Fort Lauderdale, October 25, 2025
News Summary
Captain Compliance, a privacy and compliance automation startup founded by Richart Ruddie, has won the top prize at Venture Atlanta 2025. The startup, which has experienced tremendous growth from $9,500 to nearly $700,000 in annual recurring revenue, focuses on providing compliance solutions for mid-market businesses. Ruddie, inspired by the success of major privacy firms, transitioned from his online reputation management agency to establish Captain Compliance in August 2023. The company aims to capitalize on the increasing demand for compliance in a landscape of rising privacy concerns.
Fort Lauderdale – Richart Ruddie has successfully transitioned his career from running an online reputation management agency to launching a privacy and compliance automation startup named Captain Compliance, which recently took home the top prize at the Early Stage Showcase during Venture Atlanta 2025. This victory marks a significant turning point for the startup, which had an annual recurring revenue (ARR) of only $9,500 at the beginning of the year but has since skyrocketed close to $700,000, showcasing a tremendous growth rate of over 1,000%.
Ruddie, who previously operated Profile Defenders for a decade with an initial investment of $500, was inspired to pivot into the privacy sector upon realizing the substantial valuation of OneTrust, a leading data privacy company, at $5.1 billion. This revelation led him to sell his agency and invest his resources into Captain Compliance, which was launched in August 2023.
Captain Compliance aims to target mid-market businesses with revenues ranging from $10 million to $200 million while also expanding to enterprise accounts. The increasing prevalence of privacy lawsuits, particularly those linked to unauthorized tracking via tools like Facebook’s Meta Pixel, has heightened the need for compliance solutions, providing a ripe market for Ruddie’s new venture.
The startup is strategically headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, providing access to the bustling software community in South Florida, which includes proximity to Palm Beach, Dade, and Broward counties. Ruddie envisions that recognizable brands such as Burger King and Hilton Hotels could soon become clients as Captain Compliance continues to expand its reach.
Captain Compliance’s initial job postings have already attracted interest within the industry, including one advertised on Refresh Miami. The recent achievement at Venture Atlanta has led to a surge of interest from investors, and the company has set ambitious goals to close 2025 with a $1 million ARR, aiming for $2-3 million by the end of the following year.
At Venture Atlanta, Ruddie’s presentation stood out by addressing the need to transform privacy risk into growth infrastructure, a crucial aspect in a tech landscape increasingly dominated by AI and fintech. He expressed confidence in Captain Compliance’s potential to embed itself broadly across several industries and markets, fostering a culture of compliance amidst shifting regulations.
As privacy concerns become more prominent across online platforms, the relevance of Captain Compliance’s services is expected to grow, positioning the startup as a critical player in the realm of data privacy and compliance.
FAQ
What is Captain Compliance?
Captain Compliance is a privacy and compliance automation startup launched by Richart Ruddie in August 2023.
What achievement did Captain Compliance recently win?
Captain Compliance recently won the Early Stage Showcase at Venture Atlanta 2025, taking the top prize among 90 competing startups.
What was Captain Compliance’s annual recurring revenue (ARR) before the prize?
Before the prize, Captain Compliance started 2024 with only $9,500 in annual recurring revenue (ARR).
What is the target market for Captain Compliance?
The target market for Captain Compliance is mid-market businesses with revenues from $10 million to $200 million, while also expanding into enterprise accounts.
What revenue goals does Captain Compliance have?
Captain Compliance aims to end 2025 with $1 million in ARR and achieve $2-3 million by the end of the following year.
Key Features Overview
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Startup Launch | Captain Compliance launched in August 2023. |
| Initial Funding | Ruddie started Profile Defenders with a $500 investment. |
| Market Focus | Targeting mid-market businesses with revenues of $10 million to $200 million and expanding into enterprise accounts. |
| Annual Recurring Revenue Growth | Grew from $9,500 to nearly $700,000 ARR, a growth rate of over 1,000%. |
| Future Revenue Goals | Aiming to reach $1 million ARR by end of 2025 and $2-3 million by end of the next year. |
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Additional Resources
- Refresh Miami: Fort Lauderdale Startup Takes the Crown
- Wikipedia: Privacy Law
- Compliance Week: 1Touch.io Launches Privacy Management Solution
- Google Search: Privacy Automation Solutions
- Fast Company: What to Know About Flow
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Data Privacy
- Auto News: Marco Schnabl Launches Rocked
- Google News: Compliance Automation
- Compliance Week: Best Practices for Data Privacy Software
- Google Scholar: Data Privacy Software
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