Beyond Ventures

FV is a venture capital syndicate that invests in early-stage technology startups charting the future in mobility, climate, proptech, and security - with a technical focus on software, robotics, and artificial intelligence. In the past decade, the most ambitious companies have generally affected change in our infrastructure, communities, societal behavior, or created a disruption in the market (or regulatory system). The syndicate members of FV have observed and worked on these trends first-hand. To maximize impact, FV generally invests at the pre-seed or seed stage of a company’s journey. As a founder-led firm, we understand the challenges entrepreneurs face, now and beyond. futureland ventures is comprised of entrepreneurs, angel investors, venture capitalists, technology executives, government leaders, and alumni of top universities, such as the Stanford Graduate School of Business. The syndicate members have expertise in emerging technologies to advance smart cities, such as climate, transportation, robotics, resilience, artificial intelligence and more.

2048 Ventures is a thesis-driven earliest stage venture capital firm. We are founders, experienced operators, nerds and dreamers obsessed with the future. We've backed over 200 startups and have the experience and conviction to lead your pre-seed. We get you and your vision before others We are systems thinkers, engineers, and product junkies. We think about the future non-stop and are ready to understand and back you before anyone else. When we decide to invest, we write you a check and then help you close the rest of the round. If you are a mission-driven team, with strong founder market-fit and a vision for what the future should look like, then we would love to meet you. We love serial founders, but we are also very excited about being the first to believe in underdogs, immigrants, and diverse founders who are going on their first founder journey. We are not your typical pre-seed firm We are a thesis-driven investor and invest in next generation platforms - APIs, data, infrastructure, marketplaces, and specific types of vertical SaaS. We invest across verticals, but spend most of our time thinking about: biotechnology, digital health, AI/ML, Robotics, AR/VR, Blockchain, Security, Energy, Mobility, Logistics, Fintech, Marketplaces, Productivity, Culture, and Communities. We don't care where you are based and we are happy to lead your pre-seed anywhere in North America. We've invested across 20+ cities including NYC, LA, Boston, Toronto, Austin, Denver, Seattle, Montreal, Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Minneapolis. Who we are We are a team of experienced operators and dreamers who are passionate about working with founders at the earliest stage. Collectively, we have invested in over 200 early stage startups. We are proud to have an NPS score of 100 from our founders.

We’re not just another venture capital firm. Critical Ventures is a VC that invests in game-changing companies with the power to transform the way the world uses technology in the areas of IoT, Automatisation and Digitalisation, Cyber Security, AI/ML / Descentralised Tech, UxD / Interfaces, Mobility and Medical Software. We know that building disruptive tech companies takes more than just capital. As tech entrepreneurs ourselves, we work side by side with the companies we invest in, backing them with funding, time and real expertise. We believe that technology is nothing without the passion of talented people bringing it to life. That’s why we’re dedicated to working with entrepreneurs and startups who share our culture and values. In return, we help to nurture the companies we invest in and grow them organically, in their own time – avoiding round after round of funding. For us, investing isn’t just our business. It’s the chance to make a difference and create something big. What we’re looking for: Seed and early-stage investments Technology and software companies Disruptive or transformative technologies Cultural fit with the Critical ecosystem Passionate and dedicated management Our team brings together seasoned founders and operators of technology companies with experienced financial and venture capital professionals - by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs.

