At just 17 years old, Indianan Eric Zhu has become the talk of the tech world. This whiz kid turned his high school project, a data analytics platform called Aviato, out of his bathroom and into a million-dollar enterprise, securing a hefty $2.3 million in venture capital.
Aviato, which began in obscurity, is now a rising star in the data analytics sector, competing with business giants like Crunchbase and PitchBook. Its offices have evolved from their modest beginnings in a bathroom to sprawling locations across multiple cities – an attestation of its growth and success.
Zhu is planning to use Aviato to reveal crucial business data ranging from fundraising rounds to corporate card profits. By providing a deeper level of data assessment, Aviato is set to become invaluable for companies wanting to understand market trends and perform detailed evaluations.
The young entrepreneur’s interest in startups, together with his successful venture Esocial, paved the way for Aviato.
Teen’s journey from school project to million-dollar enterprise
Backed by Bachmanity Capital, Zhu’s determination, and innovative approach, quickly attracted investors, leading Aviato to new heights and bringing Zhu widespread recognition in the tech world.
This unique startup has piqued the interest of leading firms such as NEA, Republic Capital, 8VC, Soma Capital, and SoftBank, and individual investors like Eric Bahn from the Hustle Fund. The investment has helped fuel Aviato’s research and development projects, proving vital for their aim to set new industry standards.
Eric Bahn has spoken highly of Zhu and his creation, attributing the product’s quality to Zhu’s ability to assemble a top-notch team. Notably, the leadership team has been strengthened by the arrival of David Razavi, an industry veteran from LowerMyBills and LendingTree, as co-founder and COO. Additionally, former Zeet member Harrison Kessel has joined as CTO.
Zhu continues his high school studies online from San Francisco, showing unceasing optimism for Aviato’s future. With proud and unwavering belief in his product and his ambitions, Zhu dismisses his parents’ initial apprehensions and their preference for a more conventional career, as he believes his creation is on its way to becoming a huge success.