Justin Wenig, a former Y Combinator entrepreneur, has embarked on a new venture aimed at transforming public sector sales processes. In 2024, he launched Starbridge, a platform designed to assist business sales teams in tracking opportunities within the public sector. This initiative comes on the heels of Wenig’s successful exit from his previous startup, Coursedog, which was sold for nine figures in 2021. On Wednesday, Starbridge announced a significant $42 million Series A funding round led by Craft Ventures, the investment firm founded by David Sacks.
Wenig identified a critical issue for vendors working in the public sector: the fragmentation and inaccessibility of vital information. “Critical buying information is scattered across PDFs, agency websites, meeting minutes, and outdated directories,” he remarked, explaining the hours vendors spend piecing together contact insights.
Starbridge addresses this challenge by consolidating data from various public web sources into a single platform. The system offers sales teams a ranked scoring of public sector accounts most likely to invest in new technology, alongside timely updates on leadership changes and emerging initiatives. “Instead of chasing noise, our customers have a clear, data-backed view of where to focus and when to act,” Wenig emphasized.
The Series A round raised a total of $42 million, with participation from investors like Owl Ventures, Commonweal Ventures, and Autotech Ventures, bringing Starbridge’s total funding to $52 million, including a previously raised $10 million seed round.
Looking ahead, the startup plans to roll out a “Starbridge integrated experience,” which will allow users to leverage its technology without continually accessing the main platform. “Every competitor goes right to your CRM, and every question about an account can be answered right from a Slackbot,” Wenig noted.
As Starbridge positions itself among competitors like GovWin and GovSpend, it distinguishes itself by integrating AI workflows with its datasets, simplifying the process for sales teams.
Reflecting on his fundraising journey, Wenig commented on the shifting landscape in venture capital. “In the AI era, the tides are shifting—maybe nobody wants to run for office anymore, but they do want to build.” He expressed optimism for the new generation of mission-driven founders addressing real systemic challenges.
