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. ✨
❣️ New Feature: Similar Companies
For years, similar companies features have missed the mark. We reimagined the process from the ground up to create a tool you can truly rely on. Effortlessly identify companies that enhance your deal flow—essential for VC and PE professionals who need precise, actionable data to stay ahead in competitive markets.
Specter Team
❇️ Building Data-Driven Investment Strategies: inDrive New Ventures
Danny Chepenko explains how inDrive New Ventures leverages Specter to scout high-growth startups in emerging markets using a data-driven approach.
Specter Team
🦙 LATAM AI Startups: Driving Industry Transformation
Drawing on insights from Hi Ventures, we highlight the 14 core AI landscapes in LATAM—along with the standout companies propelling them forward.
Specter Team
🔮 Talents of the Week
Specter monitors real-time global talent movements to spot investment opportunities before anyone else.
🪄 Predicted: Akhil Naini (US, 2023): CTO and Co-founder at Niva
Sebastian KreisCEO of Xepelin
Advantage on Latest Funding Round: 230 Days
Description: Niva automates KYB processes using AI for faster and safer business onboarding.
Prev. Experience: Akhil Naini is the CTO and Co-Founder of Niva (2023–present), an AI-driven global business verification platform addressing compliance (KYB) and fraud detection. Before Niva, he held senior engineering leadership roles at Chime (2019–2023), where he scaled liquidity products like SpotMe, and at Coinbase (2018–2019), leading blockchain infrastructure teams post-acquisition of Seneca Systems. As Head of Engineering at Seneca (2017–2018) and Software Engineering Manager at Gusto (2014–2017), he launched critical fintech products, including insurance tools and payroll systems. Earlier, he built social and e-commerce platforms at Involver and interned at Facebook.
Total Funding: $8.8M / $5.5M Latest Venture Round on 03-2025.
Notable Investors: KASZEK, Gilgamesh Ventures, Gradient, Canary, Picus Capital.
👻 Opportunity: Edward Sun (US, 2025): Founder at Stealth Startup
Edward Sun
Prev. Experience: Edward Sun was the Co-Founder and CTO of Paper (2021–2023), a web3 payments and NFT onboarding platform that processed $10M+ in transactions and created 500k+ wallets, later acquired by thirdweb in 2023. As Director of Engineering at thirdweb (2023–2025), he integrated Paper’s wallet and checkout solutions into thirdweb’s developer stack, enabling enterprises to embed crypto payments and wallets via email/phone. Earlier, he co-founded Kaizena (2012–2018), an edtech platform for teacher-student feedback used by 1.4M+ users and acquired by Cirrus Education. Sun also led engineering teams at Nextdoor (2019–2021) and co-founded Kira Talent (2011–2012), a video interviewing platform acquired by ETS. His expertise spans blockchain infrastructure, fintech scalability, and SaaS product development, with a focus on simplifying web3 adoption.
🎱 Strategic Signals
Specter analyzes the online and social activity of leading investors and industry insiders to predict upcoming funding rounds and acquisitions.
🪄 Predicted: Liam Millward (US, 2021): Co-Founder and CEO at Instant
Advantage on Latest Funding Round: 357 Days
Description: Instant offers tools to enhance online sales conversion and customer engagement.
Prev. Experience: Liam Millward is the Co-Founder and CEO of Instant (2021–present), an Australian tech company automating revenue and retention for e-commerce brands globally. At 17, he secured a record $2.2M pre-seed round (Australia’s largest at the time) led by Blackbird, scaling Instant to $1.5M ARR and 1M+ users within a year. Under his leadership, Instant raised over $30M (including a $18M Series A in 2024), expanded into North America, and now drives millions in monthly revenue for brands by converting abandoned shoppers. Earlier, Millward founded Navigate Australia (2018–2021), a travel magazine reaching 50k+ monthly readers. A serial entrepreneur who launched his first venture at 13, Millward combines urgency and product obsession to scale startups, with Instant now valued at $100M+ and serving thousands of brands.
Total Funding: $20.2M / $18M Latest Series A on 03-2025.
Notable Investors: Hummingbird Ventures, Larry Diamond, Justin Mateen, TEN13, Larry Diamond, Accel Ventures scout fund, Blackbird Ventures, Reinventure, Accelerate Ventures.
👻 Opportunity: Mark Florkowski (US, 2024) Co-Founder and CTO at Ping Labs
Description: Ping Labs are building tools for developers, creators, and everyone in between.
Prev. Experience: Mark Florkowski is the Co-Founder and CTO of Ping Labs (YC W22), now rebranded as T3 Chat, an AI tools startup he launched in 2022 to build creator-focused solutions like T3.Chat (a GPT-4o-based platform 2x faster than ChatGPT) and UploadThing/PicThing for file management. Prior to Ping Labs, he was a Support Engineer at Retool (2020–2022), where he contributed to core UI components like click-to-copy buttons. Earlier, Florkowski held roles as a Solutions Consultant at One2Team (2018–2020) and co-founded Teel Consulting (2014–2018), advising SMBs on IT optimization. His technical career began as a Senior Technician at RSA Computer (2010–2015), repairing 10–30 devices weekly. Florkowski holds a B.S. in Computer Systems Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and has scaled T3.Chat to 25k+ users and 100k+ messages processed within days of launch, emphasizing speed and local data storage.
🍒 Cherry-Picked Companies
Specter tracks the performance of millions of companies and identifies the ones who are likely to increase in valuation.
🪄 Predicted: Jeff An (US, 2023) Co-Founder and CTO at Momentic
Momentic Team
6 Months Growth: Web: 537%; Team: 566%; Social: 30%
Description: Momentic is a software testing platform that streamlines regression testing, production monitoring, and UI automation.
Total Funding: $4.2M / $3.7M Latest Seed on 03-2025.
Notable Investors: Y Combinator, Eight Capital, Sara Du, Aaron Levie, General Catalyst, JJ Fliegeman, AI Grant, FundersClub.
👻 Opportunity: Steven Simoni (US, 2022) Co-Founder and CEO at Allen Control Systems
6 Months Growth: Web: 56%; Team: 122%; Social: 215%
Description: Allen Control Systems (ACS) is a defense technology company focused on creating autonomous precision weapon systems to address the evolving threats of drone warfare.
Total Funding: $12M / $12M Latest Seed on 04-2024.
Notable Investors: Rally Ventures, Craft Ventures, Forum Ventures, Lontra Ventures.
That’s all for this edition of Specter Monitor!
Stay tuned for the next updates and feel free to share with your friends.
