Stealth Startup Spy #160
10x engineer from Vanta, Robinhood, Netflix, and Uber, and a finance exec from Sandbox VR and Houzz, are co-founding stealth tech startups. Ex-Clubhouse marketing head launches social networking app
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:
Airbnb, Dropbox, Nvidia, and Google alum unveils AI platform to automate compliance
10x engineer from Vanta, Robinhood, Netflix, and Uber is building in stealth mode
Experienced finance executive from Sandbox VR and Houzz is co-founding a stealth tech company
Former Head of Global Marketing at Clubhouse launches social networking startup, raises $1.7M in pre-seed funding
Former Head of Enablement at Google is building the future of organizational engagement at a stealth startup
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
David Bean - Co-Founder & CTO at CareCrew
🔎Featured Founder under stealth mode in StealthStartupSpy#81
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Doctorate Degree, Masters Degree
Prior Experience: Ex-Director of Engineering at mmhmm, ex-Director of Data Science and Research at PayClip, ex-Director of Data Architecture and Software Solutions at T.D. Williamson
Connect on: LinkedIn
CareCrew is a platform designed to help families keep their aging parents independent and safe by facilitating communication and coordination among caregivers.
HQ: United States
Industry: Information Services | Team Size: 1
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 15 months
Maya Watson - Co-Founder & CEO at Why?!
🔎Featured Founder under stealth mode in StealthStartupSpy#138
FounderDNA: Masters Degree, Former FAANG
Prior Experience: Ex-Head of Global Marketing at Clubhouse, ex-Director of Marketing, Editorial & Publishing at Netflix, ex-VP, Marketing & Social Media at The Oprah Winfrey Network
Connect on: LinkedIn
Why?! is a conversation platform that blends messaging, networking, and dating into one seamless app.
HQ: United States
Industry: Software Development | Team Size: 8
Latest Funding: $1.7M Pre-Seed Round on 8/7/2024
Key Investors: Charles Hudson, Zeal Capital Partners
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 20 months
Alex Zverev - Founder at Letty
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Prior Exit
Prior Experience: Product Manager, Enterprise Security at Cisco, ex-Founder at Snips (acquired)
Connect on: LinkedIn
Letty helps users with financial planning, building strong habits around savings and investing, and getting exclusive access to best rates and deals.
HQ: London
Industry: Technology, Information and Internet | Team Size: 2
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 2 months
Jan Spidlen - Co-Founder & CTO at Myriad
FounderDNA: Technical Founder, Masters Degree, Former FAANG
Prior Experience: Ex-Staff Software Engineer at Airbnb, ex-Senior Software Engineer at Dropbox, ex-Software Engineer at Google, ex-Systems Software Engineer at NVIDIA
Connect on: LinkedIn
Myriad AI offers a reliable and controllable AI-powered platform to put Compliance on Autopilot.
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Industry: Software Development | Team Size: 4
Co-Founders: Ralf Schonherr (ex-Google X and BMW) and Dillion Kellerman (Cornell law graduate)
Latest Funding: $2M Pre-Seed Round on 7/26/2024
Key Investors: N1, BD Partners, Plug and Play Tech Center, Preston-Werner VC
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 10 months
Celeste Layne - Co-Founder & CTO at Gidens
FounderDNA: Technical Founder, Masters Degree, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Founding Member at Architechie, ex-Software Engineer at Extra Card, ex-Software Engineer at theSkimm, Adjunct Associate Professor at Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation
Connect on: LinkedIn
/'gīdens/ is on a mission to drastically reduce small business failure rate by helping owners make the right decisions at the right time, every time.
HQ: Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Industry: Technology, Information and Internet | Team Size: 5
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 8 months
🕵️♂️Key Talent Going Under Stealth
Illuminating clues left behind by world class talent and influential innovators who just went into stealth mode
Caleb Fenton - Co-Founder at Stealth Startup
FounderDNA: Technical Founder
Prior Experience: Ex-AVP, Innovation at SentinelOne, ex-Senior Security Engineer at Lookout, ex-Network Administrator at Newtron, Inc.
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 4 months
Rushikesh D. - Co-Founder at Stealth Mode
FounderDNA: Technical Founder, Masters Degree, Former FAANG
Prior Experience: Ex-Head of Enterprise Engineering, IT and Procurement at Vanta, ex-Director/Head of Corporate Engineering & IT at Robinhood, ex-Sr. Manager at Netflix, ex-Uber
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 17 months
Sam Veazey - Co-Founder at Stealth Mode Tech Company
FounderDNA: Masters Degree
Prior Experience: Ex-Chief Financial Officer at Sandbox VR, ex-VP Finance at Houzz, ex-Chief Financial Officer at Reply! Inc., ex-VP Finance at CenterBeam, ex-VP Finance at Neoforma
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 6 months
Nathan Ackerman - Founder at Stealth AI Startup
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Masters Degree, Former FAANG
Prior Experience: Ex-Senior Vice President Of Engineering, CISO at Signifyd, ex-Director, Devices at Amazon, ex-Sr. Director of Program Mgmt, HoloLens at Microsoft
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: Palo Alto, California, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 5 months
Michael Coci - Founder at Stealth Startup
FounderDNA: Former FAANG
Prior Experience: Head of Enablement at Google, ex-VP Business Development & Strategic Alliances at MobileIron, ex-VP Global Partner Network at MobileIron, Inc., ex-VP Worldwide Sales Enablement at Trapeze Networks
Building the future of enterprise enablement.
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 3 months
Stay Stealthy,
Drake
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