# Nate Kharrl

> Nate Kharrl is the Co-Founder and CEO of Spec (specprotected.com), a San Jose-based fraud prevention platform that uses behavioral analytics to detect and block sophisticated fraud, bots, and abuse before they impact customers. With a career spanning Akamai Technologies, ThreatMetrix, and eBay, Kharrl channeled nearly a decade of watching fraud fighters struggle with siloed tools into founding Spec in 2020. The company has raised over $33 million in funding, including a $15 million Series A led by SignalFire in October 2023, and protects Fortune 500 companies transacting billions in online commerce.

- **Role:** Co-Founder & CEO at Spec
- **Organizations:** Spec, Mastercard Start Path Security Solutions
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley, Journalism, Indian River State College
- **Known for:** Raised over $33 million in funding including a $15M Series A from SignalFire, Selected as one of five startups in Mastercard's inaugural Start Path Security Solutions program, Built platform protecting Fortune 500 companies and brands transacting billions in online commerce

## Career timeline

- **2008** — Program Manager at LeBlanc Global, leading agile teams building e-commerce and news web content
- **2010** — Senior Software Consultant at Levementum, designing enterprise-level software solutions
- **2012** — Joined Akamai Technologies as Engagement Manager, managing security solutions for major financial services firms
- **2015** — Director of Product Management at ThreatMetrix; built analytics platform improving fraud detection by 20%
- **2017** — Senior Product Manager and Senior Program Manager at eBay, leading financial crimes management for multi-billion dollar payments ecosystem
- **2020** — Co-founded Spec (originally SpecTrust) on March 6, 2020, launching amid surge in COVID-era online fraud
- **2021** — Spec raises $4.3M seed round led by Cyber Mentor Fund; joins Dreamit Ventures SecureThisSpring program
- **2022** — Rebrands SpecTrust to Spec; raises additional funding bringing total to $8.8M, led by Rally Ventures
- **2023** — Spec raises $15M Series A led by SignalFire; selected for Mastercard Start Path Security Solutions inaugural cohort
- **2024** — Featured on Category Visionaries podcast; company grows to 180 employees

## Achievements

- Raised over $33 million in funding including a $15M Series A from SignalFire
- Selected as one of five startups in Mastercard's inaugural Start Path Security Solutions program
- Built platform protecting Fortune 500 companies and brands transacting billions in online commerce
- Spec's platform analyzes 14x more behavioral and linking data than traditional fraud tools
- Leading brands using Spec prevent over 99% of abuse before it impacts customers
- Grew Spec to 180 employees since founding in 2020
- Speaker at RSA Conference (RSAC)
- Transitioned Spec from founder-led sales to enterprise sales scaling

## Latest updates

- **2024-11** — Featured on Category Visionaries podcast discussing $30M raised and the future of fraud defense
- **2023-10** — Spec closes $15M Series A funding led by SignalFire
- **2023-10** — Selected for Mastercard Start Path Security Solutions inaugural program
- **2022-08** — Rebrands company from SpecTrust to Spec, announces new platform features and additional funding

## Links

- Website: https://specprotected.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-kharrl
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/specprotected

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/nate-kharrl
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-05-25