Fundraising Fox

Ben Colman

Founder

CEO & Co-Founder at Reality Defender

New York, New York, United States

FoundedReality Defender · YC

About

Ben Colman is CEO and co-founder of Reality Defender, which develops an AI platform for detecting deepfakes and synthetic media.

CEO & Co-Founder at Reality DefenderYC W22

Intro paths

YC

Ben went through Y Combinator (Winter 2022) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.

GP

Their group partner at YC was Brad Flora, Backing expeditions into the future — the partner who ran Reality Defender's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗

→

In turn, Ben can intro founders to Reality Defender's investors below.

Reality Defender's investors · 15

Amino CapitalPalo Alto · $100K – $10M checksArgon VenturesBoston · $250K – $500K checksBooz Allen Venturessince 2024DCVC (Data Collective)Palo Alto · $5M – $25M checks · since 2023Evolution VC PartnersNew YorkEx/AnteBrooklyn · since 2023FPVJackson · $100K – $5M checksFusionPalo Alto · $500K – $1M checksGutbrain VenturesBostonIlluminate FinancialLondon · $1M – $8M checks · since 2024New North VenturesPortsmouth · $1M checksParameter VenturesNew York · since 2023Rackhouse Venture Management LpSan Francisco · $250K checksSamsung NextSan Jose · $100K – $5M checks · since 2025Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K checks · since 2022

Co-founders at Reality Defender

GB
Gaurav BharajCo-founder
AS
Ali ShahriyariDirector
LB
Lars ButtlerFounder

Experience

  1. Reality Defender (YC W22)Co-Founder/CEOcurrent2021 — presentNew York, New York, United States
  2. Xoogler.coMember and Past NYC Leadcurrent2017 — presentNew York City Metropolitan Area
  3. VariousAngel Investor, Advisor, Board Member, Foundercurrent2011 — present
  4. Covertix (Acquired 2018)CEO2017 — 2018New York City Metropolitan Area
  5. Goldman SachsVice President2015 — 2017New York City Metropolitan Area
  6. PlaceAVoteCo-Founder2014 — 2015Greater New York City Area
  7. GoogleGraduate Intern2012San Francisco Bay Area

Skills & more

EntrepreneurshipValuationFinancial ModelingStrategyStrategic PartnershipsVenture CapitalAnalyticsBusiness DevelopmentBusiness StrategyStart-upsCompetitive AnalysisDue Diligence
+8 moreFinancial AnalysisMarket ResearchInvestmentsMarketing StrategyInvestment BankingDigital MarketingProduct ManagementEconomics

From Ben's professional profile.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Ben Colman?
Ben Colman is CEO and co-founder of Reality Defender, which develops an AI platform for detecting deepfakes and synthetic media.
Where does Ben Colman work?
Ben Colman is CEO & Co-Founder of Reality Defender.
What companies did Ben Colman found?
Ben Colman founded Reality Defender.
Where did Ben Colman go to school?
Ben Colman studied at Y Combinator; Claremont McKenna College (BA, Economics); NYU Stern School of Business (MBA, Management of Technology & Operations).

Founder mafias

Y Combinator mafia8,773

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Sam AltmanPresidentFounded Tools for Humanity +3Jessica LivingstonCo-founderFounded Y CombinatorAlexis OhanianYC Summer 2005Founded RedditFred EhrsamYC Summer 2012Founded Nudge +1Matt HuangYC Winter 2011Founded HotspotsTrae StephensYC Winter 2022Founded Pursuit +1

+ 8,766 more

Y Combinator mafia4,716

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Ryan SheaEntrepreneurshipFounded StacksTarek MansourFounded KalshiSuhail DoshiEating beans & riceFounded Playground +1Subomi OluwalanaW22Founded ConvoyDarius "Bubs" MonsefS19Founded Sightbox +3Matthew ScholzFounded Oisin Biotechnologies +3

