford, Julie earned her Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in psychology at New York University, where she conducted research on motivation and communication among romantic partners.
In her free time, she enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and meditating.
SHE/HER
Julie Cachia
Affective Science, Co-Founder
Tianyi is a talented user experience designer passionate about blending science, technology, and design for user-friendly experiences. With a Bachelor's in Graphic Design and a Master's in Interactive Telecommunications, she has extensive industry experience, including at Google, CVS Health, and C3 AI. As a serial entrepreneur and former KP Design Fellow, she was also a founding member of Giaran, acquired by Shiseido America in 2017.
In her free time, she enjoys painting, traveling, cat-sitting and teaching design thinking to young children.
SHE/HER
Tianyi Xie
Product Design, Co-Founder
Jeff is a software engineer with over 18 years of experience in software development and architecture. He has a proven track record of leading projects across diverse domains, including edtech and social media. As a Carnegie Mellon University alumnus, he possesses expertise in end-to-end software solutions, technical innovation, and team leadership. He is passionate about creating robust, scalable systems and guiding teams to success.
Outside of the professional realm, Jeff is an enthusiast of ping pong, fishing, and kayaking.
Jeff Wang
HE/HIM
Software Engineer
Ben is an innovative and skilled software developer who thrives on finding practical solutions. He is a tinkerer at heart and has a passion for piecing things together, whether it’s fixing up his car or creating app components. He finds great satisfaction in problem-solving and expanding his knowledge and skillset in software. He's currently pursuing software development as a student at the University of California, San Diego.
In his free time, Ben enjoys taking up DIY home improvement projects and maintaining his car. He also likes going on hikes, to the beach, and making lasting memories of the things he sees.
Dong Bin (Ben) Lee
HE/HIM
Software Engineer
Dorothy is a software engineer with a passion for seeing technology used for positive social impact. Prior to Flourish, she worked at Google on the Firebase and NBU teams, developing products focused on the needs of the “Next Billion Users” in emerging markets. At Flourish, she is excited to combine her love for problem solving with her lifelong interest in psychology and well-being, building tools to support people to live more intentional and fulfilling lives.
In her free time, Dorothy enjoys eating, listening to music and podcasts, and spending time with family and friends.
Dorothy Tsai
SHE/HER
Software Engineer
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Sunday is a Research Assistant currently studying sociology at Stanford University. She loves telling stories about humans and translating science into comprehensible ideas for the public. She was a news producer for KALW Public Radio in San Francisco, an NPR and BBC affiliate station. She also has experience as a reporter for various newspapers. She earned her BA in Journalism from the University of Arizona. In addition, she is an active advocate in the mental health sphere, a book editor, and a certified tutor for pupils with learning disabilities. When not engrossed in fun grammar details, Sunday can be found enjoying yoga, playing piano, rock climbing, or wandering through nature.
Sunday Holland
SHE/HER
Communications Intern, UX Research
Yuguang is a Ph.D. candidate in Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, having earned her B.Sc. in Computational Linguistics from Peking University. She is passionate about using NLP, particularly large language models (LLM), to promote well-being and happiness.
Beyond academia, Yuguang loves exploring culinary arts and is keen on travel, cooking, fitness, and writing. A theater aficionado, she cherishes the four years she dedicated to drama at Peking University and has three years of training in traditional Peking Opera.
Yuguang Duan
SHE/HER
Research Intern, NLP/LLM
Advisors & Collaborators
Empowered by a top-notch advisory board of world-class experts.
Our Story
Why We Founded Flourish —
A Letter from the Founding Team
As the saying goes, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”
We all want to live happy and fulfilling lives, but in this fast-paced, hyper-connected world, it's easy to get lost in the daily grind. We forget to live with intention, to check in with ourselves from time to time, to appreciate the people and the nature around us, and to connect with each other on a deeper level.
That's why we founded Flourish — a public benefit company to offer scientific insights and daily actions for more happiness and well-being. We make research more accessible, fun, and person-centered by turning knowledge into engaging and interactive activities which people can benefit from with just a few minutes each day. It is our life's mission to help people live better lives through science.
Running a mission-driven company isn't easy, but it is our calling. We deeply believe that to turn the mental health and loneliness crisis around, we need to put science into everyone's hands and help people translate their knowledge into action. This belief has given us tremendous motivation to press on, day and night. And we know we are on the right track when we hear stories of how Flourish has positively impacted many people's lives.
Thank you so much for becoming a part of our world! We're thrilled to have you join us on this meaningful and exciting journey.
With love and gratitude,
Flourish co-founders 🌱