Stealth Startup Spy #105
LinkedIn alumni with Berkeley/Stanford AI PhDs unveil AI copilot for marketing, Ex-Databricks/Splunk exec launches AI security startup, & Engineer with 15+ patents crafts stealth fintech
Stealth Startup Spy is a data-driven newsletter for investors, journalists and tech enthusiasts interested in uncovering the next big move for key talent, real-time stealth company launches and technology advancements not in plain sight. We leverage the technology built at Gravity to track billions of data points to help you identify tomorrow's opportunities that are currently hiding in the shadows. These signals include tracking the inflows and outflows of talent who work at “Stealth Startups”, bios and profile changes to “building something new” and monitoring press releases to shine a light on the hidden world of stealth startups.
In this issue of the Stealth Startup Spy, here is what we will uncover:
A team of ex-LinkedIn employees with AI PhDs from Berkeley and Stanford is building a data copilot for marketing and growth teams.
Former security executive at Databricks and Splunk launches AI security startup
Blockchain data platform founded by former Microsoft, Meta, Lyft, and Uber alumni exits stealth with $5.2M seed funding
Ex-Amazon/Meta machine learning expert is most likely building a stealth EdTech startup
Skilled engineer with 15+ patents is stealthily crafting next-gen LLM solutions for financial institutions
And more…
Now let’s shine the spotlight… 💡💡💡
🕵️♂️Founders Coming Out of Stealth
Real-time updates from founders who debut what they’ve been working on under stealth mode
Shaunak Chatterjee - Co-Founder & CEO at Aliveo AI
FounderDNA: Former FAANG, Doctorate Degree, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Director of Engineering, AI at LinkedIn, ex-Facebook and Microsoft Intern, University of California, Berkeley alum
Connect on: LinkedIn
Aliveo AI is a data copilot for marketing and growth teams.
HQ: Austin, Texas, United States
Industry: Data Infrastructure and Analytics | Team Size: 5
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 13 months
Abhinav Vora - Co-Founder at Hyperline
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Former FAANG, Doctorate Degree
Prior Experience: Ex-Head of Engineering (Lyft Pink) at Lyft, ex-Software Engineer at Facebook, ex-Software Development Engineer at Microsoft
Connect on: LinkedIn
Hyperline is the shared data platform for all Web3 Developers who want to build data-driven products.
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Industry: Software Development | Team Size: 6
Latest Funding: $5.2M Seed Round in 1/24/2024
Key Investors: Slow Ventures, South Park Commons, Volt Capital, Picus Capital, Script Capital, Mischief, Maelstrom, Canonical Crypto
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 21 months
Sidu Ponnappa - Founder at Realfast
FounderDNA: Technical Founder
Prior Experience: Ex-SVP, Internal Products at Gojek, ex-Founder and CEO at C42 Engineering (acquired by Gojek in 2015)
Connect on: LinkedIn
Realfast builds Generative AI Assistants for the Salesforce Partner Ecosystem
HQ: Singapore/India
Industry: Software Development | Team Size: 2
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 20 months
Akash Ganapathi - Co-Founder & CEO at Opine
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder
Prior Experience: Ex-Senior Director, Product Management at JupiterOne, ex-ML Solutions Architect at Diveplane Corporation, ex-Co-Founder, CEO at Trill A.I. ($2.8M raised), ex-Software Engineer at Cisco
Connect on: LinkedIn
Opine automates pre-sales efforts for enterprise software vendors
HQ: Durham, North Carolina, United States
Industry: Technology, Information and Internet | Team Size: 4
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 6 months
Monzy Merza - Co-Founder & CEO at Crogl
🔎Featured Founder under stealth mode in StealthStartupSpy#33
FounderDNA: Serial Founder
Prior Experience: Ex-VP, Security GTM at Databricks, ex-VP, Head of Security Research at Splunk, ex-Applied Security Researcher under the US Government
Connect on: LinkedIn
Crogl is building AI that will serve the security practitioners, and give peace of mind to security leaders and their customers.
HQ: United States
Industry: Software Development | Team Size: 3
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 12 months
🕵️♂️Key Talent Going Under Stealth
Illuminating clues left behind by world class talent and influential innovators who just went into stealth mode
Justin Zhang - Co-Founder & CEO at Stealth
FounderDNA: Technical Founder, Doctorate Degree, Masters Degree, Former FAANG, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Sr. Director of Engineering, Threat Intelligence at CertiK, ex-Engineering Manager at Convoy, ex-Software Engineer at Snapchat, ex-Software Engineer at Google
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: Greater Seattle Area, United States
Most likely building in Web3 + AI space.
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 4 months
Sergey Kirshner - Co-Founder at Stealth Startup
FounderDNA: Technical Founder, Doctorate Degree, Masters Degree, Former FAANG, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Senior Applied Scientist, Search at Amazon, ex-Engineer and Scientist, Marketplace Search at Facebook, ex-Director of Modeling/Principal Architect, Walmart Advertising Platform at WalmartLabs
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: Sunnyvale, California, United States
Most likely building an EdTech startup.
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 2 months
Sai Avala - Founder & CEO at Stealth Startup
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Masters Degree, Former FAANG, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Founding Engineer at Cygnvs ($55M raised), ex-Software Engineer at Amazon, ex-Software Engineer at Cyence, ex-Bridgewater
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: San Francisco Bay Area, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 2 months
Pavel Salamakha - Co-Founder at Stealth Startup
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Doctorate Degree, Masters Degree, Former FAANG
Prior Experience: Ex-Senior Director of Strategy and Operations at OLX Group, ex-Head of Strategic Programs and Porfolio Management at Amazon, ex-BCG
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: Luxembourg/Netherlands
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 3 months
Ken So - Founder at Something New
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Masters Degree, Prior Exit, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Founder & CEO at Tillful (acquired by Nav), ex-Director, Corporate Business Development, M&A at Ericsson, ex-Corporate Development at Qualcomm, ex-Equity Research at Citi
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Building a Fintech & AI startup. Backed by AI Fund and SALT
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 12 months
Stay Stealthy,
Drake
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