+ 4,709 more

Goldman Sachs mafia249

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Fred EhrsamTraderFounded Nudge +1Matt HuangSummer AnalystFounded HotspotsDavid VélezAnalystFounded NubankTarek MansourEquity Derivatives AnalystFounded KalshiColin WebbSummer AnalystFounded SaucepricingJeppe RindomSummer InternshipFounded Pleo

+ 242 more

NYU Stern School of Business mafia50

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Tushar JainFinance and Political ScienceFounded ePatientFinder +1Alex LyashokMBAFounded WorkFusion +1Mattan GriffelBachelor of Science (BS)Founded One Month +1Brian LongMBAFounded Adaptive Security +1Danny BrowneBS in Business with Concentration in FinanceFounded Station FChris SaxmanMBAFounded Sidebycare

+ 43 more

Peking University mafia30

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Ben JacobsFounded Saturday Landscapes +1Marcus LimaSummer CourseFounded Torus +1Nicholas ManskeHarvard Yenching Institute FellowshipFounded Alariss +1Philip MiglinciModern China Studies for Scientists and EconomistsFounded Glasskube +1Will DrevnoChinese Politics and Public PolicyFounded Marker +1Giuseppe IademarcoSummer SchoolFounded Milliegroup

+ 23 more

Same school

Also attended Y Combinator2,000

Tarek MansourCo-founder & CEO of KalshiSuhail DoshiFounder of Mixpanel; founder of ParticleSubomi OluwalanaCo-founder & CEO of ConvoyMaroof AhmedFounder at Octopus VenturesJustin SwartPartner at Bitkraft Esports VenturesCollin WallaceGeneral Partner at Lobby Capital

+ 1,994 more

Also attended Claremont McKenna College88

Lachlan MontgomerySenior Associate, Platform & Marketing at March Capital PartnersDrew OettingFounding partner of 8VCLindsay SlocumInvestor Relations Lead at ParadigmKurt ShelinePartner, Strategic Investment at Echo Health VenturesParis KokaInvestor at Serena VenturesAlexInvestor at Thomson Reuters Ventures

+ 82 more

Also attended NYU Stern School of Business430

Luna SchmidInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Kaz TeradaVenture Advisor at Monta Vista CapitalNeil FongManaging Director Asia at Burda Principal InvestmentsAlex TosoliniAdvisor at CincyTechMax WechterSenior Director of AI at Lerer HippeauKrupa VankayalaPartner, People & HR at Sapphire Ventures

+ 424 more

Also attended Peking University143

Erica WuInvestment Director at Intel CapitalGiuseppe IademarcoHead of Global Partnership at P101 VenturesLucy BradyHead of Product at Giant Ventures Global LlpLuke TangManaging Partner at G Vision CapitalJonathan BarekChief Operating Officer at Next47Raaj RayatPrincipal at AirTree Ventures

+ 137 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Reality Defender (YC W22)10

Andrew FeinbergCo-Founder & Managing Partner at Argon VenturesAlexander RossGeneral Partner & Head of New York at Illuminate FinancialPeter HungInvestor at Illuminate FinancialAli TamasebGeneral Partner at DCVC (Data Collective)Aaron SistoPartner at First Spark Ventures, LlcHowie XuDirector, Advisory Board at Reaction

+ 4 more

Also worked at Goldman Sachs1,505

Josh KushnerFounder & CEO of Thrive CapitalSarah GuoFounder & General Partner of ConvictionFred EhrsamCo-founder and Senior Advisor at Paradigm; founder of NudgeMatt HuangCo-founder and Managing Partner at ParadigmDavid VélezFounder & CEO of NubankTarek MansourCo-founder & CEO of Kalshi

+ 1,499 more

Also worked at Google1,715

Ron ConwayFounder of SV AngelElad GilSolo general partner investing through Gil CapitalKai-Fu LeeChairman of Sinovation Ventures and CEO of 01.AIBrian SingermanCo-founder of GPx; Partner Emeritus at Founders FundJess LeePartner and Chief Product Officer at Sequoia CapitalTomasz TunguzFounder & General Partner at Theory Ventures

+ 1,709 more