Born in Zimbabwe and raised in South Africa, Michael Musandu found his passion for technology at an early age. He moved to the Netherlands for university and met Ugnius Rimša, his future co-founder. Inspired by the need for more representation in the fashion industry, Mr. Musandu created Amsterdam-based Lalaland. The company uses generative AI to create diverse, photorealistic yet nonexistent fashion models, supplementing physical photoshoots. This approach reduces landfill waste by minimizing physical samples and return rates.

Mr. Musandu is driven by the potential of diverse founding teams to create disruptive technology through social empowerment and sustainable impact. He is dedicated to building networks that increase opportunities for black and minority founders, ensuring entrepreneurs are as diverse as the markets they serve. In 2023, he was honored with a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
 
He studied computer science at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam and completed a graduate program in artificial intelligence at Utrecht University.