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Ex-TikTok founders who just went stealth

21 founders who worked at TikTok started a company in stealth in the last 1783 weeks.

Ex-TikTok
Showing 21 of 21 founders

Jingwen Qin

Founder
Left
TikTok
Head of Creator Operations, TikTok Shop U.S.
Before that
Went stealthOct 2026
Work
  • Head of Creator Operations, TikTok Shop U.S. at TikTok2022-2026 · left Jan 2026
  • Co-founder at OiiOii AI2026-2026
  • Head of Strategy & Operations at ByteDance2021-2022
  • Associate Director at DiDi2018-2021
  • Consultant at Roland Berger2016-2018
  • Part Time Assistant at Boston Consulting Group (BCG)2014-2014
Education
  • Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityBachelor's

Kevin Xue

Founder
Left
TikTok
Software Engineer Intern
Before that
Went stealthOct 2026
Work
  • Software Engineer Intern at TikTok2025-2025 · left Aug 2025
  • Founding Software Engineer at Petra Security2026-2026
  • Software Engineer at Citadel2026-2026
  • Software Engineer Intern at Tencent2024-2024
  • Software Engineer Intern at Alibaba Group2023-2023
  • Software Engineer Intern at Huawei2022-2022
Education
  • Duke UniversityMEng
  • The University of Hong Kong
  • UC Berkeley

Solomon Salo

Founder
Left
TikTok
Produção de vídeo comercial - Freelance
Before that
Went stealthOct 2026
Work
  • Produção de vídeo comercial - Freelance at TikTok2020-2020 · left Oct 2020
  • Co-owner & Head of Marketing at Scrapes.ai2025-2026
  • Consultor de treinamento e desenvolvimento at Autônomo2023-2024
  • Coordenador de Growth Marketing at Mundo Invest2022-2023
  • Influenciador digital at Autônomo2016-2022
  • Diretor Presidente at Associacao Parkour Sao Paulo2014-2021
  • Editor de vídeo at Lar Montessori2020-2021
Education
  • Universidade Estadual de CampinasBacharelado
  • PRIMA Escola Montessori de São Paulo
  • FECAP

Ella Lu

Co-Founder
Left
TikTok
Digital Marketing Manager, Global Creator Operation
Before that
Went stealthOct 2026
Work
  • Digital Marketing Manager, Global Creator Operation at TikTok2017-2019 · left Apr 2019
  • Growth Marketing MBA Summer Intern (GTM, Strategic Accounts, North America) at Alibaba Cloud2026-2026
  • Event & Partnership at AI on the Lot2026-2026
  • Strategic Partnership & Community Consultant at PixVerse2025-2026
  • Product Marketing Manager at Reel.AI - world first AI vertical drama app2023-2025
  • Product Strategy Manager, Strategy Development at bilibili Group2021-2022
  • Product Marketing Manager at Soul App2019-2021
Education
  • University of Southern CaliforniaMaster's
  • University of San FranciscoBA

Ramanan S.

Co-Founder
Left
TikTok
Site Reliability Engineer (2-2)
Before that
Went stealthSep 2026
Work
  • Site Reliability Engineer (2-2) at TikTok2022-2024 · left Apr 2024
  • Co-Founder at Saarthi2026-2026
  • Senior Site Reliability Engineer at Vortexa2024-2026
  • Integration Engineer at Meta2022-2022
  • Senior Software Engineer at Circles2020-2021
  • Application Engineer at Amazon2017-2020
  • Programmer Analyst at Cognizant2014-2017
Education
  • Indian Institute of Technology HyderabadPhD
  • Indian Institute of Technology, HyderabadMTech
  • BITS PilaniMTech

David Mao

Co-Founder
Left
TikTok
Social Media Content Creator
Before that
Went stealthSep 2026
Work
  • Social Media Content Creator at TikTok2020-2020 · left Sep 2020
  • MTS + GTM at Symbal2025-2025
  • Co-Founder at ugc.inc2025-2025
  • Dex Growth Games Event Organizer at ThirdLayer2025-2025
  • Growth at Symbal2025-2025
  • Growth at Haven2025-2025
Education
  • Stanford University
  • Wissahickon School District

Manuel Hoyer

Founder
Left
TikTok
Head of Industry
Before that
Went stealthSep 2026
Work
  • Head of Industry at TikTok2023-2026 · left Jul 2026
  • VP of Growth at Pasithea Therapeutics2022-2023
  • Head of Growth & Marketing at Parallel2021-2022
  • Advisor at Kaloni2021-2021
  • Pharma and Health Tech - Solutions Manager at Meta2017-2021
  • Senior Cloud Applications Consultant at Oracle2016-2017
  • Business Operations at Lingo Live2015-2016
Education
  • Babson CollegeBS
  • Universität Wien
  • Vienna International School

