10 Palantir alumni who founded companies
These Palantir alumni who founded companies worked at Palantir Technologies, in roles that ranged from forward deployed work to senior vice president, before each started the company they run today. A reader can learn how people who worked at Palantir went on to build companies, from the founders themselves.
Professionals to explore
Barry McCardel
LinkedInExperience: Co-Founder and CEO · Hex
Barry McCardel was Forward Deployed at Palantir Technologies from 2014 to 2018, and has been Co-Founder and CEO of Hex since 2019.
Cenk Sezgin
LinkedInExperience: Co-Founder · Hypersight
Cenk Sezgin was Product Group Lead at Palantir Technologies from 2020 to 2023, and has been Co-Founder of Hypersight since 2024.
Eugen Alpeza
LinkedInExperience: CEO & Co-Founder · Edra
Eugen Alpeza was Co-Head of Forward Deployed AI Engineering at Palantir Technologies from 2023 to 2024 and US Commercial Lead from 2020 to 2023, and has been CEO & Co-Founder of Edra since 2025.
Hamutal Meridor
LinkedInExperience: Co-Founder & President · Kela Technologies
Hamutal Meridor was GM, Israel at Palantir Technologies from 2016 to 2021, and has been Co-Founder & President of Kela Technologies since 2024.
Hirsh Jain
LinkedInExperience: CEO & Co-Founder · Percepta
Hirsh Jain was Senior Vice President at Palantir Technologies from 2017 to 2024, and has been CEO & Co-Founder of Percepta since 2024.
Jack Kilcoyne
LinkedInExperience: Co-Founder & CEO · Bridge Defense
Jack Kilcoyne was Enterprise Lead at Palantir Technologies from 2017 to 2024, and has been Co-Founder & CEO of Bridge Defense since 2024.
Julie Bush
LinkedInExperience: Co-Founder & CEO · Valinor
Julie Bush was Senior Vice President, Federal, Strategic Initiatives at Palantir Technologies from 2013 to 2024, and has been Co-Founder & CEO of Valinor since 2024.
Kathleen McMahon
LinkedInExperience: Co-Founder & CEO · Valthos
Kathleen McMahon was Head of Life Sciences at Palantir Technologies from 2017 to 2024, and has been Co-Founder & CEO of Valthos since 2024. A profile highlight says the Palantir role directed product strategy, customer operations and business development for the pharma and biotech sector.
Saahil Madge
LinkedInExperience: CEO & Co-founder · Felicity
Saahil Madge was Commercial Lead, Palantir Apollo at Palantir Technologies from 2022 to 2023, and has been CEO & Co-founder of Felicity since 2024.
Will Manning
LinkedInExperience: Founder & CEO · Spiral
Will Manning was Development Group Lead & Chief Architect at Palantir Technologies from 2016 to 2022, and has been Founder & CEO of Spiral since 2022. The profile describes Will Manning as a co-creator of Palantir Foundry.
Choose the right perspective
Look first at the title each person held at Palantir, because a senior leader and an individual engineer usually describe the move to founding very differently. Then weigh how long each has run the current company against the stage you are at.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What did you learn at Palantir about building products or serving customers that you still rely on?
- 02How did you choose between starting alone and starting with co-founders?
- 03What would you do differently if you were leaving a large employer to start a company today?
Reaching Palantir alumni who founded companies
How can I contact one of these Palantir alumni who founded companies?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 10 companies, including Hex, Hypersight and Edra, based on profile data retrieved on October 25, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach Palantir alumni who founded companies?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. The offer is what the person receives, and Instant Expert's fee is added on top, so a $100 offer costs you $125. The fee is 20% of what you pay. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
Can an AI agent ask one of these Palantir alumni who founded companies a question?
Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. Claude and ChatGPT can do the same through the Instant Expert connector: setup is at /docs/mcp for Claude and /docs/chatgpt for ChatGPT. x402 docs
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.