Protege

Protege provides a crucial data layer for AI training, specializing in ethically sourcing hard-to-find, real-world, multimodal datasets. Its platform connects data holders with vetted AI developers, offering streamlined access to AI-ready data across the entire AI lifecycle. This approach directly addresses the fundamental requirement for diverse and robust data in advanced AI models.

Founded in 2024 by Bobby Samuels and Travis May, Protege emerged from the insight that limited access to quality data impedes AI's progress. Travis May, a seasoned entrepreneur, previously co-founded and led LiveRamp and Datavant. This understanding motivated them to build an ecosystem optimizing critical data flow for AI development.

Protege serves AI developers and organizations needing specialized, ethically sourced training data. The company envisions itself as the trusted source for real-world data and expert insights, crucial at every AI development stage. Its long-term goal is to accelerate responsible AI advancement by ensuring pervasive high-quality data access.

High-Level Overview

Protege is a rapidly emerging platform focused on solving one of the most critical bottlenecks in artificial intelligence: access to high-quality, proprietary training data. The company connects data holders—such as healthcare providers, media companies, and research institutions—with AI developers who need specialized datasets to train and refine their models. Protege enables secure, compliant, and governed data exchange, making it easier for organizations to unlock the value of their data while empowering AI builders to accelerate innovation. With backing from top-tier investors and partnerships across multiple industries, Protege has quickly become a leading data exchange for AI training, serving both foundational model companies and application-layer startups.

Protege’s growth momentum is evident in its recent $25 million Series A funding round and its expanding network of over 100 data providers across healthcare, media, audio/speech, and motion capture. By bridging the gap between data owners and AI developers, Protege is not only streamlining model development but also fostering a more open and collaborative AI ecosystem.

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Origin Story

Protege was founded in 2024 by Bobby Samuels and Travis May, the latter being the CEO of Shaper Capital and co-founder and former CEO of LiveRamp and Datavant—companies known for pioneering data connectivity and privacy solutions. The idea for Protege emerged from firsthand experience with the challenges of accessing proprietary data for AI development. Recognizing that much of the world’s most valuable data sits siloed within organizations due to privacy, compliance, and commercial concerns, Samuels and May set out to build a platform that could unlock this data safely and efficiently.

Early traction came quickly, with Protege securing a $10 million seed round led by CRV and participation from SV Angel, Bloomberg Beta, and prominent angel investors. The company rapidly expanded its data provider network and customer base, landing major foundational model companies and AI startups as clients. Its ability to navigate complex data governance issues and deliver ethically sourced, high-value datasets positioned Protege as a trusted partner in the AI ecosystem.

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Core Differentiators

• Ethically Sourced, Proprietary Data: Protege offers access to trillions of tokens of data across multiple modalities—much of which has never been available externally—ensuring AI developers can train models on unique, high-quality datasets.
• Secure & Compliant Exchange: Best-in-class privacy and IP protections allow data holders to share or license their data without compromising ownership or regulatory compliance.
• Industry Expertise & Valuation Guidance: Protege helps data owners understand the commercial value of their assets and ensures fair compensation.
• Broad Vertical Coverage: The platform spans healthcare, media, audio/speech, and motion capture, making it a go-to source for diverse AI training needs.
• Developer-Centric Experience: AI builders can quickly discover, access, and integrate datasets into their workflows, reducing time-to-market for new models.
• Network Effects: Protege’s growing community of data providers and AI developers creates a virtuous cycle of value creation and innovation.

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Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Protege is riding the wave of the AI revolution, where the demand for specialized, high-quality training data is outpacing supply. As AI models become more sophisticated and industries seek to leverage AI for competitive advantage, the ability to access proprietary data safely and efficiently is becoming a key differentiator. Protege’s timing is ideal: with increasing regulatory scrutiny around data privacy and AI ethics, the platform’s focus on compliant, governed data exchange aligns with market needs.

Moreover, Protege is influencing the broader ecosystem by lowering barriers to entry for AI startups and enabling established companies to monetize their data assets. This democratization of data access is accelerating innovation across industries, from healthcare to entertainment, and fostering a more collaborative approach to AI development.

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Quick Take & Future Outlook

Protege is poised to become a foundational layer in the AI infrastructure stack, much like cloud providers or data marketplaces in other domains. As AI adoption grows and regulatory frameworks evolve, Protege’s ability to balance data access with privacy and compliance will be increasingly valuable. The company is likely to expand into new verticals, deepen its partnerships with data holders, and further integrate with AI development tools and platforms.

Looking ahead, Protege’s influence will extend beyond data exchange—it will shape how organizations think about data ownership, collaboration, and innovation in the AI era. By making it easier for individuals and companies to be heard and discovered through their data, Protege is unlocking new opportunities for growth and impact across industries. Just as every industry has gatekeepers, Protege is becoming the key that unlocks the door to the next generation of AI breakthroughs.