Ex-Amazon stars build AI company after leaving big tech

Nicole Landis Ferragonio and Joe Luchs left Amazon last year to co-found Datalinx AI, an “AI data refinery” aimed at helping companies turn fragmented and inconsistent data into actionable insights.

Ferragonio, a former senior manager of a 55-person team at Amazon Ads, and Luchs, the global head of AWS and Ads partnerships, noticed businesses struggling to use internal data effectively. Motivated by Amazon’s five-day return-to-office mandate and the rapid rise of AI, they decided it was the right moment to pursue a startup.

Since its launch with two other co-founders, Datalinx AI has raised $4.2 million in seed funding and is preparing to onboard its first paying customer. The duo credits thorough customer research, calculated timing, and a willingness to embrace challenges — from operations to balancing feedback — for their early progress.

Their story highlights how experience, conviction, and timing can drive a successful leap from corporate life to entrepreneurship in the AI era.