Stealth Startup Spy #75
Hugging Face alum debuts AI firm for specialized language models, Security expert from Airbnb/Reddit/Databricks goes incognito, & Ex-Twilio employee debuts messaging platform with $3M pre-seed funding
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:
Hugging Face and Roboflow alum is building an AI company focused on creating advanced language models that excel in specific domains
Messaging platform for SMBs & low-tech teams exits stealth with $3M pre-seed funding (founded by former Twilio employee)
A seasoned security expert with prior experience at Airbnb, Reddit, and Databricks is currently working on a stealth startup
Experienced tech leader from Valo Health, Flex and Fubo debuts cybersecurity compliance software for government contractors
Former Pinterest employee is currently raising pre-seed funding for stealth AI/B2B e-commerce 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
Mark McQuade - Co-Founder & CEO at Arcee
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder
Prior Experience: Ex-Field Engineering, Customer Success & Partnerships at Roboflow, ex-ML Success & Business Development Lead at Hugging Face
Connect on: LinkedIn
Arcee is building context adapted LLMs through its domain adapted language model system (DALM), which includes various components like pre-trained models, retrieval models, and generator models.
HQ: Miami, Florida, United States
Industry: Software Development | Team Size: 3
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 5 months
Luke Brickman - Co-Founder & CEO at Textla
Prior Experience: Ex-Team Lead, Sales Development Representative at Twilio
Connect on: LinkedIn
Textla is a no-code, intelligent messaging platform for SMBs & low-tech teams that unlocks enterprise, wholesale pricing.
HQ: Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States
Industry: Technology, Information and Internet | Team Size: 6
Latest Funding: $3M Pre-Seed Round on 8/9/2023
Key Investors: Brickyard, Capital Eleven, Revelry Venture Partners, GoAhead Ventures, 500 Global
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 14 months
Maggie Chen - Founder & CEO at Tbhonest.co
FounderDNA: Serial Founder
Prior Experience: Ex-Social Performance Marketing Manager at Opencare.com, ex-Assistant Marketing Manager at L'Oréal, Top 4 Finalist at Canada's Next Top Ad Exec
Connect on: LinkedIn
Tbhonest.co connects job-seekers with industry professionals through one anonymous call at a time
HQ: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Industry: Technology, Information and Internet | Team Size: 1
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 5 months
Tristan Fisher - Co-Founder & CTO at GovSky
🔎Featured Founder under stealth mode in StealthStartupSpy#15
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder
Prior Experience: Ex-Director of Engineering at Valo, ex-Staff Software Engineer at Flex, ex-VP of Engineering at fuboTV
Connect on: LinkedIn
GovSky helps government contractors implement and prove cybersecurity compliance.
HQ: New Hampshire, United States
Industry: Computer and Network Security | Team Size: 3
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 10 months
Shawn Weidmann - Co-Founder & CEO at Zephyr
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Masters Degree, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-CEO at Stratford School, ex-COO at Public Storage, ex-President at Teleflora, ex-Vice President - Strategy at Roll Internationa
Connect on: LinkedIn
Zephyr is the first technology-forward, home-services platform designed to champion and empower trade technicians to better serve homeowners
HQ: New York, New York, United States
Industry: Repair and Maintenance | Team Size: 19
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 12 months
🕵️♂️Key Talent Going Under Stealth
Illuminating clues left behind by world class talent and influential innovators who just went into stealth mode
Liam Dorpalen-Barry - Founder at Stealth Startup
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Masters Degree, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Founder & ex-CEO at ProcureNow, ex-Software Engineer at InstaEDU, ex-Deloitte
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: New York, New York, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 16 months
Yinka Ogunbiyi - Founder at Stealth Startup
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Masters Degree, Top 10 University, Prior Exit
Prior Experience: Harvard MBA, Co-Founder & ex-COO at Desora (raised Series A)
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 14 months
Kathryn W. - Co-Founder at Stealth Startup
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Product Manager at Databento, Co-Founder at Ohtea.co, ex-Product/Engineer at Pinterest
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Most likely building at the intersection of AI and B2B E-Commerce
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 5 months
Lakshmi Kethana - Founder at Stealth Startup
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Masters Degree, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Head of Security Engineering at Reddit, ex-Security Leader at Airbnb, ex-Head of Security Engineering at Databricks
Connect on: LinkedIn
Building at the intersection of Security & AI/ML and Automating Access & Identity Governance
HQ: San Ramon, California, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 7 months
Siyuan Guo - Founder at Stealth Startup
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Masters Degree, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Software Engineering Manager at Salesforce, ex-Software Engineer at Dell EMC
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: Seattle, Washington, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 7 months
Stay Stealthy,
Drake
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