Chalk

Based in San Francisco, California, Chalk develops data infrastructure that provides real-time, Python-native tools to power enterprise machine learning and generative AI applications. The enterprise software provider operates a platform as a service model designed to handle large-scale data problems, competing directly with established industry incumbents like Databricks. In May 2025, the startup secured $50 million in Series A funding, reaching a post-money valuation of $500 million to support its continued market expansion. This financing round was led by Felicis, with additional participation from prominent venture capital firms including General Catalyst, Triatomic Capital, and Unusual Ventures. The organization currently maintains a workforce of approximately 45 employees across its primary offices in California and New York, with plans to expand its headcount. Chalk was founded circa 2023 by former technology executives Marc Freed-Finnegan, Elliot Marx, and Andy Moreland.

High-Level Overview

Chalk is a San Francisco-based technology company founded in 2022 that builds a real-time data platform for machine learning (ML) and generative AI (GenAI), specializing in feature engineering, real-time data processing, and scalable model deployment.[1][3][4] It serves technology-driven companies in sectors like finance, fraud/risk management, credit, marketplaces, identity verification, and predictive maintenance, with customers including Ramp, Melio, Whatnot, Socure, Vital, Moneylion, Apartment List, Found, Pipe, and Turo.[1][3] Chalk solves the challenges of ML infrastructure by enabling low-latency predictions (under 5ms), on-demand compute, and integration with existing databases, allowing data teams to deploy models into production workflows without bespoke storage or high complexity.[3][4] The company raised a $50 million Series A in May 2025, positioning it as a competitor to Databricks and Snowflake amid the AI boom.[1][4]

Origin Story

Chalk was founded in 2022 by Marc Freed-Finnegan, Elliot Marx, and Andy Moreland, who drew from their expertise in data infrastructure, payments, and fintech to tackle real-time ML challenges.[1][3] Marc Freed-Finnegan, the CEO, previously launched Google Wallet at Google and founded Index (acquired by Stripe as Stripe Terminal).[3] Elliot Marx built risk and credit data systems at Affirm and co-founded Haven Money (acquired by Credit Karma), while Andy Moreland worked on large-scale data infrastructure at Palantir and co-founded Haven Money with Marx.[3] The idea emerged from the limitations of batch-processed data in traditional systems, as companies increasingly demand real-time decisions for AI applications—prompting Chalk's focus on ultra-low-latency ML operations.[1][3]

Core Differentiators

• Real-time performance: Delivers fresh features in under 5ms at high volumes (e.g., 100,000 QPS) using a Rust-based compute engine that scales horizontally, outperforming batch-oriented platforms.[3][4]
• No bespoke infrastructure: Deploys to users' existing databases for online/offline stores, simplifying integration and reducing vendor lock-in compared to competitors like Databricks or Snowflake.[1][4]
• Built-in observability: Tracks data drift, quality, and usage natively, with tools for troubleshooting ML issues in production.[4]
• Developer-friendly experience: Supports Jupyter notebooks, streaming data parsing, and custom logic for workflows like fraud detection, credit scoring, and predictive maintenance, enabling rapid model deployment.[3][4]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Chalk rides the explosive growth of real-time AI inference, fueled by the GenAI boom where enterprises need instant decisions from vast datasets—shifting from batch processing to low-latency ML for applications in finance, healthcare, and marketplaces.[1][3][4] Its timing aligns with massive funding in AI infrastructure (e.g., Databricks' $10B round) and rising demand for scalable tools amid data explosion.[1] Market forces like increasing ML adoption in mission-critical operations favor Chalk, as it lowers barriers for data teams versus legacy platforms, influencing the ecosystem by enabling faster innovation in fraud prevention, credit risk, and personalized services.[1][3][4]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Chalk is poised to expand as a go-to platform for real-time ML amid 2025's foundational AI trends, with recent hires like Medely for healthcare staffing signaling deeper vertical penetration.[4] Upcoming focus areas include advanced MLOps solutions for common pain points like data issues and scaling, potentially driving further funding or enterprise wins.[4] As GenAI evolves toward hybrid real-time/batch systems, Chalk's influence could grow by powering more "hard questions" in high-stakes industries, solidifying its edge in the AI data platform race.[3][4][5]