Cheeki
Cheeki is a Seattle-based AI software company offering ClearPathAI for DoD ATO compliance and an AI recruiting/job-automation platform serving defense agencies, Fortune 500 enterprises, and SMB customers via SBIR contracts and SaaS subscriptions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Cheeki does
Cheeki is a Seattle-headquartered private AI software company operating a dual-market business across defense/government and commercial recruiting. On the government side, the company's flagship product ClearPathAI automates the Department of Defense Authority to Operate (ATO) compliance process and is listed as an Awardable product in the DoD TradewindsAI Solutions Marketplace. Cheeki holds DOD Interim Rule cybersecurity certification, Small Business designation, and Government-wide Purchase Card acceptance, and is collaborating with Lockheed Martin on SBIR grants covering predictive psychological architectures for decision-making (HR0011SB20254) and enhanced language-oriented data for track management (N254-D08). Defense offerings also include a proposed Triage to Targeting warfighter AI decision-architecture program, with a regional office in Lexington, Kentucky focused on U.S. defense technology development.
On the commercial side, Cheeki operates an AI job application automation platform that helps job seekers auto-apply to positions and helps employers source and engage candidates. The B2B recruiting product combines Precision AI Sourcing (aggregating candidate data from LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter/X, GitHub, StackOverflow, and industry-specific databases) with AI Personalized SMS Outreach, sold via tiered subscriptions: Tall at $400/month, Grande at $700/month, and Enterprise custom pricing. Revenue is generated through a hybrid go-to-market spanning SBIR-funded defense contracts (e.g., Amazon Project Kuiper at $166K annually since September 2024), self-serve SMB SaaS, and consumer subscriptions. Cheeki maintains a sub-10-person team anchored by CEO Aaron McCloud and supported by NVIDIA Inception, UW CoMotion Labs, and Madrona Venture Labs ecosystem affiliations.
Cheeki firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cheeki
- Legal name
- Cheeki Inc.
- Website
- https://cheeki.io
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Cheeki is a Seattle-based AI software company offering ClearPathAI for DoD ATO compliance and an AI recruiting/job-automation platform serving defense agencies, Fortune 500 enterprises, and SMB customers via SBIR contracts and SaaS subscriptions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cheeki industry classification
Industry- Product category
- AI Recruiting and Workforce Automation Software
- NAICS
- Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Employment Placement Agencies (561311)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- AI/ML Engineering & Model Development Services (BPAEAHAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Generative AI & LLM Solutions Services (RAG, Agents, Copilots) (BPAEAHAG), Responsible AI, Security & Privacy Platforms (Safety, Guardrails, PII) (HDAEANAG)
Keywords
Where Cheeki is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Cheeki business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Enterprise Government Contracts & SBIR Grants: Revenue from DoD SBIR grants, government contracts (ClearPathAI ATO compliance tool), and enterprise software development engagements. Enterprise contracts range from $120K to $180K annually. Revenue is project-based, recurring through SBIR Phase I/II awards and follow-on contracts.
- AI Recruiting Platform Subscriptions: Monthly and annual SaaS subscriptions for AI-powered candidate sourcing and first-conversation automation. Three tiers: Tall ($400/mo), Grande ($700/mo), and Enterprise. Revenue is subscription-based recurring.
- Consumer Job Application Automation: Consumer-facing AI service that automatically applies to jobs on behalf of users, with subscription tiers at various fee levels. Collects fees for missed interviews and failed interview responses. ML/AI tools analyze user data to suggest matching jobs.
- Software Publishing: Publishing and management of software products including Cheeki Flagship Product (AI job platform) and custom software for enterprise clients.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Tall Plan — Precision Sourcing |
| Subscription | Monthly | Grande Plan — Precision Sourcing & 1st Convo |
| Subscription | Annual | Enterprise Plan |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Cheeki product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cheeki develops and sells AI-based software products including the Cheeki Flagship Product (an AI job application and recruiting platform that automates job matching and applications for job seekers and employers), ClearPathAI (an AI tool for automating the Department of Defense Authority to Operate compliance process), and B2B AI recruiting tools for precision candidate sourcing and AI-personalized SMS outreach. The company also delivers custom AI/LLM/RAG/ML development and SBIR-funded defense AI work for government and enterprise clients.
