Portrait No. 001
Dingmi Gong
Founder
Castor
Early in my finance career, I spent late nights updating Excel models where a small assumption change meant tracing formulas across dozens of tabs. Decisions involving millions of dollars depended on spreadsheets, manual work, and human endurance. That disconnect between the responsibility of the decision and the tools available felt deeply wrong. I tried to solve this multiple times, but the technology wasn't ready. Coming to Silicon Valley was my turning point. For the first time, it was clear that modern AI could finally support how risk teams actually think, allowing us to move from manual work to real-time intelligence. I’m building this company because I understand these workflows from the inside, and I know where technology can truly help. I’m not just building a tool, I’m ensuring that the foundation of how we lend is as thoughtful and resilient as the people whose futures depend on it.
In her words
“My journey proves that we can be the ultimate catalyst for redefining an industry through precision and resilience.”
Chapter I
The toughest challenges you've faced as a founder.
The biggest challenge I’ve faced as a founder is navigating the subtle credibility gaps that come with being an immigrant woman in a technical, finance-heavy space. I don’t build relationships by talking about baseball or playing golf, I build them through undeniable expertise and the results I deliver. Initially not fitting the 'traditional' mold felt like a hurdle. But I’ve turned that into my greatest strength. Because I don't rely on social shorthand, I have to be sharper, more prepared, and more focused on solving the actual problem than anyone else in the room. This discipline has shaped our company culture, we don't value optics, we value precision and truth. I’m not just navigating this space, I’m redefining what leadership looks like within it by letting the work speak for itself.
Chapter II
Your vision.
The most important decisions in finance industry are currently being made through a disconnect: the weight of the responsibility doesn’t match the tools people have to handle it. Too many high-stakes choices still rely on fragile spreadsheets, scattered data, and late-night heroics, where a small assumption change can cascade into million-dollar mistakes. I’ve lived inside that tension. My vision is to fundamentally change how decisions get made. With modern AI, we can move beyond managing data to building systems that think alongside people, turning uncertainty into clarity and insight into conviction. The best decisions no longer depend on individual heroics or luck, but on intelligence that scales across organizations and drives better outcomes across the industry.
Chapter III
The impact you want to leave behind — for your industry, your community, and the women who come next.
I am building a future where human brilliance is finally free from manual labor and allocated to its highest value. Beyond the technology, I am building a roadmap for women who don’t fit the \"traditional mold\" to build things that are essential. I want my journey to prove that we can be the ultimate catalyst for redefining an industry through precision and resilience.