Alex Fischman

I’m a senior software engineer and new founder passionate about building technology that meaningfully enhances people’s lives. After graduating from the University of Iowa with a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering—focusing on software engineering and a minor in math—I joined Microsoft in 2015, following an internship the previous year. Over nearly a decade there, I contributed to flagship products across Windows Phone, Windows desktop, Microsoft’s iOS applications, and various cross-platform experiences. My proudest achievement at Microsoft was pioneering the Phone Link app for iPhone, enabling millions of Windows users to seamlessly access iMessage, phone calls, notifications, and file sharing from their PCs. Inspired by my lifelong interest in weather and my enthusiasm for innovative solutions, I founded Smarter Weather LLC in 2024—a startup dedicated to transforming how we understand, visualize, and interact with weather data. In the winter of 2024–2025, I left Microsoft to pursue this mission full-time, eager to experience entrepreneurship firsthand and deliver products that empower users every day.

On a less technical note—I grew up just outside of Chicago, where my early years were filled with year-round sports, immense curiosity, and a lot of time spent staring at the sky. Through athletics, I learned how to compete, how to commit, and how to work hard—lessons that have stuck with me throughout life. Sports have also provided a perspective I lean on often for confidence and motivation: once you’ve survived running dozens of hundred-yard sprints to end high school football practice each day, many challenges suddenly seem more achievable. I carry that same mindset into my personal passions, whether it’s exploring weather dynamics, launching tech-driven projects, or finding new ways to stay active and engaged. For me, the drive to explore new ideas and keep learning is as rewarding as the outcomes themselves. That’s a perspective I’m committed to bringing to everything I do.