LEAD

LEAD is an artificial intelligence-based mentoring platform for businesses.

Its platform provides real-time anonymized team information that lets employers know about their employees’ concerns and goals.

As a result, employers gain a better understanding of their company’s work environment, and can more effectively mentor their employees.

According to Forbes, 75% of executives say mentoring has been critical to their career. And 70% of Fortune 500 companies use mentoring programs to train and retain talent.

The problem is that a lot of businesses don’t have the time or tools to properly assess or mentor their employees.

LEAD aggregates and anonymizes employee data from internal and external applications. These include collaboration programs like Slack, productivity tools like Trello, and social media platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook.

Using a combination of artificial intelligence and machine learning, LEAD analyzes this information and provides it to company managers. As a result, businesses can better identify human resource issues and gain insight into their employees’ goals and abilities.

LEAD previously raised more than $300,000 from angel investors and venture capital firms, including iSGS Investment Works, a Japan-based VC firm investing in early-stage tech companies.

In 2018, the company was selected as a Top 12 HR startup by Next Concept HR Association, a non-profit advancing the human resources industry. In addition, it was voted a Top 30 startup at the 2018 Silicon Valley Innovation Entrepreneurship Forum.

Last year, LEAD released a minimum viable product, attracted more than 1,000 users, and began generating revenue. The company plans to release a full version of its platform in early 2019.

Founder Yumi Kimura was previously a senior executive at Meitu, a global technology company that went public in 2016 at a roughly $5 billion valuation.

LEAD’s team of advisors includes Jad Tarifi, head of Google’s AI research on deep learning, and Kuniyoshi Mabuchi, Director of Operations for Facebook’s Japan division.

Team Background

Ljubomir Simin - Chief Technology Officer

Yumi Alyssa - Chief Executive Officer

Peter Pakalski - Chief Operating Officer

Co-Investors

iSGS Investment Works

Japan-based VC firm investing in early-stage tech companies.