At Exhort Ventures, we believe that the foundation of groundbreaking innovation lies in the hands of extraordinary people. Our focus is on identifying and empowering relentless founders - those with the vision, expertise, and tenacity to build and execute on their promises. Our mission is to be the catalyst for early-stage success, leveraging our extensive community and experienced networks to connect founders with the resources they need. Our promise is to back only companies in which we truly believe, and we are committed to doing everything within our power to support them – during both the good times and the bad. Our Approach Deal Flow Generation: We engage with an extensive network of established investors from leading venture capital firms, with whom we have built trust and relationships over the years. Venture firms partner with us to provide the additional capital required to close a funding round, understanding that while we may contribute a smaller cheque, we offer an extensive network that founders can tap into. We also engage with startups at their earliest stages, helping them find strategic investors when they reach the right scale. Lastly, we offer a share of the deal-specific profits (carry) to those who facilitate introductions to founders. Strategic Co-Investments: We do not lead investment rounds; instead, we invest alongside top-tier VCs that have a strong track record and with whom we identify strong alignments. The nimble structure of our syndicate allows us to make decisions more quickly, bypassing institutional red tape. This approach helps founders close deals quickly, enabling them to focus on building their businesses. Community at the Core: Our long-term vision is to foster a community of LPs who are as invested in the success of our startups as we are. We are building a community of LPs comprising CEOs of established companies, founders, industry operators, lawyers, and seasoned investors. The cumulative insights and reach of our community unlock tremendous value for founders who want us on their cap table, not just as a provider of capital. Sector-Agnostic: We are not bound by investment constraints, which allows us to identify and capitalise on the best opportunities across all sectors. However, we prefer to invest in software and in non-capital intensive businesses where technology is at their core. Therefore, we tend to avoid areas like BioTech, MedTech and ClimateTech with large hardware components. Secular Themes We Favour Each theme below represents not only a significant market opportunity but also mirrors broader societal and technological trends, which we expect to persist and evolve over the next decade. Cloud-Native Software Disruption: The shift towards cloud-native software is disrupting incumbents entrenched in outdated legacy tech stacks. New ventures are demonstrating superior scalability and efficiency at exceptionally low costs, delivering value to customers. We view the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence applications as complementary to software companies rather than disruptive. Generative AI Integration into Human Workforces: We are at the infancy of the development of generative AI, but its integration into human workforces is set to redefine productivity, creativity, and efficiency. By automating routine tasks and improving decision-making, generative AI can augment human skills and significantly boost productivity. There are numerous ventures in this space, and it is essential to navigate carefully, as the lasting impact of these innovations over the next decade is still to be determined. Digitalisation of Payments: With economies becoming more digital, the demand for secure, efficient, and adaptable payment solutions is soaring. This trend is especially relevant in emerging markets transitioning from cash to digital and in developed economies focusing on digital efficiency. The evolution of fintech, along with the adoption of blockchain and other technologies, promises to further revolutionise how transactions are conducted. HealthTech and Aging Demographics: Advancements in medicine have considerably extended average lifespans, leading to an aging population. This demographic shift presents unique challenges and opportunities. While we don't invest in Medtech (or medical hardware), we favor HealthTech solutions that aim to address critical aging-related issues, such as remote patient monitoring and personalised medicine. By leveraging AI and other technologies to deliver health-related services, HealthTech can offer more proactive and predictive care models, thereby reducing healthcare costs and enhancing the quality of life. Evolving Cybersecurity Industry: Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving field, with new threats and challenges emerging as technology advances. With the increasing digitisation of assets, the proliferation of connected devices, and the sophistication of threats, there will continue to be a growing need for advanced security solutions to protect our data and privacy. E-Commerce Solutions: The rise of e-commerce is reshaping consumer behavior, with a shift towards the convenience of online shopping. We are particularly interested in businesses that are changing consumer behavior and spending patterns. The ongoing evolution of e-commerce platforms, including the creator economy and integrations with social media, is creating new opportunities for brands to engage with consumers and enhance their experience. Our Investment Process Having a rigorous investment process can help filter through the noise, but it can also hinder your ability to identify non-obvious opportunities. We assess each deal on its own merit, acknowledging the following considerations: Founders: We invest in people – relentless, domain-expert leaders obsessed with solving real problems. We prefer founders that are deeply rooted into the problem they are solving and offer a unique perspective. Markets: We favour large and rapidly growing addressable markets. Though we also like niche, inefficient, and fragmented markets if they have much lesser competition and if we identify opportunities to expand into adjacent markets. Business Models: We favour capital-efficient businesses that leverage technology for rapid scaling. Our support extends to innovative business models, as well as proven models from other industries that can be effectively replicated across various geographies and verticals. We love enterprise solutions, embedded into workflows, that have short sales cycles and high contract values. Traction: We generally don't invest in ideas, we actively seek evidence of market validation. This means we look for clear indicators that the product not only solves a problem but also that it has garnered genuine customer enthusiasm and approval. Deal Terms: We play the long game, ensuring every term aligns with the potential for stellar returns. In early-stage deals, we focus on company ownership and pro-rata rights, which are the two single contributors to enhanced returns. When a company does really well, you want to own as much of it as you can. Why Now is the Time From a macroeconomic perspective, the era of cheap money is over... or at least for now. The balance between capital supply and demand has shifted back to investors, allowing us to benefit from lower valuations, less competitive deals and better terms. The following points are also structural tailwinds benefitting Australian investors. Aussie Ecosystem Boom: The Australian tech scene has exploded over the past decade, fuelled by record VC funding, government support, and a wave of experienced founders stemming from some Australia’s most successful startups – think of Canva, Airwallex, Safety Culture and many others. Global Solutions: The Australian market is small but is fertile ground for experimentation before going global. Global markets are now more interconnected than ever and we champion startups that think beyond borders, building products that can grow into enormous global markets. Undervalued Gems: Australian startups are often priced attractively compared to global peers, presenting a unique chance for higher return multiples. Early Mover Advantage: The Australian ecosystem is still young but at an inflection point, offering exponential return opportunities for early investors. The market is not as crowded and competitive, allowing you to handpick some of the highest quality deals.

Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Toyota Ventures is Toyota’s first standalone early-stage venture capital firm. Through the Toyota Ventures Frontier Fund, we invest in artificial intelligence, autonomy, mobility, robotics, cloud technology, smart cities, digital health, fintech, energy, and materials. As part of Toyota’s ongoing efforts to accelerate carbon dioxide reduction, we also invest in startups that are creating scalable solutions for carbon neutrality, as part of the Toyota Ventures Climate Fund. We are on a mission to explore what’s next by helping early-stage startups bring disruptive technologies and business models to market quickly. As we pursue this goal, we are committed to finding and funding the best entrepreneurs from around the world. We value different approaches and points of view, and believe diversity drives innovation. How we work Leveraging the deep technical expertise and global resources of Toyota, our team offers Toyota Ventures portfolio companies strategic support and operational guidance in business development, product, fundraising, marketing, executive coaching, and other areas. We are also dedicated to embracing and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts within our portfolio and the larger VC industry through efforts like the Diversity VC Standard. The entrepreneurs who partner with us receive much more than money. Their success is our success, and we support them at every step of their journey - while giving them the freedom and flexibility they need to experiment and grow their businesses. We look for both financial returns and strategic value, and firmly believe that financial returns must precede strategic value. We look for innovators who have the courage, humility, and tenacity to tackle important challenges we have yet to solve. It’s the same spirit of innovation that inspired Toyota founder Kiichiro Toyoda and his team to devote themselves to transforming Toyota from a loom maker to an automotive manufacturer in the 1930’s. And it is this same vision that continues to drive Toyota today. If you are the founder of an early-stage company developing solutions in other areas we invest in and you’re looking for funding, you are also invited to complete our online pitch form. For those who are seeking growth-stage capital, we encourage you to visit our colleagues at Woven Capital, the growth-stage investment fund of Woven Planet.

Some of our founders started with artificial intelligence and building new services, products and business models years ago. As investors, tech builders, entrepreneurs and in top management. That resulted in multi-billion dollar turnovers - not just unicorn status. We have big visions and love tech. ​And we have a passion for learning and thinking. Here are some results and thoughts based on the learnings: ​"Financial engineering" must be as precise as other engineering: Investments in Ventures and Tech needs to be high enough to reach critical milestones, but too much money can be even more destructive than not enough. (More) Money can buy speed. But there are time-compression-diseconomies. In many areas of digital solutions the first mover will have a big chance to win the race to be the market leading platform. This applies especially to artificial intelligence (AI). Data is the new oil - yes, but look closer: Rockefeller earned his fortune at Standard Oil with access to oil (drilling), especially refinement and making a trustworthy product out of it (Standard Oil) and then later controlled transport channels to customers. Oil is like data nothing. Only when you bring the right data together for a use case, you get value out of it. Also the analogy with transport channel in oil applies for AI. It makes a lot of sense to look closer into the oil industry to learn for AI. Longterm stable data access is a key topic. And in some areas it needs even a co-development of AI algorithms together with new sensor systems to have access to data, which is precise enough. Sensors and IOT are still key topics for artificial intelligence.​ Ecosystems are key - but only stable and exclusive ones! Innovation needs often content with high production costs for it and a minimum of users or market coverage. For these situations you can see often discussions about open innovation. This is low cost and risk. But with this the innovation spreads fast and easy to all competitors: the innovation lose the USP and the margin in the whole market decreases. And this is even worst case for the consumer, since they got so many solutions to choose and test and the companies do not earn enough to improve their products more. Open innovation ecosystems with many programmers as co-producers have big relevance in some areas. But only, if new applications, content etc. can be produced with a very limited investment. Best examples are the smart phone apps. But this strategy did already not work with smart watch apps. It didn't and will not work with augmented reality in many areas, many health-tech segments and not for automotive in-cabin innovation. There are many reasons for it and we analyzed them very carefully. But on the other side all this sectors need ecosystems. Based on that analysis we developed a new concept for investment and building startups: Scalator X