Moneera Alateeq

Co-Founder
Left
TikTok
Founder
Before that
Went stealthSep 2026
Work
  • Founder at TikTok2021-2022 · left Nov 2022
  • Senior Communications Specialist (Storyteller) at Tamara2026-2026
  • Head of Events at Saudi Student Association at NYU2023-2025
  • Digital Marketing Specialist at Sol Health2023-2024
  • NYU x Microsoft AI Accelerator Challenge Winner, Team Leader at Microsoft2024-2024
  • Customer Experience & Revenue Operations Lead (SUPER HOST) at Airbnb2019-2020
  • Marketing Intern at Jamalon2019-2020
Education
  • NYUMaster's
  • Jami'at Al-Balqa Al-TatbiqiyyaBachelor's
  • Omareyah Schools

Ayush Kumar

Founder
Left
TikTok
Software Engineer
Before that
Went stealthAug 2026
Work
  • Software Engineer at TikTok2025-2025 · left Sep 2025
  • Co-Founder at October Dev2026-2026
  • Canopy at Founders, Inc.2026-2026
  • Software Engineer at ByteDance2025-2025
  • Model Rocket Engineer & Designer at ManSEDS (Manchester Students for the Exploration and Development of Space)2023-2024
  • Software Engineer at Fleet Management Limited2024-2024
  • National Rocketry Championship (NRC) Payload Engineer at ManSEDS (Manchester Students for the Exploration and Development of Space)2023-2024
Education
  • The University of ManchesterBS

Sarah Evangeline Norman

Co-Founder
Left
TikTok
Head of Analytical Sales & Team Lead, Commerce
Before that
Went stealthAug 2026
Work
  • Head of Analytical Sales & Team Lead, Commerce at TikTok2023-2026 · left May 2026
  • Senior Fellow to Wharton at The Wharton School2022-2026
  • Team Lead, Enterprise at TikTok2022-2023
  • Senior Analytical Lead, Apps at Google2018-2022
  • Senior Advisor to Digital at Harris for President2019-2019
  • Analytical Lead- Large Customer Sales at Google2015-2018
  • Head of Business Intelligence & Data Analytics at Loverly2015-2015
Education
  • NYUBA

Caleb H.

Founder
Left
TikTok
Product Talent
Before that
Went stealthAug 2026
Work
  • Product Talent at TikTok2021-2021 · left Dec 2021
  • AI Product Manager at HubSpot2022-2026
  • Product Manager, People Systems at Credly by Pearson2021-2021
Education
  • UCLA

Chris Eyerman

Co-Founder & CEO
Left
TikTok
Head of Creative Lab North America
Before that
Went stealthAug 2026
Work
  • Head of Creative Lab North America at TikTok2020-2022 · left Jan 2022
  • Global Executive Creative Director at Ridley Scott Creative Group2019-2020
  • Executive Creative Director at 3AM2014-2019
  • Executive Creative Director at Ignition Creative2011-2014
  • Digital Creative Lead at dentsu2010-2011
  • Associate Creative Director, Digital at Ignition Creative2009-2010
  • Interactive Creative Lead at Transistor Studios2007-2009

Mehmet Koç

Founder
Left
TikTok
Risk Analytics
Before that
Went stealthAug 2026
Work
  • Risk Analytics at TikTok2022-2023 · left Nov 2023
  • Privacy & Security Analytics at Meta2023-2026
  • Data Analyst at Google2018-2022
  • Payment Compliance Analyst at Meta2018-2018
  • Operations Manager at Türkiye Finans2014-2017
  • Intern at Kuveyt Turk Participation Bank2013-2014
Education
  • Bilkent UniversityBS

Jamil Alhidiq

Co-Founder
Left
TikTok
Content Creator
Before that
Went stealthAug 2026
Work
  • Content Creator at TikTok2021-2021 · left Jan 2021
  • Growth / GTM at The Louvet Group2026-2026
  • Growth & Marketing at Autism Care Therapy2024-2026
  • Researcher at Moraine Valley Community College2024-2024
Education
  • Western Governors UniversityBachelor's
  • Moraine Valley Community College

Andrew Young

Founder
Left
TikTok
Software Engineer
Before that
Went stealthAug 2026
Work
  • Software Engineer at TikTok2021-2024 · left Feb 2024
  • Founding Engineer at Gather AI2024-2025
  • Software Engineer at John Deere2020-2021
  • Software Engineer Intern at Meta2019-2019
Education
  • Carnegie Mellon UniversityBS
  • Carnegie Mellon UniversityMS

Christian Birch-Jensen

Co-Founder
Left
TikTok
Global Monetization Strategy
Before that
Went stealthJul 2026
Work
  • Global Monetization Strategy at TikTok2021-2023 · left Oct 2023
  • Chief Executive Officer at Creed Media2023-2026
  • Management Consultant at McKinsey & Company2017-2021
  • Venture capital fund establishment at PatentShield2017-2017
  • Value creation at GU Ventures2016-2017
  • Business Development at Spotcap Global2016-2016
  • Member of the Board at Drivhuset Norden2015-2016
Education
  • McKinsey Sweden's Centered Leadership Program
  • UNSW Business SchoolPostgraduate
  • Chalmers tekniska högskolaBS

