From Southeast Asia to Silicon Alley, our world is marked by unprecedented degrees of multiculturalism, ethnic diversity, social shifts, international collaboration, and technology-driven changes. Third culture innovators — founders who create and define a new ‘third space’ in response to adversities they face while living, learning, and transacting between disparate cultures — are on the rise and at the center of solving humanity’s biggest problems.
As third culture individuals ourselves, Ethos understands better than anyone else the powerful forces at work in the world today. We can spot asymmetric opportunities and invest where others hesitate because we aren’t afraid to be authentic and embrace the same ethos as the third culture innovators that we invest in. We hold deeply ingrained convictions that investing in companies led by extraordinary third culture leaders will not only yield more unicorns, but also shape a world in which future generations will thrive, celebrate, and treasure.
VALUES
- Ethos: We believe the most important foundation of a person’s success is his or her character and spirit, which will manifest in the person’s business, relationships, and actions.
- Commitment: We invest in founders from the earliest stages (often, the first check) and continue to support their long term vision. We believe startups are a marathon, not a sprint.
- Curiosity: We seek truth. We assume nothing and believe that the best approach is to uncover these truths through experimentation.
- Community: We believe that the startup journey is much better when we share it with others. The journey is hard. No need to go through it alone.
- Vision: We support founders who are bold and mission-driven to improve the future of humanity. Big dreams inspire and motivate us all to be better.
WHY THIRD CULTURE
Third Culture is not about geography or skin color. Third culture is the mindset and drive to adapt, grow, and triumph while remaining fiercely authentic even amid pain and discomfort. It is the situation of being in between two or more worlds, and includes the meaning of being located at the periphery or edge of mainstream thinking. It’s the impetus behind the biggest and most important innovations for humanity and the future of our children.