We invest in early-stage projects and support founders building breakthrough technology and category-defining companies with the potential to scale globally.
Founders Hub | Transform Finance
The founder playbook for building a company that lasts and stays true to why you started it. Research, case studies, and practical tools for incorporation, fundraising terms, board structure, ownership, and culture.
Highline Beta | Corporate Venture Studios & Venture Building
We build ventures and venture studios with corporate partners and family offices through rigorous process, entrepreneurial grit, and capital.
Gallery Ventures | Venture is an art
We are a stage-agnostic venture capital firm investing in exceptional founders building the companies that shape our world.
Meet the AI OnlyFans: How one startup raised millions to build an ‘erotic companions’ platform | Kai Nicol-Schwarz
Meet the AI OnlyFans: How one startup raised millions to build an ‘erotic companions’ platform --- When AI erotic companion startup Oh raised a $4.5m funding round in January, it had something few in the shadowy new sector could boast. A roster of named investors, publicly backing the company. VCs are often bound by “vice clauses”, which prohibit firms from investing in controversial products like pornography or weapons. As a result, startups working on ethically contentious products often rely on angel investors and family offices to stay afloat. But Oh, which generates NSFW adult content and conversations with both fictional characters as well as bots based on real people, has tapped into a group of seemingly less squeamish investors: crypto VCs. It’s drawn backing from the likes of Tangent, Kosmos Ventures, Big Brain Holdings, Bodhi Ventures and Tagus Capital. “Raising money for a business like this from non-crypto VCs is very difficult,” says Oh founder and CEO Nic Young, who positions the startup as a “decentralised platform” and offers payments via crypto. “A lot of crypto VCs don’t have vice clauses — it’s more liberal and free.” Oh wants to use those fresh funds to build the “AI OnlyFans”, with plans to roll out autonomous scantily clad bots that can market themselves on social media and direct message users with spicy conversation starters. The biggest challenge? Convincing enough users it’s not that weird turning to AI when you’re looking for romance. https://lnkd.in/eRF7a5Dn
HOME | A-Force Ventures
A-Force Ventures is an early-stage venture capital fund that invests in female-led consumer, internet, and mobile startups.
Before You Grow | Y Combinator
Startups are defined by growth [http://www.paulgraham.com/growth.html], but growth isn’t step one in building a great company. If you focus on trying to grow before you make a product people love, you are unlikely to succeed. We’ve said this before, but it’s worth repeating–many founders hurt their companies by focusing on growth too soon. I’m not saying don’t grow at all–getting people to use your product, even in its earliest form, will help you better understand what your customers want. Bu
Most of the funding of research efforts I've been involved in since ARPA-Parc have been with various profit making companies -- Atari, Apple, Disney, HP, SAP, Infosys, etc. And there have been various kinds of compromises involved. And some good work on smaller scales did get done. Others of my colleagues in the diaspora that started in the early 80s wound up at Microsoft, DEC, IBM, Bell Labs, etc.
P2 Ventures | Funding for dApps and Web3 projects
We’re looking to fund big ideas and innovative teams. Get your dream Web3 project funded through P2 Ventures.
UK Horizons: FRC — Renaissance Philanthropy – A brighter future for all through science, technology, and innovation
Successful coordinated research programmes, like those at ARPAs, have often resulted from exceptional contractors. Many of the best contractors leveraged organisational models uncommon in academia or VC-funded startups. They combined technical ambition, a willingness to build real technology for actual users, and flexible management structures all under one roof to tackle ambitious R&D problems which made the programs a success. These organisations were driven by the pursuit of an ambitious North Star technical vision, not revenue-maximisation. And they pursued this vision with a mix of contracts and grants. We call organisations that do this Frontier Research Contractors (FRCs). Two of ARPA’s most impactful programmes, the original internet and autonomous vehicle projects, were both led by FRCs. FRCs are also often referred to as 'BBNs' by researchers, inspired by the early internet (ARPAnet) contractor, Bolt, Beranek & Newman.
Putting Post Growth Theory Into Practice
The Post Growth Entrepreneurship Incubator helps founders break free from traditional business models and implement sustainable…
Indie Startups - Neil Thanedar
10 years ago, my entrepreneurial goal was to raise $100M+ and make one $1B+ startup. Now my goal is to 100% own many $1M+ startups.
Roadmap: Open Source
After years of investing in open source software, we’re releasing our thinking on what positions these companies as emerging technology giants.
The Rise of the Silicon Valley Small Business
What you need to know about the next big startup archetype
Media Startup Fellowship: Startup funding & coaching
Media Startup Fellowship: Do you have an innovative media idea? ★ Benefit from funding ► Suitable for every start-up phase!
Project vs. Product, Startup vs. Business
A couple of weeks ago I dropped into a thread by Mosh Lee, about how ATproto has too many projects and too few businesses. Yes!
Breakout Ventures eyes neuroscience and AI with new fund
The venture capital firm has $114 million to invest
