Whereas tech races forward, Knowledge Ventures will give attention to startups constructed to raise the thoughts, physique and soul
Can emotional intelligence be a venture-backed class? Knowledge Ventures thinks so.
The San Francisco-based VC agency has locked in $16 million for the primary shut of its second fund, aiming to scale startups that put emotional intelligence and human resilience on the core of their tech.
Fund II follows the speedy deployment of its $10 million debut fund, which backed breakout names similar to OpenAI, Anthropic, Operate Well being and the mindfulness app Opal. This time round, Knowledge plans to take a position $1 million to $5 million in roughly 35 early-stage corporations growing know-how centered on emotional intelligence, wellbeing instruments and human-centered platforms.
“Knowledge Ventures has proven that investing in innovation designed to boost human wellbeing can generate each distinctive monetary returns and profound societal impression,” stated Ho Nam, an LP in each Knowledge funds and managing director at Altos Ventures.
Each funds are backed by high-profile buyers, together with LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, Pinterest co-founder Evan Sharp, Slack co-founder Stewart Butterfield and Away co-founder Jenn Rubio, together with different outstanding founders and buyers targeted on well being and wellness. Fund II is led by Bradley Horowitz, a former Google vice chairman; Cecily Mak, a startup operator and authorized knowledgeable; and Soren Gordhamer, founding father of the Knowledge 2.0 convention.
“Bradley, Cecily and Soren convey an unimaginable mixture of visionary considering with deep operational experience, exhibiting that moral innovation is sweet enterprise,” Nam stated.
Mak, who serves as normal companion alongside Horowitz and Gordhamer, framed Fund II as a well timed response to the rising stress between technological development and human wellbeing.
“We’re at a pivotal second the place know-how should help our humanity, not exchange it,” Mak stated. “With breakthroughs in AI quickly reshaping our society, Fund II arrives at a watershed second when know-how can both drive nice enchancment or decline of the human situation. Our mission is to ensure it’s right here to enhance our psychological, bodily and non secular well being.”
