John Stone
Operator. Investor. Builder.
Building technology that advances human flourishing. 25+ years as an operator at Amazon, Indeed, NASA. Now investing time and capital across 16 portfolio companies.
About Cephal
Cephal is a personal investment vehicle focused on building and backing technology that helps humans flourish. The name comes from the Greek kephalē, meaning "head" — representing intelligence, evolution, and the pursuit of knowledge.
Investment Focus
We invest time and capital across the full spectrum of human needs — from survival and security to connection, achievement, growth, and transcendence.
Operator-Led
With 25+ years building at Amazon, Indeed, and NASA, we bring deep technical and operational expertise to every company in our portfolio.
Our investment thesis is grounded in understanding what humans fundamentally need and building technology that addresses those needs at scale.
Operating Track Record
Full BackgroundAIKind
Founder & Principal, Revenue Systems & AI
Founded AIKind to architect autonomous, self-improving AI agents designed to bridge the gap between human needs and machine capabilities.
Indeed
Software Development Manager, AI & Outreach Platforms
Directed the engineering strategy for global messaging and outreach platforms, connecting millions of employers and job seekers within a business unit generating $7B+ in annual revenue.
GTRI
SEAL, CIPHER & EOSL Labs
Interim Branch Head & Senior Research Scientist
Led the Intelligent Systems Design branch, serving as primary lead for acquiring and securing multi-million dollar project funding for a diverse research portfolio. Active Top Secret Clearance.
Education
Georgia Institute of Technology
4.0 GPAM.S. in Computer Science
Completed 2020
University of Central Florida
B.S. in Computer Science
Completed 2005
Certifications
- GCP (2020)
- AWS Developer & Solution Architect Professional (2014)
- ColdFusion 8/MX (2000)
- CompTIA A+ (1999)
Publications
- Portable Ultraviolet-C Disinfection Systems for COVID-19, 2020 IRAD & NIST 2021
- Low Cost Swarm STITCHES Link 16, GTRI IRAD 2021
- ABMS MeshONE Reference Implementation Lab Study, 2021
- CoEpi: Community Epidemiology in Action, GTRI IRAD 2020
Portfolio
View All1Meg
Network, Hardware & Tech Evolution
Deep dives into networking, hardware, and the evolution of technology. From processors to protocols, exploring how tech shapes our world.
AIKind
AI Agents
Exploring artificial intelligence agents and their applications. Resources on AI development, agent architectures, and the future of intelligent systems.
Atomicard
Trading & Value Discovery
The atomic unit of trade. Turn anything into a tradeable card and discover true value through multi-party exchanges.
Cephal
Human Flourishing Investments
An investment portfolio guided by human needs. Building and supporting ventures across the hierarchy of human flourishing—from survival to transcendence.
Darknos
AI Health Priority Optimizer
Your AI health concierge. Get personalized health action plans based on your labs, symptoms, and goals. Prioritize what matters most for a longer, healthier, pain-free life.
Fooduty
Food & Nutrition
Explore culinary delights and nutritional wisdom. Recipes, food products, and healthy eating guides for food enthusiasts.
Partner With Us
Building something that helps humans flourish? Let's talk about how we can work together.
Get in Touch