Eric Zhu, a 17-year-old from Carmel, Indiana, has secured a hefty $2.3 million in venture capital for his startup, Aviato. This sizeable funding will fuel expansion and development of the innovative analytics platform, a brainchild of Zhu conceived in no place other than his school bathroom.
Zhu’s goal with Aviato is disruptive and ambitious. He aims to reshape the way private market data collection and analysis are carried out. A teen entrepreneur with pedigree, Zhu’s latest achievement is a bold statement to his tenacity and trailblazing mindset. He intends this investment to vault Aviato amidst the teeming arena of analytics platforms.
Competing against industry heavyweights like Crunchbase and PitchBook, Aviato thrives by providing pivotal data including funding rounds, employee credentials, company credit card earnings, and more.
Teen’s analytics startup secures $2.3M funding
What sets it apart is its focus on companies of all scales and its ability to generate insightful reports dynamically, helping clients spot growth opportunities and trends.
Zhu sparked an interest in startups during the Covid-19 pandemic, extracting knowledge from industry veterans in Discord group chats. His successful startup “Elevate”, a venture intended to bolster startups with guidance and resources, was well-received especially among young entrepreneurs.
Aviato’s origin traced back to Zhu’s stint with Bachmanity Capital, a support platform for early-stage companies. He discovered a promising potential in the data startup market and launched Aviato to exploit this untapped opportunity, ushering in a new era in data technology startups.
Despite encountering initial rejections from potential clients, Zhu’s unwavering grit prompted him to persevere. Major investors like SoftBank, Soma Capital, and 8VC, previously skeptical, now extend their support due to Zhu’s resolute determination and innovation.
Zhu continues to bolster Aviato’s growth, recently recruiting David Razavi, ex-CTO of LowerMyBills, and Harrison Kessel, a former employee at the Sequoia-backed company Zeet. Juggling between completing high school online and managing his business from San Francisco, optimistic Zhu is at the helm, steering Aviato toward success.
