A curation of Faust's peak experiences

Current company · 2025—

Friendshift

Assistive technology for being the friend you mean to be.

Modern communication gives us near-infinite access to one another while asking each person to remember, prioritize, initiate, and emotionally context-switch across dozens of relationships. Friendshift starts from a different premise: friendship is essential infrastructure, and maintaining it should not depend entirely on memory and willpower.

The first product is a minimal-screen-time, tap-to-call ritual. A physical near-field communication tile cues outreach; the system recommends one person based on the cadence the user wants for that particular relationship. An emerging insight layer maps how relationships function and feel across six dimensions: resonance, reciprocity, vulnerability, values, allure, and access.

100+ interviews and surveys
93% say easier maintenance would help
Founding alpha in development

X, the Moonshot Factory · 2020—2021

Qi: a maskless face mask

A maskless face mask that delivered filtered air to the mouth and nose without touching the face.

At X, I proposed and led an investigation into personal air pollution exposure. I assembled a multidisciplinary team, built and tested successive prototypes, and ran scrappy experiments in an airtight shed surrounded—somewhat inexplicably—by tens of thousands of gallons of liquid nitrogen.

The system used carefully directed airflow, including the Coandă effect, to create a protected breathing zone. Testing demonstrated as much as a 90% reduction in respired particulate matter. The work became United States Patent Application US20220016446A1, “Delivering an Airflow to a User.”

Up to 90% particulate reduction
Multidisciplinary prototypes
Published patent application

Independent research · 2021—2023

Interspecies translation

An early exploration of real-time translation between dogs and people.

With animal behaviorist Dr. Con Slobodchikoff, I explored a system for collecting the visual, aural, and chemical signals dogs use to communicate. The goal was not novelty speech synthesis; it was a practical interface that could help people identify distress, injury, disease, and behavioral needs more precisely.

We specified a multimodal recording rig and a roughly two-year data-collection path toward a minimum viable product. I ultimately stopped self-funding the project after a strategic disagreement, but it remains part of a broader fascination with non-human language, bioacoustics, and the limits of translation.

Multimodal sensing concept
Two-year data plan
Animal-language research

Young inventor · 1999—2005

Needle Beetle

A tactile ritual designed to reduce the pain and fear surrounding needles.

Later, interviews with children at a Pittsburgh hospital revealed that needles were almost universally the worst part of care. Needle Beetle paired a washable stress-ball-like toy with a procedure that distracted patients, stabilized veins, and encouraged them closer to the skin. Licensed with Mattel through By Kids for Kids, it reached nearly 200 hospitals; 5,000 units were donated to sick children as part of the agreement.

Nearly 200 hospitals
5,000 units donated
Licensed through By Kids for Kids

Community systems · ongoing

Gatherings as prototypes

Forums, rituals, and designed experiences for curious people.

At Stanford, I cofounded and led the Stanford Transhumanist Association, which grew into the world’s largest student futurist group. Its Advancing Humanity Symposium brought together competing perspectives on emerging technology rather than prescribing a single future.

That instinct continues through thematic gatherings, listening parties, collaborative salons, and the Los Angeles Social Connection Forum: environments where a carefully composed group can challenge assumptions, generate surprising ideas, and leave more connected than they arrived.

Hundreds at annual symposium
Cross-disciplinary programming
Social Connection Forum

Young inventor · 1998

PaceMate

A simpler way to transmit pacemaker and electrocardiogram signals over a phone line.

At eight, I designed PaceMate after watching my mother struggle to transmit pacemaker and electrocardiogram signals over a phone line. Electrolyte-soaked sponges, elastic wristbands, and a simpler physical arrangement improved both signal quality and ease of use. In 1998, the project made me the youngest inductee into the National Gallery for America’s Young Inventors.

Designed at age eight
National young-inventor recognition
Youngest National Gallery inductee

A living photo collection

Extraordinary experiences

Faust Whale with Wim Hof at Summit LA 2017 — At Summit LA 2017, I met Wim Hof, who holds the world record for the most world records (26)! He shared a breathing technique that allows one to consciously control one’s body, shielding it from environmental stress. Using it, I was able to hold my breath for two minutes and stay in an ice bath for three. I plan to continue practicing Tummo and pushing what is possible.

Faust Whale and his best friend from college with Andrew Yang in summer 2018 — My best friend from college and I met then-presidential candidate Andrew Yang in the summer of 2018. His campaign centered on the Freedom Dividend — $1,000 per month for every American adult aged 18 to 64 — and helped bring universal basic income and human-centered capitalism into mainstream political discourse. He was also the first Asian American man to seek the Democratic presidential nomination. He struck me as warm, incisive, prescient, and pragmatic.

Faust Whale and Robbie seated together in deep snow beneath snow-covered pine trees — Time with Robbie always puts a smile on my face.

Faust Whale before age 21, smiling at the home of his first serious boyfriend — This snapshot is from the home of my first serious boyfriend, Gustavo. I wasn't even old enough to legally drink alcohol yet!

Faust Whale with family at the Andy Warhol Museum in 1997 — This is my favorite family photo.

Faust Whale standing with Alby and Elliott, their arms around one another — The three of us spent nearly every day together that summer. <3

Faust Whale and friends sharing a Filipino meal in the basement of a biotechnology accelerator in 2016 — Back in 2016, eating vegan shr!mp and Filipino finger-food — followed by flavor tripping for dessert — in the basement of the world's largest biotech accelerator.

Faust Whale sharing a restaurant table with a group of friends in Berlin — Party all night in Berlin, work out in the morning after 2 hours of sleep, repeat: what a time to be alive!