Stealth Startup Spy #253
Ex-Microsoft VP & Naughty Dog co-founder build lifelike AI agents, SpaceX alum launches reusable satellites, TikTok & Instagram growth exec enters stealth mode
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In this issue of the Stealth Startup Spy, here is what we will uncover:
Ex-Microsoft and Credit Karma VP teams up with Naughty Dog co-founder to build lifelike AI video agents
Former SpaceX engineer builds reusable satellite platform for agile orbital operations
Ex-TikTok GM and Head of Growth at Instagram, Baidu & Tencent launches stealth AI startup
Nasdaq digital assets chief and ex-Plex (acq byMoonPay) / Hashdex founder is building in stealth
Senior marketing data scientist from Google leaves to launch his own 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
Scott Shumaker - Co-Founder at Persona AI
🔎Featured Founder under stealth mode 92 weeks ago
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Former FAANG
Prior Experience: Ex-Vice President, Engineering, Viva + Yammer at Microsoft, ex-VP of Engineering at Credit Karma, ex-Staff Software Engineer at Google
Persona is creating video agents that feel human.
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Industry: Software Development | Team Size: 14
Co-Founder: Andy Gavin (Co-Founder of Naughty Dog & Flektor - Connect via email)
Key Investors: Battery Ventures, First Round Capital, Abstract Ventures
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 23 months
Brian Taylor - Founder & CEO at Lux Aeterna
FounderDNA: Technical Founder, Masters Degree, Former FAANG
Prior Experience: Ex-Head of Mechanical Engineering at Loft Orbital, ex-Manager at Amazon, ex-Lead Mechanical Engineer at SpaceX, ex-TerraPower & Sierra Nevada
Lux Aeterna is transforming orbital operations with the world’s first reusable satellite platform, engineered for high reliability, reentry, and rapid redeployment.
HQ: Denver Metropolitan Area, United States
Industry: Defense and Space Manufacturing | Team Size: 7
Latest Funding: $4M Pre-Seed Round on 6/25/2025
Key Investors: Space Capital, Dynamo Ventures, Mission One Capital
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 8 months
Bin Liu - Co-Founder & CEO at Genova Labs
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Masters Degree, Former FAANG
Prior Experience: Ex-Sr Director of Engineering, Head of Content & Creators at Pinterest, early iOS engineer, ex-Facebook intern, CMU alum
Genova Labs is building multimodal creative agents to amplify human creativity.
HQ: San Mateo, California, United States
Industry: Technology, Information and Media | Team Size: 3
Co-Founder: Andrew Zhai (Ex-Distinguished Engineer, Advanced Tech at Pinterest)
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 2 years 4 months
Ryan Junejo - Co-Founder & CEO at CrashLabs
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder
Prior Experience: Ex-Senior Machine Learning Data Specialist at Cohere, ex-Machine Learning Research Intern at Vector Institute
CrashLabs is building the pre-production testing infrastructure every AI team needs to launch Agents reliably.
HQ: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Industry: Technology, Information and Internet | Team Size: 2
Co-Founder: Mathusan Selvarajah (Ex-Software Engineer at Google - Connect via email)
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 5 months
Derek Bugley - Co-Founder and CEO at Vardera
FounderDNA: Serial Founder
Prior Experience: Ex-GTM Advisor at Mako, ex-Head of Growth, Founding Team at Filtered.ai, ex-Managing Director at Forum Ventures, ex-Director Product Management, BlockChain at Fidelity
Vardera is building an AI-native operating system for valuation, appraisal, and authentication.
HQ: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Industry: Technology, Information and Internet | Team Size: 3
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
Thomas Mulc - Co-Founder at Stealth Startup
👀 Find out what he's working on in this stealth founder spotlight hosted by our friend Adam at The Founder Initiative.
FounderDNA: Former FAANG
Prior Experience: Ex-Senior Marketing Data Scientist at Google, ex-Sr. Machine Learning Scientist at Expedia Group
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 4 months
Youchao Dong - Co-Founder & CEO at Stealth AI Startup
FounderDNA: Masters Degree
Prior Experience: Ex-Chief Product Officer & Head of Agentic AI at Meetsocial, ex-General Manager of Pangle at TikTok, ex-Senior Director, Head of Revenue & Head of Growth at Baidu, ex-Director, Head of Growth & Head of Data Science at Tencent, ex-ML Tech Lead for Growth at Instagram
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: San Mateo County, California, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 2 months
Steve Koshansky - Founder at Stealth Biotech
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Masters Degree, Top 10 University, Prior Exit
Prior Experience: Ex-Head of Digital Assets at Nasdaq, ex-Co-Founder at Plex (acquired by Moonpay), ex-Founding Partner at Hashdex, ex-Blockchain Researcher at MIT Media Lab, ex-Bridgewater, ex-U.S. Army Officer
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: New York, New York, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 7 months
Dan Malowany - Co-Founder at Stealth AI Defense Tech Startup
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Doctorate Degree, Masters Degree
Prior Experience: Ex-VP R&D at SightX AI, ex-Head of Deep Learning Research at Allegro AI, ex-Head of Sensors at IMOD
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: Israel
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 2 months
Jianna Liu - Co-Founder at Stealth Startup
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Former FAANG, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Co-Founder at Leafpress, ex-Researcher at MIT School of Architecture and Planning, ex-Software Engineer at DoorDash, ex-Deep Learning Researcher at NVIDIA, ex-Software Engineer at Facebook
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 2 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.