Specter Monitor is a data-driven newsletter for investors interested in learning about the latest market trends, signals, and opportunities. Our audience includes some of the most legendary VC investors in the world. We’ll work hard to bring you actionable insights into what’s happening in today’s markets while celebrating data-driven wins and predictions. ✨
Interior (with daybed), 2021 by Michael Craig-Martin
New from Specter: The Hottest Startups of September 🔥
Each month, we use the 'Hot Signals' feature within Specter, to highlight the companies and talent attracting the most interest from VC firms.
🔮 Talents of the Week
Specter tracks real-time top talents movements across the world to detect actionable investment opportunities before anyone else.
🪄 Predicted:
Emil Sorensen (EU, 2023): Co-Founder at kapa.ai.
Featured by Specter on: 2023 - Week 28.
Advantage on Latest Funding Round: 453 Days.
Description: kapa.ai answers developer questions automatically from technical resources to generate an LLM-powered chatbot.
Prev. Experience: Advisor @ Saphe A/S, Engagement Manager @ McKinsey & Company, Associate @ McKinsey & Company, Consultant @ McKinsey & Company, Associate Consultant Intern @ Bain & Company, Data Science Intern @ Host Compliance LLC.
Total Funding: $3.7M / $3.2M Latest Seed on 10-2024.
Notable Investors: Amjad Masad, Douwe Kiela, Initialized Capital, Shyamal Hitesh Anadkat, Solomon Hykes, Y Combinator.
👻 Opportunity:
Luc Levesque (US, 2024): CEO / Co-Founder at Stealth AI Startup.
Featured by Specter on: 2024 - Week 34.
Prev. Experience: Growth Advisor @ Canva, Growth Advisor @ Shopify, Guest Lecturer @ Harvard University, Board Member @ HiHo Video, Chief Growth Officer (CGO) @ Shopify, Charter Member @ C100, Product / Eng Leadership @ Facebook, Growth Advisor @ Thumbtack, Growth Advisor @ Patreon, Growth Advisor @ Twitter, Growth Advisor @ Pinterest, Growth Advisor @ Quora, VP SEO @ Tripadvisor, General Manager @ Tripadvisor, General Manager @ Expedia Group, Founder & CEO @ TravelPod (Acquired), Sr. Technical Architect @ Bell, Principal Engineer @ AB Net.
Total Funding: N/A.
Notable Investors: N/A.
🎱 Strategic Signals
Inspired by Michael Lewis’ Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game - Strategic Intelligence is a stealth engine that tracks online and social behaviour of corporate insiders and leading investors.
🪄 Predicted:
Impulse Space Propulsion (US, 2021) - Featured by Specter on: 2022 - Week 42.
Advantage on Latest Funding Round: 40 Days.
Description: Impulse Space develops orbital maneuvering vehicles for last-mile cargo delivery.
Total Funding: $225M / $150M Latest Series B on 10-2024.
Notable Investors: 137 Ventures, Airbus Ventures, Alumni Ventures, Balerion Space Ventures, DCVC, Elysium Venture Capital, First Principles, Founders Fund, Island Green, Jackson Moses, Lux Capital, Overmatch Ventures, RTX Ventures, Silent Ventures, Spring Tide Capital, Tamarack Global, Trousdale Ventures.
👻 Opportunity:
Physical Intelligence (US, 2024) - Featured by Specter on: 2024 - Week 39.
Description: Physical Intelligence is bringing general-purpose AI into the physical world.
Total Funding: $70M / $70M Latest Seed Round on 03-2024.
Notable Investors: Lux Capital, OpenAI, Khosla Ventures, Sequoia Capital, Thrive Capital, Greenoaks, Anti Fund, Fellows Fund, Flat Capital.
Signal: Increased VC Interest in 10-2024.
🍒 Cherry-Picked Companies
Specter tracks the alternative data performance of millions of companies and, on a monthly basis, flags the ones who are likely to increase in valuation.
🪄 Predicted:
WatchTowr (APAC, 2021) - Specter Rank: 2,658📈
Description: WatchTowr is a cybersecurity platform that offers automated red teaming and attack surface management.
Total Funding: $32M / $20M Latest Seed on 10-2024.
Notable Investors: Wavemaker Partners, Vulcan Capital, Prosus Ventures.
6 Months Growth: Web: -43.19%; Team: 11.54%; Social: 20.5%.
👻 Opportunity:
Spruce Health (US, 2013) - Specter Rank: 139📈
Description: Spruce simplifies healthcare by improving communication between patients and physicians, enriching patient-doctor relationships with software designed for better quality, safety, and satisfaction.
Total Funding: $29M / $12M Latest Series A on 09-2020.
Notable Investors: Cowboy Ventures, Baseline Ventures, John Kobs, Kleiner Perkins, Google Ventures, Tim Kendall, Quiet Capital.
6 Months Growth: Web: 24.21%; Team: 2.86%; Social: 3.0%.
