Brian O'Kelley
About Brian O'Kelley
Brian O'Kelley is a technology entrepreneur based in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from Princeton University in 1999 with a B.S.E. in computer science. His early roles included CEO of Netamorphosis, VP at LogicSpan and EVP at Cetova.
He was CTO of Right Media from 2003 until Yahoo acquired it in 2007, where he helped invent the ad exchange. He then co-founded AppNexus in 2007 and was its CEO until AT&T acquired it for a reported $1.6 billion in 2018.
In 2019 he co-founded CMDTY, later renamed Waybridge. Scope3 began as a side project, and he became its CEO and co-founder. A trade report says Scope3 renamed itself Apostra, and his LinkedIn lists him as CEO and co-founder of Apostra. He also sits on the board of LiveRamp.
Crunchbase lists 17 personal investments, and PitchBook lists 20. He has been an angel investor for many years. His LinkedIn includes a recommendation describing co-investing as an angel through Grape Arbor, an angel group, and O'Reilly's bio describes him as an active partner there. Crunchbase also lists him as an advisor and investor at ad-tech companies MediaMath and Dstillery, and as an advisor at Tribeca Venture Partners since 2011.
His most recent investment on Crunchbase is InfoHawk's pre-seed round, announced 8 June 2026. InfoHawk is an Austin-based startup that detects and neutralizes AI-driven scams and online deception. Moonshots Capital led the $2.25M round. O'Kelley is named among the angels, alongside Jon Leibowitz, Rob Goldman and Vlad Fedorov. Crunchbase also lists a pre-seed investment in Nodals AI, with no date or details visible.
Crunchbase shows his investments span angel, pre-seed, seed and Series A rounds. His own operating background is in ad tech, programmatic advertising, supply chain technology and emissions measurement. He has not published a check size or a statement of what he looks for, so none is given here.
- InfoHawk: AI platform that detects and neutralizes online scams and impersonation, delivered by API; angel in the $2.25M pre-seed, June 2026.
- Nodals AI: pre-seed investment listed on Crunchbase; date not public.
- Firsthand: seed and Series A investments listed on Crunchbase; dates not public.
- Classify: angel round listed on Crunchbase; date not public.
- Picnic Media: Series A investment listed on Crunchbase; date not public.
- MediaMath and Dstillery: ad-tech companies where Crunchbase lists him as an advisor and investor.
- crunchbase.com/person/brian-okelley
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_O'Kelley
- app.dealroom.co/news/note/infohawk-raises-2-25m-pre-seed-to-detect-ai-
- pulse2.com/infohawk-raises-2-25-million-to-combat-ai-driven-scams-and-
- ppc.land/scope3-becomes-apostra-a-40-person-bet-on-ai-agents-that-trad
- linkedin.com/in/brianokelley
- oreilly.com/people/brian-okelley
- pitchbook.com/profiles/investor/106615-90
Investing activity
Brian O'Kelley appears in 1 AI deal tracked by the Lounge deals desk. The rounds are mostly Pre-seed, with a median round size of $2M. The most recent is InfoHawk (Pre-seed, $2.25M, Jun 2026).
Brian O'Kelley most often invests alongside Moonshots Capital, Centigrade founder, Vlad Fedorov and James Walker, and the companies they back on Lounge are mostly in AI.
Deals
Frequently asked questions about Brian O'Kelley
Who is Brian O'Kelley?
He is a technology entrepreneur who co-founded AppNexus, which AT&T acquired in 2018 for a reported $1.6 billion, and later co-founded Scope3, now called Apostra. He also invests as an angel.
Has Brian O'Kelley invested in AI startups?
Yes. He was an angel in InfoHawk's $2.25M pre-seed round in June 2026, and Crunchbase lists a pre-seed investment in Nodals AI.
What is Brian O'Kelley's angel check size?
He has not published a check size. The size of his own cheque in the InfoHawk round is not disclosed either.
What stage does Brian O'Kelley invest in?
Crunchbase lists angel, pre-seed, seed and Series A rounds. His most recent listed deal is a pre-seed.
Does Brian O'Kelley invest in ad tech?
He built his career in ad tech at Right Media and AppNexus, and Crunchbase lists him as an advisor and investor at MediaMath and Dstillery. He has not published a sector thesis.
Is Brian O'Kelley an angel investor?
Yes. Brian O'Kelley invests personally as an angel.
What AI companies has Brian O'Kelley invested in?
Brian O'Kelley's AI investments include InfoHawk. The 1 round on Lounge are listed on this page with amounts, dates and co-investors.
What stage does Brian O'Kelley invest at?
In the rounds tracked on Lounge, Brian O'Kelley has invested at Pre-seed, with a median round of $2M.
Who does Brian O'Kelley co-invest with?
Brian O'Kelley's most frequent co-investors on Lounge are Moonshots Capital (1 deal), Centigrade founder (1 deal), Vlad Fedorov (1 deal) and James Walker (1 deal).
How can founders reach Brian O'Kelley?
Founders on Lounge can see Brian O'Kelley's contact details in AI Investor Contacts (paid plans), check for a warm introduction through members who worked with them under Warm Paths, and add Brian O'Kelley to their Investor Pipeline to track the conversation.