Stealth Startup Spy #77
Microsoft-acquired founder launches new AI design startup with Sequoia backing, UC Berkeley PhD with prior exit to Apple is building in stealth, & Ex-Obama White House aide debuts EV software platform
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:
Ex-Meta engineering lead unveils AI powered social commerce platform for brands
Ex-Obama White House aide debuts software platform to power charging experiences for fleets and mobility providers.
Founder who sold prior company to Microsoft for 8 figures launches AI visual design startup backed by Sequoia
VP of Engineering at SambaNova Systems leaves to embark on new stealth venture
UC Berkeley PhD with prior exit to Apple becomes CEO of a stealth 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
Farah Uraizee - Co-Founder & CEO at Nectar AI
FounderDNA: Technical Founder, Former FAANG, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Engineering Lead at Meta, ex-Software Engineer at nCent Labs, ex-Associate Product Manager at Google
Connect on: LinkedIn
Nectar AI empowers brands to turn social engagement into their #1 source of revenue.
HQ: Seattle, Washington, United States
Industry: Technology, Information and Internet | Team Size: 2
Key Investors: Flying Fish, BAM Ventures, Trust Fund, FaB Fashion and BeautyTech, XRC Ventures
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 4 months
JJ Raynor - Co-Founder & CFO at Presto
🔎Featured Founder under stealth mode in StealthStartSpy#39
FounderDNA: Masters Degree, Top 10 University, Serial Founder, Masters Degree, Top 10 University
Prior Experienc: Ex-Director of Business Development, Sustainability and Earners at Uber, ex-Head of Strategic Finance at Boom Supersonic, ex-Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy at The White House (Obama), ex-McKinsey
Connect on: LinkedIn
Presto is building a software platform to power magical charging experiences for fleets, mobility providers, and businesses.
HQ: Oakland, California, United States
Industry: Technology, Information and Internet | Team Size: 4
Key Investors: Congruent Ventures, Powerhouse Ventures, Jetstream, Asymmetric Capital Partners, Climate Capital
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 12 months
Guy Itzhaki - CEO at Fhenix
FounderDNA: Masters Degree
Prior Experience: Ex-Director, Homomorphic Encryption and Blockchain Business Development at Intel Corporation
Connect on: LinkedIn
Fhenix is the first confidential blockchain powered by fully homomorphic encryption.
HQ: Tel Aviv, Israel
Industry: Software Development
Latest Funding: $7M Seed Round on 9/26/2023
Key Investors: Multicoin Capital, Collider Ventures, Node Capital, Bankless, HackVC, TaneLabs, Metaplanet, Robot Ventures
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 21 months
Robert Huynh - Co-Founder & CEO at Reforged Labs
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Masters Degree, Former FAANG, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Co-Founder & ex-CEO at Nook (YC), ex-Analytics Lead at Waymo, ex-Business Intelligence Lead at X, the moonshot factory, ex-Corporate Strategy & Finance at Google, ex-Finance Manager at Microsoft
Connect on: LinkedIn
Reforged Labs aims to make software development kits (SDKs) for endless, live gaming content.
HQ: Mountain View, California, United States
Industry: Technology, Information and Media | Team Size: 5
Key Investors: Goodwater, Y Combinator, Epakon Capital, Phoenix Investment Club
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 3 months
Adam Menges - Co-Founder & CPO at Visual Electric
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Former FAANG, Prior Exit, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Founding Designer at Lowkey (Acquired by Niantic), Founder of Lobe (Acquired by Microsoft), ex-Machine Learning Engineer at Apple, ex-Machine Learning Engineer at SendGrid
Connect on: LinkedIn
Visual Electric is a generative canvas for visual ideas.
HQ: Sausalito, California, United States
Industry: Software Development | Team Size: 4
Key Investors: Sequoia
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 10 months
🕵️♂️Key Talent Going Under Stealth
Illuminating clues left behind by world class talent and influential innovators who just went into stealth mode
Arvind Sujeeth - Co-Founder & CEO at Stealth Startup
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Doctorate Degree, Masters Degree, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-VP Engineering, Software at SambaNova Systems, Co-Founder and ex-CTO at mines.io (now MigoMoney)
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 3 months
Jianneng Li - Co-Founder & CTO at Stealth Startup
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Masters Degree, Former FAANG, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Co-Founder & ex-CTO at Navvable, ex-Principal Software Development Engineer at Workday, ex-Software Engineer at Platfora (Acquired by Workday)
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: San Francisco Bay Area, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 1 month
Zachary Kabelac - Founder at Stealth Startup
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Doctorate Degree, Masters Degree, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Ex-Lead Electrical Engineer at Hedron, Co-Founder at Emerald Innovations, ex-Research Assistant at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 9 months
Monique Smith - Co-Founder at Stealth Startup
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Doctorate Degree, Masters Degree, Top 10 University
Prior Experience: Design + Innovation at Rock Health, ex-Advisor at American Medical Association, ex-Emergency Physician at Grady Health System and Kaiser Permanente
Connect on: LinkedIn
HQ: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 9 months
Lubomir Bourdev - CEO at Stealth Startup
FounderDNA: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Doctorate Degree, Former FAANG, Top 10 University, Prior Exit
Prior Experience: Co-founder and ex-CEO at WaveOne, Inc. (acquired by Apple), ex-Research Scientist / Engineering Manager at Facebook, ex-Sr. Research Scientist at Adobe Systems
Connect on: Linkedin
HQ: Mountain View, California, United States
Time Spent in Stealth Mode: 3 months
Stay Stealthy,
Drake
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