Frustrated with the lack of effective automated data protection tools while at Airbnb, Julie Trias and Elizabeth Nammour founded Teleskope. The startup’s platform enables customers to connect to data sources, identify sensitive data, and take necessary actions like isolating or deleting it. Teleskope’s pipeline of models uses different techniques for classifying sensitive data in various formats, including natural language, structured tabular data, code bases, and log files. Despite their deep technical expertise, Trias and Nammour initially faced challenges in the venture capital world due to their lack of experience and the gender bias investors often exhibit towards female founding teams. Through refinement and determination, they successfully secured the $5 million seed funding from investors who understood their vision.