US Tech Startup Thrives on Private-Sector Investigation Services

Utah Investigators Use Private-Sector Intelligence to Identify Chinese Government Ties

In a significant breakthrough, investigators with the Utah Department of Public Safety have successfully identified Chinese government ties to a motorsports park located approximately 40 miles southwest of Salt Lake City. The park's ownership structure was previously shrouded in mystery, with corporate and employment records pointing to a company called Mitime Utah Investment LLC. However, by utilizing the platform of Strider Technologies, a Utah-based firm specializing in private-sector intelligence, authorities were able to uncover the true ownership structure of the park.

Strider Technologies: A Private-Sector Version of Spy Agencies

Strider Technologies has been building a private-sector version of what spy agencies do for nation-states for nearly a decade. The company's platform ingests billions of publicly available documents, corporate registries, trade records, and foreign-language filings to provide its clients with critical intelligence. In the case of Mitime Utah Investment LLC, Strider's platform revealed that the company's ownership structure was tied to entities with direct contracts and personnel ties to the Chinese government and military.

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Strider's discovery has highlighted the growing importance of private-sector intelligence in identifying and tracking state actors. The company's platform has been used by the US Air Force, state governments, and NATO, and has a growing list of former international intelligence officials joining its ranks. Strider's CEO, Greg Levesque, has stated that the company's architecture is designed to operate within established legal frameworks and prioritize accuracy, transparency, and responsible data use.

The Rise of Commercialized Counter-Espionage

The collision of global capital and national security has led to the emergence of a new market category: the commercialization of counter-espionage. Strider Technologies is at the forefront of this market, providing its clients with critical intelligence on supply chain risk, intellectual property theft, and insider risk. The company's platform has been used to identify post-sanctions trade diversion routes and has provided actionable intelligence to its clients.

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Concerns Over Data Collection and Surveillance

The use of Strider's platform has raised concerns over data collection and surveillance. Jennifer King, a data privacy fellow at Stanford University, has stated that the general public has no idea what data is collected about them for these purposes, or how to defend against it. Greg Levesque has responded to these concerns by stating that Strider's systems, methodologies, and terms of service are designed to operate within established legal frameworks and prioritize accuracy, transparency, and responsible data use.

Strider's Growth and Expansion

Strider Technologies has experienced significant growth since its Series C post-money valuation of $450 million in September 2024. The company has nearly tripled its revenue and is exploring additional investment. Strider now operates in 16 countries and has a growing list of clients, including eight of the top 10 Fortune 500 companies.

The Future of Private-Sector Intelligence

The use of private-sector intelligence in identifying and tracking state actors is set to continue growing. Strider Technologies is at the forefront of this market, providing its clients with critical intelligence on supply chain risk, intellectual property theft, and insider risk. However, concerns over data collection and surveillance remain, and the industry will need to address these concerns in order to continue growing.