A Big Week: Dent’s AI Entrepreneurs Make Their Mark
The intersection of artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship requires more than just technical innovation — it demands community, collaboration, and the cross-pollination of ideas. Our Dent the Future community has long fostered these connections, and recent weeks have highlighted how its members continue to push the boundaries of what's possible in AI, from document analysis to cybersecurity solutions.
Attendees at the Dent:AI Startup Showcase Reception at UC San Diego Park & Market connect over cutting-edge AI innovations in cybersecurity, compliance, and generative AI
Recent Victories for AskTuring and Staris AI
In San Diego, Dent event sponsor AskTuring.ai, co-founded by our friend Cheryl Goodman, secured $1 million in initial funding from angel investors for their innovative AI platform. The company is already working with six clients in the mortgage and default management industries, with their technology helping to navigate complex document analysis and workflow intuition.
Meanwhile in Seattle, long-time Dent community member Adam Cecchetti's startup Staris AI just announced it has raised $5.7 million in seed funding to revolutionize cybersecurity through AI-powered virtual security engineers. This achievement builds on Cecchetti's impressive track record of successful exits, including the sales of Deja vu Security to Accenture and Peach Tech to Gitlab.
Our San Diego AI Startup Showcase
The Dent:AI Startup Showcase Reception at UC San Diego Park & Market on January 27 highlighted cutting-edge companies demonstrating their AI solutions: EdgerunnerAI's on-device AI assistant streamlines productivity tasks, while EyePop.ai makes computer vision technology accessible without requiring machine learning expertise. Gravity.ai presented their production-ready AI Ops platform with a focus on governance and ethics, as Hal9 demonstrated how their self-service data solutions are making business insights more accessible.
The showcase continued with Juice Labs revealing innovative GPU-over-IP technology for efficient resource utilization, Loopholes displaying their AI-powered compliance platform that scans multiple media types for potential risks, Peregrine OKB captivating audiences with their experiential media systems, and Wallabi showing how their generative data analytics platform is transforming marketing intelligence.
Also featured were Creativ, which reinvents consumer research by synthesizing vast amounts of online opinions into visual insights; DejaVuAI, an image-matching platform that ensures accuracy and reliability across varied visual data; and Finjy, an AI-driven financial accountant and auditor that provides data-driven insights across multiple bank accounts.
Community in Action
The event exemplified the collaborative spirit that defines Dent through a series of thought-provoking presentations. Charlene Li's keynote explored how friction and diverse perspectives drive innovation, while emphasizing the importance of psychological safety and belonging in high-performing teams. Cheryl Goodman joined Andy White and Aaron Fulkerson to discuss San Diego's unique tech ecosystem and its evolving startup landscape, highlighting how AI is lowering barriers to entry for entrepreneurs. The human side of AI took center stage during a panel featuring Curt Jacobsen, Mel Lim, and Manish Sirdeshmukh, who explored everything from workforce evolution to the multiple dimensions of human intelligence.
The Power of Connection
These achievements and innovations emerge from a vibrant community that comes together annually at the Dent conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico. For three transformative days, entrepreneurs, innovators, and thought leaders collaborate and spark new ventures. The conference has become known for catalyzing unexpected collaborations and breakthrough ideas, demonstrating how the right connections can accelerate innovation. Those interested in joining this dynamic community are encouraged to request an invitation to join Dent.