# Nick Deveau

> Nick Deveau is the co-founder and CEO of Grotto AI, a New York startup building real-time AI coaching for apartment leasing teams. A Stanford-trained AI engineer who helped build the technology behind EvolutionIQ's $730 million sale, Deveau now bets that humans, not bots, close the deals that matter most. His platform, Guidance, listens to leasing calls and tours, decodes what makes top agents great, and whispers that playbook to everyone else in real time. In February 2026 Grotto raised a $10 million seed round led by ICONIQ Capital.

- **Role:** Co-Founder & CEO at Grotto AI
- **Organizations:** Grotto AI, EvolutionIQ, Stanford University
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Graduate training in artificial intelligence, Stanford University
- **Known for:** Co-founded and leads Grotto AI as CEO, Co-led technology that drove EvolutionIQ's $730 million acquisition in 2024, Raised a $10 million seed round led by ICONIQ Capital, one of the firm's earliest-stage investments

## Career timeline

- **pre-2024** — Built vertical AI SaaS products for Fortune 500 clients across insurance, healthcare and hiring
- **2024** — Co-led key technology development at EvolutionIQ, which was acquired for $730 million in late 2024
- **2025** — Co-founded Grotto AI with Ben Epstein, serving as CEO
- **2026-02** — Closed a $10 million seed round led by ICONIQ Capital

## Achievements

- Co-founded and leads Grotto AI as CEO
- Co-led technology that drove EvolutionIQ's $730 million acquisition in 2024
- Raised a $10 million seed round led by ICONIQ Capital, one of the firm's earliest-stage investments
- Deployed Grotto's platform with major operators including Weidner Apartment Homes (70,000+ units)
- Built AI-native products for regulated industries including insurance, healthcare and hiring

## Latest updates

- **2026-02** — Grotto AI announced a $10 million seed round led by ICONIQ Capital with Asymmetric Capital Partners.
- **2026-03** — Deveau featured in Commercial Observer's '5 Questions' and AlleyWatch on Grotto's leasing-coaching platform.

## Links

- Website: https://grotto.ai
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-deveau-a6241379

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/nick-deveau
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-06-21