From High School Bathroom to $2.3M Funding: 17-Year-Old's Startup Disrupts Private Market Data

From High School Bathroom to $2.3M Funding: 17-Year-Old's Startup Disrupts Private Market Data

Eric Zhu, a 17-year-old entrepreneur, built his startup Aviato in the most unconventional of places - a high school bathroom. Now, Aviato is emerging from stealth with $2.3 million in venture funding, aiming to revolutionize the way investors analyze private market data.

Aviato stands out from competitors like Crunchbase and PitchBook by providing a deeper analytical layer, going beyond just tracking funding rounds and headcount. It delves into data points like company credit card revenue, employee vesting schedules, and top engineer locations, offering a more comprehensive understanding of private market companies.

Zhu's passion for venture capital and startups was ignited during the pandemic, learning from Discord group chats and eventually launching his own company, Esocial, which was acquired just 10 months later. He later joined Bachmanity Capital and realized the need for a platform that could analyze private market data beyond basic tracking.

Aviato's unique selling proposition is its focus on providing actionable insights, filling a gap in the market where other platforms fall short. Zhu's vision is to build a platform similar to what SignalFire has built internally, even collaborating with the firm's founder, Walter Kortschak, to refine the product.

Zhu's entrepreneurial journey is nothing short of inspiring. Despite being kicked out of school for his unorthodox meeting tactics, he secured funding from prominent investors like NEA, Republic Capital, and 8VC, demonstrating his unwavering determination.

Aviato's seed funding of $2.3 million came from 8VC, Soma Capital, and SoftBank, showcasing the strong belief in Zhu's vision. Even Eric Bahn, co-founder and general partner at Hustle Fund, made a personal investment after a bizarre Zoom meeting with a 14-year-old Zhu in a bathroom stall. Bahn, initially skeptical, has become a firm believer in Zhu's abilities and Aviato's potential.

Zhu has assembled a strong team, including David Razavi, former CTO of LowerMyBills and product lead at LendingTree, as co-founder and COO, and Harrison Kessel, former employee of Sequoia-backed Zeet, as CTO. With a growing team and a strong product, Aviato is poised to disrupt the private market data landscape.

Zhu's story is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and a willingness to think outside the box. As Aviato continues to grow, it will be fascinating to see how this young entrepreneur shapes the future of private market data analysis.