Product overview
Cheeki offers a dual-market AI platform consisting of the Cheeki Flagship Product (an AI job application automation platform for job seekers and employers) and ClearPathAI (AI automation for DoD ATO compliance). The business hiring solution includes Precision AI Sourcing and AI Personalized SMS Outreach modules available at different pricing tiers (Tall, Grande, Enterprise) with specialized nursing and medical personnel hiring packages.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ClearPathAI: AI automation technology for ATO (Authority to Operate) Compliance developed for the Department of Defense, available in DoD's TradewindsAI Marketplace
Products and services
- Cheeki Flagship Product (AI Job Application & Recruiting Platform) AI-powered job application automation platform that analyzes user information, matches candidates to appropriate jobs, submits applications on the user's behalf, schedules interviews, and follows up with employers. Sold to both individual job seekers (B2C subscription) and SMB/mid-market employers (B2B SaaS with Tall, Grande, and Enterprise tiers).
- ClearPathAI AI automation tool that expedites the Authority to Operate (ATO) compliance process for the Department of Defense. Sold to DoD agencies and defense contractors via the TradewindsAI Solutions Marketplace and SBIR-funded engagements.
- AI Warfighter Critical Decision Architectures AI development initiative to build human-trusted AI systems for high-stakes defense and battlefield decision-making. Delivered through SBIR-funded R&D with Lockheed Martin as prime contractor.
- Custom AI / LLM / RAG / ML Development Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 27.3% faster time-to-hire than industry standard in nursing/medical hiring case study
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Cheeki
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Cheeki technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature5 records
Cheeki partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Lockheed MartinflagshipLockheed Martin selected Cheeki to collaborate on multiple SBIR grants including HR0011SB20254 (Predictive Psychological Architectures for Decision-Making) and N254-D08 (Direct to Phase II: Enhanced Language-oriented Data for Track Management and Data Analytics). Lockheed Martin serves as prime contractor on these DoD SBIR awards.
- NVIDIA (Inception Program)coreCheeki is a member of NVIDIA's elite Inception Startup Program. The program provides access to cutting-edge NVIDIA AI chips and model training technology to boost Cheeki's software and AI solutions development. Confirmed via official NVIDIA letter.
- University of Washington CoMotion LabscoreCheeki founders are University of Washington alumni supported by UW's CoMotion Labs department, which helps students and alumni commercialize their research. Confirmed via official UW CoMotion letter of support.
- U.S. Department of Defense (TradewindsAI)flagshipClearPathAI (Cheeki's AI ATO compliance automation product) is listed as an Awardable product in the DoD TradewindsAI Solutions Marketplace. This provides government procurement channel access and formal recognition as a DoD-vetted AI solution provider.
- DoD Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO)flagshipCheeki's CBDO Vince Pecoraro spent nearly 20 years sourcing technology for the Department of Defense, most recently as Director of Acquisition Management at DoD CDAO. This connection provides direct access to DoD acquisition decision-makers and processes.
- AmazoncoreCheeki has been developing software for Amazon's Project Kuiper (global satellite network and Starlink competitor) since September 2024. Cheeki develops software to support the 3,000+ satellites in low earth orbit. Active contract at $166K annually.
- Madrona Venture LabsminorCheeki is associated with Madrona Venture Labs since February 2024, gaining access to startup resources, mentorship, and venture ecosystem connections in the Pacific Northwest.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Cheeki competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- HireVue: AI-driven hiring platform combining candidate sourcing, video interviewing, and assessment automation. Overlaps with Cheeki's automated interview scheduling and AI candidate engagement for SMB and enterprise recruiters, and operates in adjacent regulatory exposure to AI hiring laws.
