Stealth Startup Spy #237
Stanford PhD and ex-AWS scientist automates industrial workflows, Google and Snapchat alum tackles labor gaps with AI and robotics, & Ex-Glassdoor VP returns with third startup
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.
In this issue of the Stealth Startup Spy, here is what we will uncover:
Stanford ChemEng PhD and ex-AWS Applied Scientist is automating industrial workflows with the first AI-native process engineer
Former product exec at Autodesk and Altium is stealthily developing an AI-powered design-to-manufacturing engine in stealth mode
Ex-Glassdoor VP and founder of two acquired startups (Fishbowl, Social Amp) returns with a new venture
Google and Snapchat alum launches robotics and AI platform to address global labor gaps
Former Director of Product at Google and PM leader at Uber is building in stealth mode
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
Yoav Ben Ephraim - Co-Founder and CTO at Zipher
FounderDNA: Technical Founder
Prior Experience: Ex-Director, Data Platform at Payoneer, ex-VP Data at Spott, ex-Senior Data Scientist at Microsoft
Connect on: LinkedIn
Zipher is an automated, zero-touch platform that continuously optimizes Databricks workloads - cutting data pipeline costs by up to 50% and boosting stability by up to 40%.
HQ: Israel
Industry: Data Infrastructure and Analytics | Team Size: 13
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 1 year 5 months
Emmett Goodman - Co-Founder at Alkali Engineering
FounderDNA: Technical Founder, Doctorate Degree, Former FAANG, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Applied Scientist at Amazon Web Services (AWS), ex-Research Scientist at Orca Sciences, Stanford PhD in Chemical Engineering
Connect on: LinkedIn
Alkali (YC X25) is creating the world's first AI Process Engineer.
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Industry: Engineering Services | Team Size: 2
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 4 months
Weiwei C. - Founder at EmbodyX
🔎Featured Founder under stealth mode in StealthStartupSpy#192
FounderDNA: Technical Founder, Doctorate Degree, Masters Degree, Former FAANG
Prior Experience: Ex-CTO at Turing Video, ex-Software Engineer at Snapchat, ex-Senior Software Engineer at Google, ex-Software Engineer at VMware
Connect on: LinkedIn
EmbodyX is building robotic AI and software that address the global labor shortage through innovative technologies.
HQ: Oakland, California, United States
Industry: Technology, Information and Internet | Team Size: 3
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 6 months
Nazli T. - Co-Founder & CEO at Hilbert’s AI
FounderDNA: Masters Degree, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-VP of Growth at Flash Pack, ex-Head of Analytics at FreshDirect, ex-Head of US Growth and Ops Performance at Getir
Connect on: LinkedIn
Hilbert's AI is building an AI-native growth engine that helps companies dominate their markets by unifying and optimizing growth through cutting-edge AI and ML.
HQ: United States
Industry: Technology, Information and Internet | Team Size: 4
Key Investors: Asylum Ventures, ScaleX Ventures
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 3 months
Michael Kuo - Co-Founder & CTO at RallyBoard
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Tech Lead, Staff Software Engineer at Affirm, ex-Software Engineer at Nova AI (YC W16), ex-Product Manager at HireAthena
Connect on: LinkedIn
RallyBoard empowers professional communities and associations to transform their member experience with cohort-based learning.
HQ: Remote - United States
Industry: Technology, Information and Internet | Team Size: 4
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 7 months
🕵️♂️Key Talent Going Under Stealth
Illuminating clues left behind by world class talent and influential innovators who just went into stealth mode
Matt Sunbulli - Founder at NewCo
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Top 10 University, Prior Exit
Prior Experience: Ex-VP of Product Management at Glassdoor, ex-CEO and Co-founder at Fishbowl (acquired by Glassdoor), Co-founder of Social Amp (acquired by Merkle)
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 2 months
Matthew Berggren - Co-Founder & CEO at Stealth Startup
Building an AI-powered design-to-manufacturing engine that understands intent and automates the entire flow from concept to production—across electronics, 2D, and 3D fabrication.
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder
Prior Experience: Ex-Director of Product Development at Autodesk, ex-Senior Director of Product at SupplyFrame, ex-Director, Product Management at Altium
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 1 year 11 months
Sudipto Aich - Founder at Stealth AI Startup
Building AI tools for Multi-Physics Simulation for Precision Manufacturing SMBs
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Masters Degree, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Senior Director of Design Technology (Global) at Ford, ex-Directorand Product & Technology at Ford Smart Mobility, Stanford alum
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 4 months
Shalin Mantri - Founder at Stealth AI Startup
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Masters Degree, Former FAANG, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Director of Product Management at Google, ex-Head of Product at Skip, ex-Senior Product Manager at Uber, Stanford alum
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 1 month
Eshani Mehta - Co-Founder at Stealth Startup
FounderDNA: Technical Founder, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Software Engineer at Stripe, ex-Software Engineer at Robinhood, ex-Software Engineer at Snap, UC Berkeley CS
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 5 months
🚨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!
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.