Former JFS student raises $1m for transformative AI startup

London entrepreneur Evan Shapiro has raised $1 million in investment for his AI startup Dataline Labs, which helps organisations turn fragmented business data into instant, usable insight without needing large technical teams.

Shapiro, who grew up in Bushey, Hertfordshire, was part of the first year of students at Yavneh and before moving to JFS for sixth form.

As co-founder and CEO of the company, he has led Dataline Labs from a bootstrapped idea to government-backed defence work in under three years, securing backing from Haatch Ventures, the British Business Bank and angel investors.

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The startup has also been selected for the Ministry of Defence’s Digital Supply Chain Hub Defence Testbed Accelerator, a programme supporting technology firms working on critical UK defence infrastructure.

Founded in 2023 by Shapiro and CTO Chris Lawson – both first-time founders – Dataline Labs tackles a problem both founders encountered throughout their careers: that essential business data was spread across disconnected systems, spreadsheets and legacy software. In many organisations, extracting usable insights still requires months of engineering work and specialist expertise.

Dataline Labs addresses this by transforming fragmented data sources into clean, AI-ready datasets within minutes rather than months – and, crucially, providing AI with the business context needed to interpret that data accurately.

Shapiro, a member of Bushey United Synagogue growing up, says: “We spent years watching companies drown in their own data. The information was there, but getting to it meant waiting on overloaded engineering or data teams, with dozens of tasks ahead of yours!”

“We started Dataline Labs because we believed there had to be a faster way – and now we’re proving it with a vote of confidence from investors and the Minstry of Defence.”

Alongside the funding announcement, the company is launching MIRA AI, a platform where non-technical teams can ask questions in plain English and receive usable answers, instead of relying on engineers or analysts.

The company believes this approach could significantly improve productivity in sectors where data remains difficult to access.

Haatch Ventures said Shapiro’s leadership and the company’s early momentum were key reasons for its investment.

“Evan and Chris have built something genuinely impressive in a short space of time,” said Sophie Weavers-Wright, Head of Platform & Portfolio at Haatch Ventures.

“Two first-time founders going from zero to Ministry of Defence selection so quickly tells you everything about the quality of the technology and the team.”

Shapiro studied Aerospace Engineering at the University of Liverpool before completing a Masters in Finance at the London School of Economics.

To date, Dataline Labs has delivered projects across sectors including manufacturing, smart buildings, asset management and ESG reporting.

With the new funding, Shapiro plans to expand the team, roll out MIRA AI to enterprise clients, and deliver on the company’s Ministry of Defence work.

Beyond defence, the company is targeting industries where data fragmentation remains endemic, including retail, marketing, property, private equity and professional sports.

datalinelabs.com