- Yann LeCun joins a new AI investing firm called 224 Ventures.
- 224 Ventures is launching with more than $100 million in assets under management.
- Oriol Vinyals, a researcher at Alphabet Inc.’s Google DeepMind, joins LeCun as a co-founder.
- The firm plans to write $1 million to $5 million checks for early-stage AI companies.
- 224 Ventures will invest exclusively in AI-native companies.
- The launch of 224 Ventures comes as venture capital firms increase investments in AI startups.
Yann LeCun, a prominent AI pioneer, has teamed up with Oriol Vinyals to establish 224 Ventures, a new venture capital firm dedicated to investing in early-stage AI startups. The firm launches with $100 million in assets under management, focusing exclusively on AI-native companies.1235
LeCun, known as one of the “godfathers of AI”, and Vinyals, who co-leads Google DeepMind's flagship AI model Gemini, aim to write investment checks ranging from $1 million to $5 million. This strategic move comes as venture capital firms are increasingly directing funds towards AI startups, particularly those involved in foundation models, AI infrastructure, robotics, and enterprise AI applications.46
The firm plans to collaborate with lead investors to maximize its impact in the burgeoning AI sector. The launch of 224 Ventures reflects a growing trend in the investment landscape, where AI technologies are seen as pivotal for future innovations and economic growth.
“We are excited to support the next generation of AI innovators,” said LeCun, emphasizing the firm’s commitment to fostering groundbreaking advancements in artificial intelligence.
As the demand for AI solutions continues to surge, 224 Ventures is poised to play a significant role in shaping the future of the industry.
“LeCun is Meta's former chief AI scientist, often called one of the 'godfathers of AI'; Vinyals is a Google DeepMind researcher and technical co-lead on Gemini. The firm plans to write $1 million to $5 million cheques alongside lead investors as VC funding grows for AI-native startups in foundation models, infrastructure, robotics and enterprise AI.”
