Stealth Startup Spy #170
Former Google Cloud AI/ML Chief raises $230M for a new startup, Ex-Coinbase and Blackstone exec explores GenAI and cybersecurity, & Ex-AWS team debuts a platform to simplify AI-software integration
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:
Google Cloud’s former Chief Scientist of AI/ML emerges from stealth mode with $230M in funding a new startup
Ex-Head of Core Infrastructure at Coinbase and former Chief Architect at Blackstone is building a new venture at the intersection of GenAI and cybersecurity
Former Chief Product Officer of Digit (acquired by Oportun for $211M) embarks on a new stealth venture
Ex-AWS team debuts platform to simplify how AI systems connect with various software and applications.
Former Senior Director and Global Head of Data at WhatsApp is now the CEO of 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
Fei-Fei Li - Co-Founder & CEO at World Labs
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Former FAANG, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: AI Researcher & Professor at Stanford University, Ex-Chief Scientist of AI/ML at Google
Connect on: LinkedIn
World Labs is a spatial intelligence company building Large World Models (LWMs) to perceive, generate, and interact with the 3D world.
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Industry: Research Services | Team Size: 18
Latest Funding: $230M on 9/13/2024
Key Investors: Andreessen Horowitz, NEA, Radical Ventures, Adobe Ventures, AMD Ventures, Databricks Ventures, NVentures
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 9 months
Chris Silver - Co-Founder at Discoverist AI
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Masters Degree
Prior Experience: Ex-Chief Information Officer & Digital Technology at David Yurman, ex-Global VP, Brand Technology at The Estée Lauder Companies, ex-Global Head of Digital Technology (CTO) at MAC Cosmetics
Connect on: LinkedIn
Discoverist AI is an AI Intent Engine that individualizes the commerce experience to every shopper.
HQ: New York City, New York, United States
Industry: Technology, Information and Internet | Team Size: 8
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 13 months
Tom Hollands - CEO & Co-Founder at Agentic Marketing Technologies
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Masters Degree
Prior Experience: Ex-Special Projects at Turpentine, ex-Growth at Wren, ex-Teaching Assistant at UCL, ex-Global Strategic Projects at Lonza
Connect on: LinkedIn
Agentic Marketing Technologies helps brands scale their creator marketing.
HQ: London Area, United Kingdom
Industry: Marketing Services | Team Size: 3
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 4 months
David Twizer - Co-Founder & CEO at Xpander AI
FounderDNA: Technical Founder, Former FAANG
Prior Experience: Ex-Sr. Manager, Startup Specialist Solutions Architecture (EMEA) at Amazon Web Services (AWS), ex-Senior Solutions Architect at Comm-IT, ex-Head of DevOps at IDF - Israel Defense Forces
Connect on: LinkedIn
Xpander AI simplifies the way AI systems connect with various software and applications.
HQ: Tel Aviv, Israel
Industry: Technology, Information and Internet | Team Size: 7
Co-founder: Ran Sheinberg (Ex- Principal Solutions Architect at Amazon Web Services)
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 10 months
Chase VanSteenburg - Co-Founder & CEO at Redflag
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Masters Degree, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Head of Consumer at Coco, ex-VP Product at Cross Campus, ex-Co-founder & CEO at Valux, ex-Director of Operations at Postmates
Connect on: LinkedIn
Redflag uses AI to offer faster, more comprehensive site selection and due-diligence for real estate.
HQ: Los Angeles, California, United States
Industry: Technology, Information and Internet | Team Size: 2
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 21 months
🕵️♂️Key Talent Going Under Stealth
Illuminating clues left behind by world class talent and influential innovators who just went into stealth mode
Thanos Baskous - Co-Founder & VP of Engineering at Stealth
Currently building something new at the intersection of GenAI and Cybersecurity.
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Prior Exit
Prior Experience: Ex-Head of Core Infrastructure at Coinbase, ex-Chief Architect at The Blackstone Group, ex-Technical Lead at Twitter, ex-Software Engineer Team Lead at TellApart, ex-Cofounder & CTO at AdStack (acquired by TellApart)
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 2 months
Wael Salloum - Founder & CEO at Stealth Startup
FounderDNA: Technical Founder, Masters Degree, Former FAANG, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Vice President & Distinguished Engineer, Data & AI at Careem, Ex-Senior Director, Global Head of Data at WhatsApp, Ex-Data Lead for YouTube's Living Room Team, ex-Data Lead / Quantitative Engineer at Google Ads
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 1 Month
Rushabh Doshi - Co-Founder at Stealth
FounderDNA: Technical Founder, Masters Degree, Former FAANG, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Chief Product Officer at Digit (acquired by Oportun for $211M), ex-Senior Director of Product Management at Facebook, ex-Engineering Director at YouTube, ex-Microsoft
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 8 months
Bill Evans - Founder & CEO at Stealth Startup
Prior Experience: Ex-Chief Brand Officer at Komodo Health, ex-VP, Chief Marketing Officer, Watson Health at IBM, ex-EVP | Chief Digital Officer for Chemistry at WPP
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 3 months
Alexandra Holden - Founder at Stealth Startup
Building in women's health.
Prior Experience: Ex-Vice President, GM Cardiology at Tempus Labs, ex-Chief of Staff at Groupon, ex-Investment Banking Analyst at UBS
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 9 months
Stay Stealthy,
Drake
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