- Eightfold AI: AI-powered talent intelligence platform offering candidate sourcing, matching, and skills inference for enterprise recruiting. Directly comparable to Cheeki's Precision AI Sourcing and AI Personalized SMS Outreach modules, serving the same SMB/mid-market hiring buyer with AI-driven candidate engagement.
- Workable: SMB-focused recruiting software with AI candidate sourcing and applicant tracking. Closest SMB GTM parallel to Cheeki's Tall ($400/mo) and Grande ($700/mo) subscription tiers, both targeting mid-market hiring teams with self-serve and sales-assisted plans.
- Scale AI: AI/ML data labeling, model evaluation, and generative AI engineering services for government and enterprise. Directly comparable to Cheeki's custom AI/LLM/RAG engineering services and DoD focus, particularly Scale AI's Donovan and Thunderforge government AI programs.
Broad incumbents
- LinkedIn Talent Solutions: LinkedIn's recruiter platform is the de-facto standard for sourcing passive candidates. Cheeki's Precision AI Sourcing scrapes LinkedIn and adjacent platforms, making LinkedIn both a distribution dependency (data source) and the dominant incumbent Cheeki competes against for recruiter budgets.
- iCIMS: Enterprise talent acquisition platform with AI-driven candidate matching, CRM, and onboarding. Competes with Cheeki's B2B recruiting product in larger enterprise deals while offering a much broader portfolio (CRM, onboarding, internal mobility) Cheeki does not.
- C3.ai: Enterprise AI application platform serving defense, manufacturing, and financial services. Comparable to Cheeki's enterprise AI/LLM/RAG services layer, with a much larger installed base, capital base, and pre-built applications Cheeki lacks.
- ZipRecruiter: Job marketplace with AI-driven candidate matching and SMB-focused employer tools. Competes with Cheeki's Flagship Product in the SMB/consumer job-automation space, with much larger brand recognition and a candidate-first marketplace Cheeki does not operate.
- Palantir Technologies: Defense and enterprise AI platform with deep DoD relationships, including CDAO and other defense agencies Cheeki targets. ClearPathAI competes with Palantir's AIP/Gotham offerings in DoD compliance and operational AI, but Palantir has vastly greater capital, headcount, and installed-base reach.
- Anduril Industries: Defense technology company building AI-enabled systems for DoD, including Lattice OS and AI decision-support tools. Overlaps with Cheeki's AI Warfighter Critical Decision Architectures initiative at a vastly larger scale, capital base, and TRL maturity.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cheeki social profiles
Digital presenceCheeki compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Cheeki financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cheeki leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Cheeki funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cheeki M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cheeki
What does Cheeki do?
Cheeki develops and sells AI-based software products including the Cheeki Flagship Product (an AI job application and recruiting platform that automates job matching and applications for job seekers and employers), ClearPathAI (an AI tool for automating the Department of Defense Authority to Operate compliance process), and B2B AI recruiting tools for precision candidate sourcing and AI-personalized SMS outreach. The company also delivers custom AI/LLM/RAG/ML development and SBIR-funded defense AI work for government and enterprise clients.
Is Cheeki a public or private company?
Cheeki is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Cheeki founded?
Cheeki was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Cheeki based?
Cheeki is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cheeki make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Enterprise Government Contracts & SBIR Grants are the primary driver. The others are AI Recruiting Platform Subscriptions, consumer Job Application Automation and software Publishing.
Who are Cheeki's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are HireVue, Eightfold AI, Workable and Scale AI. Broad incumbents are LinkedIn Talent Solutions, iCIMS, C3.ai, ZipRecruiter, Palantir Technologies and Anduril Industries.
Does Cheeki have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cheeki.
What industry is Cheeki in?
Cheeki's product category is AI Recruiting and Workforce Automation Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAEAHAF, AI/ML Engineering & Model Development Services, with a secondary code of BPAEAHAG, Generative AI & LLM Solutions Services (RAG, Agents, Copilots). Its NAICS code is 541511 and its SIC code is 7371.