Perplexity, the innovative developer behind an AI-powered search engine, is making waves in the tech investment landscape. The company has announced plans to raise a $50 million seed and pre-seed investment fund. This ambitious move follows its recent success in raising $500 million, which catapulted its valuation to an impressive $9 billion as of December. The fund will be anchored with some of the capital raised for Perplexity's growth, setting it apart from industry peers like OpenAI, which refrains from using its own capital for investments.
The management of this new fund will be in the capable hands of Kelly Graziadei and Joanna Lee Shevelenko. Both are seasoned professionals and co-founders of F7 Ventures, an early-stage venture firm they launched in 2018. F7 Ventures has made notable investments, including in the women’s health company, Midi. With their extensive experience and expertise, Graziadei and Shevelenko could potentially focus their efforts exclusively on steering Perplexity's venture fund toward further success.
Perplexity's decision to leverage its own resources for this fund underscores its commitment to fostering innovation and supporting emerging startups. This approach distinguishes it from OpenAI, which publicly states it does not engage in investments using its own financial resources. By anchoring the new fund with its capital, Perplexity demonstrates a robust strategy for nurturing the next generation of tech entrepreneurs.
The seed and pre-seed fund aims to identify and invest in promising startups at the very early stages of their development. This initiative aligns with Perplexity's broader mission to drive technological advancement and support disruptive innovations across various sectors. The company's strategic focus on early-stage investments reflects its understanding of the critical role that initial funding plays in shaping the trajectory of a startup’s success.
Leave a Reply