Charlotte Angel Connection Episode 096: Stratifyd Founder and CEO, Derek Wang

Today, we welcome Derek Wang, founder and CEO of Stratifyd, to the Charlotte Angel Connection. Derek was raised in Beijing and moved to the United States to obtain his Ph.D. from UNC Charlotte.  While attending UNC he spent time on the West coast working with Microsoft Research and PARC.  Derek became a Professor at UNC Charlotte and realized AI was being controlled by large companies.  He wanted to deliver the same benefits the large companies were exploring to companies of all sizes. Stratifyd is a startup headquartered in Charlotte, NC. The company has been designed to equip business leaders worldwide with deep intellectual business insights in minutes instead of months. Since its founding, Stratifyd has evolved into an Augmented Intelligence platform that leverages machine learning technology with human intellect to empower businesses to make data-driven decisions.  The platform is built on their patented algorithms that leverage Machine Learning (ML) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) for any businesses. I had the benefit of doing an interview with Derek at Packard Place in February 2019 and it was my first time meeting him. Very quickly I became a fan of Derek’s and saw the charisma and passion he puts into Stratifyd. In this podcast, the goal was to let our audience hear from themselves the type of leader Derek is.  We talk about the business but also the world surrounding the business with topics like have Georgian Partners as an investor (listen to my podcast from last year with Tyson Baber from Georgian Partners where among other things we talk about their investment in Stratifyd and Derek here), when and how did Derek know it was time to raise money, and what’s the impact machine learning is going to have on the future of our kids. He speaks about why he did a startup in Charlotte and his experience during the early days of the company.  We dive into how he processed the first ‘no’ in the fundraising process (super cool to listen to this part). Derek discusses what it takes for leaders to inspire.  The importance of being frank and honest and ability to attract talent.  He explains what Statifyd needs to improve upon in the next decade, the limits of machine learning and benefits, and the biggest hurdle of AI. At the end of the podcast we speak about Stratifyd’s milestones for 2020.  It’s a great podcast and insight into a company that is clearly driving Charlotte into the new decade.  Enjoy this edition of the Charlotte Angel Connection.   William Bissett is the owner of and an Investment Advisor Representative of Portus Wealth Advisors, a Registered Investment Adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Opinions expressed on this program do not necessarily reflect those of Portus Wealth Advisors. The topics discussed and opinions given are not intended to address the specific needs of any listener.  Portus Wealth Advisors does not offer legal or tax advice, listeners are encouraged to discuss their financial needs with the appropriate professional regarding your individual circumstance.  Investments described herein may be speculative and may involve a substantial risk of loss. Interests may be offered only to persons who qualify as accredited investors under applicable state and federal regulation or an eligible employee of the management company. There generally is no public market for the Interests. Prospective investors should particularly note that many factors affect performance, including changes in market conditions and interest rates, and other economic, political or financial developments. Past performance is not, and should not be construed as, indicative of future results.