Stealth Startup Spy #218
Ex-Google & Gradient Ventures exec raises $12M to transform AI model deployment, while a former Meta & Heyday data exec and ex-Netflix/Disney talent leader build in stealth
🚨Here’s the deal🚨This email has gotten too big. Exciting, but with more people following it, the edge diminishes. I’ve thought long and hard about what to do to preserve the value in the signals. I’m not sure about the final direction yet, but in the meantime I’ve been sending an email 48 hours earlier to a select group of paid subscribers. The feedback has been pretty positive so I’m going to open up the list for another 100 spots. To get signals early, Apply here!
In this issue of the Stealth Startup Spy, here is what we will uncover:
Ex-Google & Gradient Ventures exec raises $12M to transform AI model deployment
Former Meta and Heyday data exec launches AI-powered workflow automation company for complex enterprise processes
Ex-Netflix Animation COO & Disney/Twitter talent head steps into stealth
Snowflake’s ex-Global CTO and LeapYear’s former CEO quietly builds something new
OpenAI alum & former Facebook scientist embarks on stealth venture
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
Anna Patterson - Founder at Ceramic
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Former FAANG, Doctorate Degree, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-VP of Engineering at Google Research, ex-Managing Partner at Gradient Ventures
Connect on: LinkedIn
Ceramic builds enterprise-grade infrastructure to optimize how companies train and deploy their AI models faster and more efficiently.
HQ: Mountain View, California, United States
Industry: Data Infrastructure and Analytics
Latest Funding: $12M Seed Round on 8/12/2024
Key Investors: NEA, IBM, Samsung Next, Earthshot Ventures, and Alumni Ventures
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 1 year 3 months
Sachin Kulkarni - Founder at Comply
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Masters Degree, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Head of Products at Ethos, ex-Global Product Management Lead at Uber, ex-Head of Products at Vizury
Connect on: LinkedIn
Comply simplifies and expedites the work of insurance compliance professionals by automating their daily tasks.
HQ: India
Industry: Software Development | Team Size: 2
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 4 months
Danilo Nato - Co-Founder & CEO at Bonding AI
FounderDNA: Masters Degree, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Global Director of Data & AI at AB InBev, ex-Head of Data & Analytics LATAM at BASF, ex-Head of Digital Innovation at TIVIT
Connect on: LinkedIn
BondingAI offers a scalable, all-in-one solution, enabling enterprises to create their own LLM to drive transformation at scale without the need for fragmented tools.
HQ: United States - Brazil
Industry: Software Development | Team Size: 3
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 5 months
Arvind Srivastav - Founder at Quantum Care
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Masters Degree, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Machine Learning Lead, Perception at Zoox, ex-Co-Founder at Werewolf AI, ex-Graduate Research Assistant at Stanford University
Connect on: LinkedIn
Quantum Care is building an AI-first clinic for accessible healthcare.
HQ: San Francisco, California, Unites States
Industry: Hospitals and Health Care
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 3 months
Ben Goswami - Co-Founder & CEO at Nurona
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Former FAANG
Prior Experience: Ex-Director of Engineering - Data and ML at Heyday, ex-Sr. Director, Data Engineering, AI/ML at Change Healthcare, ex-Data Engineering Manager at Facebook, ex-Software Engineer at Google
Connect on: LinkedIn
Nurona is an AI-powered workflow automation company that transforms complex enterprise processes using advanced agentic AI.
HQ: San Mateo, California, United States
Industry: Software Development | Team Size: 7
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 6 months
🕵️♂️Key Talent Going Under Stealth
Illuminating clues left behind by world class talent and influential innovators who just went into stealth mode
Aravind Kalaiah - Co-Founder & CEO at Stealth Startup
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Doctorate Degree, Former FAANG
Prior Experience: Ex-Member of Technical Staff at OpenAI, ex-Director of Machine Learning at Lightmatter, ex-Research Scientist at Facebook, ex-Symantec, ex-NVIDIA
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 2 months
Ishaan Nerurkar - CEO at Stealth
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Global CTO, AI & Privacy at Snowflake, ex-Chief Executive Officer at LeapYear (acquired by Snowflake)
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 2 months
James Honsa - Co-Founder at Stealth Startup
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Senior Director, Chief of Staff to the CEO at Ironclad, ex-Senior Analyst, Commercial Legal Team at Dropbox, Stanford alum
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 2 months
Brandy Contreras - Founder at Stealth Startup
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Doctorate Degree, Former FAANG
Prior Experience: Ex-COO - Netflix Animation Studios at Netflix, ex-SVP at Virgin Music Group, ex-Head of Talent at Twitter, ex-Head of Talent at Walt Disney Animation Studios
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: Los Angeles, California, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 2 months
David Gasca - Founder at Stealth
FounderDNA: Doctorate Degree, Masters Degree, Former FAANG, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Director of Product Management - Search Labs at Google, ex-Senior Director of Product Management at Twitter, ex-McKinsey, Stanford alum
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 3 months
If you want your own startup, your portfolio company, or just a rockstar team to get featured in front of our audience of 25K+ investors, submit it here to be considered.
Stay Stealthy,
Drake
Thank you for reading. If you liked it, share it with your friends, colleagues and everyone interested in staying ahead of the hidden developments in tech. Subscribe below and follow us on X / Twitter to never miss a company operating under stealth again.
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 shine a light on the hidden world of stealth startups.