Hupside, the Original Intelligence platform company helping organizations identify, measure, and scale human originality in an AI-driven world, today announced it has closed a $1.7 million pre-seed round led by Ruxton Ventures, with participation from strategic angel investors. The funding aligns with the public availability of Hupchecker, a first-of-its-kind, research-backed assessment platform that measures Original Intelligence and identifies individuals and teams ready to work with and optimize AI tools.
As Generative AI becomes more widespread in the workplace, a troubling trend has emerged: as few as 5% of AI rollouts are generating measurable return on investment. Organizations lack a way to identify and integrate the people who are truly AI-ready. That’s where Hupchecker comes in. By measuring Original Intelligence, Hupchecker reveals the individuals who can unlock AI’s potential, ensuring AI deployments deliver real and lasting value.
“We are in favor of AI, but we are not in favor of AI adoption done badly. AI alone doesn’t transform companies—people do,” said Jonathan Aberman, Co-Founder and CEO of Hupside. “AI is a tool, and like any tool, its benefits will be greatest when combined with people that use it the best. Hupchecker provides an objective, data-driven way to identify individuals who can collaborate effectively with AI and think beyond the obvious. That’s the kind of talent that drives real innovation and lasting competitive advantage. We are going to change the game on AI adoption.”
Hupchecker is the first assessment platform to generate an Original Intelligence Quotient (OIQ
), and OIQ Types, revealing how individuals use originality to solve problems and move beyond AI-generated sameness. By benchmarking responses against both human and AI outputs, it shows each person’s potential to work with AI. Delivered as a quick, gamified web or mobile experience, Hupchecker provides organizations with a simple way to identify originality potential and build AI-ready, creativity-driven teams in just ten minutes.
“Hupside is based upon years of scientific work by national experts in AI and creativity. When we saw its potential, we knew Ruxton had to get behind it,” added Mark Walsh, founder of Ruxton Ventures. “Understanding who in your organization is truly AI-ready, and who can use it to create original, valuable output is the missing link in AI adoption. Hupchecker cuts through the hype and allows companies to drive real, lasting business transformation.”
Backed by Science and Experience
Hupside’s founding team brings together leadership in venture, neuroscience, and emerging technology. Together, their expertise forms the backbone of a company built to scale human ingenuity in AI-integrated environments.
- Co-Founder and CEO Jonathan Aberman is a seasoned leader in business transformation across professional services, government, and academia. A Partner at Ruxton Ventures and founding Dean of Marymount University’s School of Business and Technology, he is widely recognized as a national expert on innovation, change management, and technology ventures.
- Co-Founder Erich Baumgartner is a six-time startup exit leader and proven technology executive, known for scaling high-growth companies and translating emerging technologies into practical, real-world solutions.
- Co-Founder and Chief Architect Dan Johnson, PhD, Professor of Cognitive and Behavioral Science at Washington & Lee University, is an AI scientist and co-inventor of the core intellectual property behind Hupside.
- Co-Founder and Chief Scientist Adam Green, PhD, Professor of Psychology and Director of the Lab for Relational Cognition at Georgetown University, is an international expert on human creativity and the role of originality in predicting success. He is also the inventor of future technologies on Hupside’s roadmap.
Last month Hupside also welcomed Justin Fanelli, Chief Technology Officer for the U.S. Department of the Navy, as the first member of its advisory board. Fanelli joins to help shape how government and mission-driven organizations can preserve human ingenuity while adopting AI at scale.
