Paul Bakaus
I build products and write code. Sometimes at the same time.
About
I've been building for the web for about two decades now. Open source libraries, developer tools at Google, creator platforms, and most recently AI tools. A few of those turned into companies along the way, most recently Renaissance Geek.
I tend to end up where a technology shift has arrived and the tools haven't caught up yet: jQuery UI, Chrome DevTools, Google for Creators, and now Impeccable.
I care a lot about how software feels. The best tools don't need an explanation.
- Occupation
- Product engineer
- Company
- Renaissance Geek, founder
- Building
- Impeccable
- First release
- jQuery UI, 2007
- Contact
- [email protected]
Renaissance Geek
Renaissance Geek (noun). Built on the idea of the ‘renaissance man’, a Renaissance Geek is somebody who chooses to embrace the adventurous digital world, is not afraid to stumble and fail, and is naturally interested in how art, culture, and technology shape the future.
That's roughly how I think about work. I never got comfortable staying in one discipline, and the most interesting things I've built came from mixing them.
In 2026 I named my company after it. Renaissance Geek is the company behind Impeccable, built for exactly this kind of person.
Release history
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2007
Created jQuery UI
Built the standard interaction library for the web: drag and drop, sortable lists, date pickers, and more. Became a core jQuery team member. jQuery UI is still running on sites across the web today.
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2010
Aves Engine, then Zynga
Built Aves, one of the first in-browser game engines, and co-founded a startup around it. Acquired by Zynga.
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2013–2016
Chrome DevTools at Google
Led product and developer relations for Chrome DevTools. Worked on the tools that web developers open every day.
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2016–2019
AMP and Web Stories at Google
Kickstarted and led developer relations for AMP, accelerating web performance at scale. Evolved the initiative into Web Stories, bringing visual storytelling to the open web.
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2019–2021
Head of Creator Relations at Google
Founded Google for Creators, the sister organization to DevRel. Built a team and programs to support content creators across the web, bridging the gap between Google's platforms and the creator economy.
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2021–2022
Head of Creators at Koji
Led creator initiatives at the link-in-bio platform, helping creators monetize and engage their audiences in new ways.
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2022–2024
EVP Product at Spotter
Built and scaled Spotter Studio, an AI-powered SaaS tool that helped thousands of YouTube creators reclaim time and grow their channels. Led product, engineering, and design.
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2024–2026
Independent
Fractional CPO and advisor to startups at the intersection of AI and creativity. Built open source tools, spoke at conferences, and wrote about AI, product, and culture. One of those tools, Impeccable, grew into a company.
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Now
Founded Renaissance Geek
The company behind Impeccable, a design tool for AI coding agents and the people who direct them. Raised a seed round led by a16z, and partnered with GitHub to bundle Impeccable with the new GitHub Copilot app. Read the announcement.
Get in touch
Renaissance Geek is hiring design engineers and design advocates who care about the last 10 percent.
Beyond that, I'm open to speaking and interesting collaborations. The best way to reach me is via LinkedIn or email.