With foundational models becoming widely available and AI adoption accelerating, the challenge for investors is no longer just identifying AI startups, but rather distinguishing the ones building durable, defensible value. So how can companies build sustainable value and differentiation in a world where models are increasingly commercialised?
The rise of AI has made it easier to create applications that leverage large models and solve a business problem. However, simply integrating a foundational model into a product does not create lasting value. At the application layer, we look for AI companies that meet three core criteria:
It’s important to recognise that not all AI companies will build the high-growth sustainable businesses necessary for venture capital. As investors, we remain cautious about:
As we refine our AI investment thesis, we remain focused on companies that align with our long-term strategy—combining cutting-edge scientific discoveries with the world’s biggest challenges to build the next generation of global companies.
Our first focus area is AI’s role in whitespace industries. AI has largely been leveraged for business productivity, such as email summarisation, preliminary research and reporting. But we’re invested in companies that dig a little deeper. There’s an abundance of whitespace industries, like biotech, healthcare and industrial automation, that have massive market potential and overlap with our thematic challenge areas. So in brief, we’re focused on companies using AI to solve problems for high-value, underserved markets that have yet to be upheaved by AI. We back several companies in this space including Lumachain, Kasada, Presien, Pending AI and Regrow.
Another area we’re interested in is AI which drives unprecedented efficiency. Whether through model compression, optimised inference, or novel architectures, we are looking for startups that push AI forward while reducing its resource intensity. This includes software architecture plays and hardware/semiconductor-focused plays. We’re currently supporting a stealth company working on a hardware solution in this space.
We’re also giving our attention to physical AI—robotics enhanced by generative AI. The intersection of AI and robotics (physical AI) is creating new opportunities for robotics that are more scalable and efficient at completing complex tasks. We are particularly interested in software-driven approaches that enhance robotic capabilities without requiring heavy hardware investments. Portfolio companies like Breaker and RIOS demonstrate our existing belief in this space.
There’s no doubt that the AI sector will continue evolving at a rapid pace. The most successful investors will be those who can separate short-term trends from lasting value. We are committed to backing companies that use AI not just as a feature, but as a fundamental driver of transformation in key industries. Does this sound like your innovation? If so, get in touch!