Megan Nyvold

Founder
Left
TikTok
TikTok Regional Marketing
Before that
Went stealthJul 2026
Work
  • TikTok Regional Marketing at TikTok2019-2020 · left Mar 2020
  • Head of Brand at BingX2022-2026
  • Head Of Media at TokenizeThis2021-2022
  • Brand Manager at Biscayne Bay Brewing Company2020-2021
  • Public Relations and Corporate Communications Intern at Western Union2019-2020
  • Sales Associate at Nordstrom2016-2018
  • Internship at Art Agent2016-2016
Education
  • University of Colorado BoulderBachelor's
  • University of Colorado BoulderMinor
  • University of Colorado BoulderMinor

Hui-Chun Pan

Co-Founder
Left
TikTok
Enterprise Partnership And Solution
Before that
Went stealthJul 2026
Work
  • Enterprise Partnership And Solution at TikTok2021-2026 · left Jun 2026
  • Country Director Korea at BytePlus2021-2026
  • Head of Entertainment at BytePlus2021-2026
  • Sales Manager at SenseTime 商汤科技2019-2021
  • Business Development Manager at Axiomtek2016-2018
  • Strategy Team Intern at Cheil Worldwide2013-2013
Education
  • 國立政治大學學士
  • 성균관대학교

Kristian K.

Founder
Left
TikTok
Brand Partnerships Manager
Before that
Went stealthJul 2026
Work
  • Brand Partnerships Manager at TikTok2021-2026 · until Jul 2026
  • Head of Business at Mysocial2020-2021
  • CEO & Founder at Winfluence2016-2020
  • Social Media Specialist (Consultant) at Massive Entertainment - A Ubisoft Studio2018-2019
  • Outbound Sales/Supervisor at Trygg-Hansa2015-2017
  • Sales Representative at Telenor2013-2015
Education
  • Malmö högskola
  • Söderslätts gymnasiet

Tobias H.

Founder
Left
TikTok
Head of Gaming, EMEA
Before that
Went stealthJun 2025
Work
  • Head of Gaming, EMEA at TikTok2020-2024 · left Aug 2024
  • Founder & CEO (VC Growth Stage) at Wysker2016-2020
  • Founder & CEO at Forvm Inc2011-2014
  • Sales Manager at Google2009-2011
  • Key Account Manager (Intern) at Ogilvy2006-2007
  • Customer Service Representative (Intern) at Emirates2005-2005
  • Product Marketing Manager (Intern) at Toshiba Europe Ltd2004-2005
Education
  • UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business SchoolMS
  • IU International University of Applied SciencesBA
  • Universiteit MaastrichtBS

Tzwen Tzeng

Founder and CEO
Left
TikTok
Senior Product Manager, Ads Strategy, Tiktok Monetization
Before that
Went stealthMay 2025
Work
  • Senior Product Manager, Ads Strategy, Tiktok Monetization at TikTok2019-2022 · left Jul 2022
  • Head of Product and Operations at Falcon Labs2024-2025
  • General Manager at Klever2022-2024
  • Growth Strategy Manager at ironSource2016-2019
Education
  • Peking UniversityBachelor's
  • Sciences PoExchange

Built on Crustdata. Build your own.

Crustdata tracks hundreds of millions of professional profiles. This directory is one saved search: "current title includes founder, current company is Stealth", re-run every week. Point the same search at your own market.

Get an API key 
# the one request behind this page
curl https://api.crustdata.com/watch/person/search \
  -H "authorization: Bearer $CRUSTDATA_KEY" \
  -H "x-api-version: 2025-11-01" \
  -d '{
    "filters": { "op": "and", "conditions": [
      { "field": "experience.employment_details.current.company_name",
        "type": "[.]", "value": "stealth" },
      { "field": "experience.employment_details.current.title",
        "type": "(.)", "value": "founder" }
    ]},
    "fields": ["basic_profile", "experience", "education"],
    "config": { "trigger": { "type": "interval", "every_hours": 168 } }
  }'
# [.] = exact phrase, (.) = all words. Each week it returns only the new matches.

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About this list

What "stealth" means here: the person's current job is a founder title (Founder, Co-Founder, Founder & CEO…) at a company listed as "Stealth", "Stealth Startup" or similar, because they haven't announced it yet.

Where it comes from: public professional profiles, via the Crustdata API. A new search runs every week and adds whoever newly matches. Profiles can take a few weeks to show up, and start dates are by month.

The company on each row is the most recent job before going stealth, with the title they held there. Where we can, we skip internships, advisor seats and freelance stints. On a "former employer" page it shows the job at that employer instead. Click a row for their full work history and education.