Stealth Startup Spy #228
DeepMind alum and ex-SoftBank VC launch AI-driven expert matchmaking, Meta's ex-Llama Safety lead goes into stealth, & Ex-Coinbase/LinkedIn exec raises $17M to enhance organizational performance
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In this issue of the Stealth Startup Spy, here is what we will uncover:
Ex-Coinbase and LinkedIn engineering exec builds AI that gives leaders real-time visibility into workplace productivity and team performance; raised $17M from a16z and others
Former DeepMind researcher partners with ex-SoftBank VC to launch an AI platform that connects clients with expert help on demand
Former Llama Safety lead at Meta and Stanford GenAI instructor is now in stealth, working on a new AI venture
Berkeley Haas MBA and former engineering lead at Roblox and Meta is building game development tools in stealth mode
Ex-Chief Security Architect at HSBC launches new startup to remove tha data engineering burden from security teams
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
Nikhil Murthy - Co-Founder at Phonic
FounderDNA: Technical Founder, Masters Degree, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Principal ML Research Engineer at Genesis Therapeutics, ex-Deep Learning Research Intern at NVIDIA, ex-Deep Learning Research Intern at IBM
Connect on: LinkedIn
Phonic is a voice AI platform designed for building, observing, and evaluating voice AI agents.
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Industry: Software Development | Team Size: 5
Latest Funding: $4M Seed Round on 4/3/2025
Key Investors: Lux Capital, Qasar Younis, Amjad Masad, Clem Delangue, Erik Bernhardsson
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 16 months
Read Egger - Co-Founder & CEO at Achilles
Prior Experience: Ex-Head of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at Traba, ex-Strategic Operations Manager - Regional Marketplace at Workrise
Connect on: LinkedIn
Achilles is building a 24/7 AI-powered HR assistant that automates interviews, scheduling, and candidate follow-ups.
HQ: New York, New York, United States
Industry: Software Development | Team Size: 3
Co-Founders: Ben Schoeggl (Ex-Founding Engineering Leader at Traba, ex-Software Engineer at Roblox and Tesla), Owen Mahoney (Ex-Founding Product Manager at Traba, ex-Data Science and Machine Learning at Oracle)
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 6 months
Ameya Kanitkar - Co-founder & CTO at Larridin
FounderDNA: Technical Founder, Masters Degree
Prior Experience: Ex-Head of Engineering, Consumer Trade Product at Coinbase, ex-Head of Unified Data Analytics Platform at LinkedIn, ex-Lead, Real Time Big Data Infrastructure at Groupon
Connect on: LinkedIn
Larridin is transforming how organizations measure and improve productivity through AI-powered insights.
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Industry: Technology, Information and Internet | Team Size: 9
Latest Funding: $17M Series A Round on 4/3/2025
Key Investors: Andreessen Horowitz, Bloomberg Beta, Gradient, Haystack, Homebrew, Refract Ventures
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 3 months
Daniel J. Mankowitz - Co-Founder & CTO at Ethos
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Doctorate Degree, Masters Degree
Prior Experience: Ex-Staff Research Scientist at DeepMind, ex-Research Scientist Intern at at WalmartLabs, ex-Research Associate at Technion - Israel Institute of Technology
Connect on: LinkedIn
Ethos uses AI to match clients with experts, on-demand.
HQ: London Area, United Kingdom
Industry: Technology, Information and Internet | Team Size: 2
Co-Founder: James Lo (former SoftBank VC and McKinsey consultant)
Latest Funding: $3.25M in funding round on 3/26/2025
Key Investors: General Catalyst, Conviction, 8VC, Common Magic, Interface Capital
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 4 months
George Webster - Founder & CEO at Ziggiz
FounderDNA: Technical Founder, Doctorate Degree, Masters Degree, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Chief Security Architect at HSBC, ex-Engineer - Technical Services Staff at United States Air Force
Connect on: LinkedIn
Ziggiz enables teams to build scalable, data-driven security solutions by simplifying cyber architecture and streamlining compliance.
HQ: London Area, United Kingdom
Industry: Technology, Information and Internet | Team Size: 11
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 19 months
🕵️♂️Key Talent Going Under Stealth
Illuminating clues left behind by world class talent and influential innovators who just went into stealth mode
Vikash Rungta - Founder at Stealth
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Masters Degree, Former FAANG, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Lead Product Manager, Llama Safety at Meta, ex-Instructor - Generative AI for Product Managers at Stanford Continuing Studies, ex-Group Product Manager at Treasure Data
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 4 months
Joseph Kao - Co-Founder & CEO at Stealth Startup
Transforming predictive maintenance for mission-critical power assets—transformers, switchgears, and motors—through AI-powered, high-frequency magnetic sensing.
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Doctorate Degree, Masters Degree, Former FAANG, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Technical Program Manager at Meta, ex-Engineering Manager at Apple, ex-Research Scientist at Carbon, UC Berkeley PhD, Stanford GSB
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: Palo Alto, California, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 4 months
Reese Mozer - Founder & CEO at Stealth Startup
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Masters Degree
Prior Experience: Ex-President at Ondas Holdings (NASDAQ: ONDS), ex-CEO & Founder at American Robotics, ex-President at USC Aerial Robotics
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 1 year 11 months
Zachary Mirman - Founder at Stealth Startup
Building game development tools.
FounderDNA: Technical Founder, Masters Degree, Former FAANG, Prior Exit, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Engineering Manager at Roblox, ex-Software Engineer at Facebook, ex-Software Engineer at Zynga, Berkeley Haas MBA
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: Palo Alto, California, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 1 month
Haoran Li - Co-Founder at Stealth Startup
FounderDNA: Technical Founder, Masters Degree, Former FAANG, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Research TL, GenAI at Meta, ex-Software Engineer at Uber, ex-Software Engineer at Turn, ex-Teaching Assistant at Stanford University
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: Stanford, California, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 7 months
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Stay Stealthy,
Drake
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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.