Date: 2026-09-30 Channel: ops Source: Michael Houck Permalink: https://ryevalley.slack.com/archives/C0A6XKM1ERG/p1790812730299309
Signal
Emil is moving away from personal brand work with Rye Valley. He now wants to spin up a new, separate business (distinct from Flashpass) where:
- He procures sensitive government data via his government network
- Rye Valley helps sell it to AI companies via Rye Valley’s Silicon Valley network
- Rye Valley would have an equity stake in this new entity
- Comparison: “Mercor / micro1 but verticalized on government data”
Immediate operational changes (per Michael, same thread)
- Stop proactive engagements for Emil. Effective immediately.
- Personal site is coming down. Michael will handle that the following day (Oct 1).
- Emil’s cofounder (Will Hinman) may continue with Megaphone. TBD.
Context
Michael described this as a restructuring, not a churn. Relationship continues but in a different form. Ben asked if Flashpass was pivoting; Michael confirmed this is a new, separate business.
More details expected from Michael on Friday, Oct 3 or Monday, Oct 6.
Flag
Roster update needed: Emil’s row in clients/roster.md should note proactive Megaphone/Jolt work is paused; personal site coming down Oct 1. Will Hinman (Megaphone) status TBD pending Emil’s instruction. Do not update until Michael confirms Will continues.
This is a scope change with potential equity implications. Capture here; financial/equity detail goes to Owner tier once terms are defined.
Update: 2026-10-02 - Gov Data Biz Active: Analysis Shared, micro1 Intro Made
Source: Email threads “Gov Data Research” (michael@ryevalley.co to emil@flashpass.school, will@flashpass.school, Oct 2) and “Gov Data partnership?” / “Emil Barr <> Ali Ansari (micro1)” (michael@ryevalley.co, Oct 2)
Michael is actively working the new gov-data business alongside Emil. Three related threads on Oct 2:
- Michael sent Emil and Will Hinman a research analysis estimating this is a “$250M+ revenue opportunity” with a TLDR doc and full dataset (Google Docs/Sheets links). Subject: “Gov Data Research.”
- Michael brokered an intro between Emil Barr (civichain.com / the new gov-data entity) and Ali Ansari + Hunter Hayden at micro1 (Director, Forward Deployed Engineering). Hunter expressed interest and asked Emil to connect on Signal.
- Michael confirmed he’s stepping back from direct deal management: “I’ll let him [Emil] take the lead on that other thread.”
Business fact: The new gov-data entity is live and Michael is actively building the partner network. Emil is the operating lead. micro1 is the first identified AI company prospect. Rye Valley’s role appears to be connector/BD rather than direct operator, consistent with the equity-stake structure described Sep 30.
Update: 2026-10-03 - Public Records Product Ops, MOU Sent, 6th Man Ventures Intro Advances
Sources: Email “First Batch of Public Requests” (Emil Barr to Michael, Oct 3); DocuSign “Founder_MOU.pdf”; “Re: Potential Deal” (Mike Dudas reply, Oct 3)
Product ops: Emil and Will Hinman sent Michael the first batch of ~30 public records requests targeting state agencies (Ohio focus). Immediate action items: (1) create 30 inboxes/domains to send initial requests under pseudonyms, (2) build AI agent to expand to ~300 variations. Emil also flagged two submission constraints: some agencies require mail (no online portal), and others have portal-only submission (no email). Emil asked Michael to weigh in on automating the mail-in path and using LinkedIn/press research to find general counsel email addresses.
Equity MOU: Emil sent a DocuSign for the “Equity Memorandum of Understanding for GovGrid AI.” Awaiting Michael’s signature. See GovGrid AI: Equity MOU Sent to Michael via DocuSign; financial terms go to Owner tier once signed.
6th Man Ventures intro: Mike Dudas (6th Man Ventures) responded to Michael’s Sep 24 intro for CiviChain (Emil Barr / Steve Stivers). After ~10-day delay, Dudas redirected to his partner Carl Vogel (carl@6thman.ventures), who is CC’d. Deal advancing from cold outreach to partner-level contact. No term discussion yet.
Update: 2026-10-04 - MOU Biz Name Confirmed, 6th Man Meeting Requested, Pseudonym Concern Addressed
Source: Email thread “First Batch of Public Requests” + “Emil Barr (CiviChain) <> Carl Vogel (6th Man Ventures)” (michael@ryevalley.co, Oct 4)
MOU progress: Emil confirmed he will update the MOU biz name to Rye Valley LLC (per Michael’s request). Cash portion (loan vs contribution) will be addressed in a sidebar conversation - not yet resolved. Awaiting updated DocuSign.
Pseudonym concern resolved: Michael flagged that pseudonymous public records requests could not be litigated (requester must be a real person/entity to sue). Emil addressed: states have no requester identity verification mechanism; pseudonyms are standard practice; litigation against agencies is not expected to be needed. Michael accepted the explanation; no blocker.
6th Man now meeting stage: Michael sent the formal intro email to Emil Barr and Carl Vogel (carl@6thman.ventures) on Oct 4. Carl responded same day requesting a call Mon Oct 5 before 3pm ET or Tuesday AM. This moves from partner-level contact to active scheduling. Emil accepted and initiated scheduling.
Next steps: MOU sidebar (cash terms), 6th Man call (Mon/Tue week of Oct 5), first batch of public records requests targeted for this week.