Founders Fund

Founders Fund is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm established in 2005, specializing in investments across various stages, from seed to growth. The firm focuses on transformative technologies and seeks to address significant global challenges through its investments in sectors such as biotechnology, artificial intelligence, aerospace, cybersecurity, and consumer internet. With over $2 billion in capital under management, Founders Fund has a history of backing notable companies, including SpaceX, Palantir, and Facebook, emphasizing a founder-friendly investment strategy that provides substantial support with minimal interference. The firm typically invests between $500,000 and $300 million, targeting innovative companies worldwide.

Delian Asparouhov

Partner

Erin Gleason

Vice President of Communications

Lauren Gross

Partner and COO

Ken Howery

Co- Founder and Partner

John Luttig

Principal

Amin Mirzadegan

Principal

Scott Nolan

Partner

Neil Ruthven

CFO

Michael Solana

vice_president

Trae Stephens

Partner

Napoleon Ta

Partner

Peter Thiel

Partner

Matias Van Thienen

Partner

Past deals in Southern US

Traba

Series A in 2022
Traba is a marketplace that connects light industrial workers with businesses to fill open shifts. Their focus is on opportunities in warehousing, distribution, and event staffing.

Fleetzero

Venture Round in 2022
To deliver freight for our customers, Fleetzero is developing a fleet of electric ships without any green bonus. The company's vessels, unlike giant container ships, can be built inexpensively in domestic shipyards, which enables us to operate in regulated markets where ships must be built in the country they are traveling through. Fleetzero was established in 2021 in Auburn, Alabama.

Stord

Series D in 2022
Stord, founded in 2015 and based in Atlanta, Georgia, is a warehousing startup that offers a cloud-based software platform for managing warehousing and distribution services. The platform enables clients to oversee product flow across a network of over 500 warehouses and 15,000 carriers from a single dashboard, providing true visibility and control over their inventory. By leveraging advanced technology and data science, Stord delivers significant cost savings and improved customer satisfaction for major retailers, consumer packaged goods companies, and manufacturers. The company's mission is to facilitate the creation of fast, scalable, and technology-driven supply chains for shippers, allowing them to optimize inventory and orders efficiently without the need to develop such capabilities independently.

Hydra Host

Seed Round in 2022
Hydra Host is a tool that provides cross-cloud capabilities to deploy and host apps across public cloud and private cloud providers. In addition to cross-cloud capabilities, Hydra offers high-level advisory, as well as expert implementation work with bespoke service engagements catered to client priorities. Whether security, resilience, or scale-focused.

Hermeus

Series B in 2022
Hermeus is developing Mach 5 aircraft to speed up the global transportation network. Mach 5 flight is not just supersonic, it's hypersonic. At these speeds, a flight from New York to London is 90 minutes, rather than 7 hours. Its aircraft massively reduces flight times and increases safety for the long haul and business class air travel, enabling businesses to operate with minimal changes to current aviation infrastructure. The company was founded in 2018 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Hermeus

Series B in 2022
Hermeus is developing Mach 5 aircraft to speed up the global transportation network. Mach 5 flight is not just supersonic, it's hypersonic. At these speeds, a flight from New York to London is 90 minutes, rather than 7 hours. Its aircraft massively reduces flight times and increases safety for the long haul and business class air travel, enabling businesses to operate with minimal changes to current aviation infrastructure. The company was founded in 2018 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Vest

Seed Round in 2022
Vest is an app-based brokerage that wants to provide Latin American savers with access to American assets that are differentiated by product, pricing, and content. Latin Americans are known for saving, but many prefer to do so in cash or in zero-interest savings accounts.

Royal

Series A in 2021
Royal is a platform where you can buy ownership in songs directly from your favorite artists and earn royalties with them.

AiMi

Series B in 2021
AiMi is a revolutionary breakthrough in generative music that will fundamentally change the way the artform is created, consumed and ultimately monetized. The platform delivers endless, immersive compositions that are crafted by artists, powered by artificial intelligence and molded by the mood of each individual user. For fans of electronic music, AiMi offers a new form of listening - one that is adaptable and ever-evolving. AiMi is free to use and free of ads. Six unique experiences are currently included with the app, ranging from meditation to high energy music and a broad spectrum of sounds, styles and genres in between.

OpenStore

Series B in 2021
OpenStore connects merchants and customers into a single unified shopping experience through access to data, information, and capital. The company aims to offer instant liquidity for eCommerce entrepreneurs.

Contraline

Series A in 2021
Contraline, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Charlottesville, Virginia, focused on developing innovative male birth control solutions. The company has created Echo-V, an ultrasound-visible polymer solution that is injected into the vas deferens, forming a semi-permeable hydrogel device that blocks sperm while allowing bodily fluids to pass through. This product is part of a non-surgical procedure known as Vasintomy. Contraline's first product, Adam, utilizes a proprietary injectable hydrogel platform and is designed for a minimally invasive outpatient procedure. Adam is non-hormonal, intended to provide effective contraception for several years, and can be easily reversed. Established in 2015, Contraline aims to advance reproductive health through its unique approaches to male contraception.

Elemy

Series B in 2021
Sprout Therapy is a health and wellness company that specializes in the fields of information technology, medical, and treatments. Sprout is a tech-enabled platform for autism care that matches children with therapists who create customized treatment plans that can be administered both in-home and online. It was founded in 2019 and headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Stord

Series D in 2021
Stord, founded in 2015 and based in Atlanta, Georgia, is a warehousing startup that offers a cloud-based software platform for managing warehousing and distribution services. The platform enables clients to oversee product flow across a network of over 500 warehouses and 15,000 carriers from a single dashboard, providing true visibility and control over their inventory. By leveraging advanced technology and data science, Stord delivers significant cost savings and improved customer satisfaction for major retailers, consumer packaged goods companies, and manufacturers. The company's mission is to facilitate the creation of fast, scalable, and technology-driven supply chains for shippers, allowing them to optimize inventory and orders efficiently without the need to develop such capabilities independently.

Royal

Seed Round in 2021
Royal is a platform where you can buy ownership in songs directly from your favorite artists and earn royalties with them.

Traba

Seed Round in 2021
Traba is a marketplace that connects light industrial workers with businesses to fill open shifts. Their focus is on opportunities in warehousing, distribution, and event staffing.

OpenStore

Series A in 2021
OpenStore connects merchants and customers into a single unified shopping experience through access to data, information, and capital. The company aims to offer instant liquidity for eCommerce entrepreneurs.

Workrise

Series E in 2021
Workrise, formerly known as RigUp Inc., is a technology company that operates a marketplace connecting independent contractors with companies in the energy sector. Founded in 2014 and based in Austin, Texas, the platform streamlines the hiring process by tracking workforce information, managing drug screenings, conducting background checks, and verifying certifications and insurance. It serves various sectors, including oil and gas, solar, and wind, and offers solutions such as workforce and vendor marketplaces, as well as managed field services. Additionally, Workrise provides digital tools for auditing and archiving operations, optimizing inventory, and enhancing operational efficiencies for energy companies across the United States.

Stord

Series C in 2021
Stord, founded in 2015 and based in Atlanta, Georgia, is a warehousing startup that offers a cloud-based software platform for managing warehousing and distribution services. The platform enables clients to oversee product flow across a network of over 500 warehouses and 15,000 carriers from a single dashboard, providing true visibility and control over their inventory. By leveraging advanced technology and data science, Stord delivers significant cost savings and improved customer satisfaction for major retailers, consumer packaged goods companies, and manufacturers. The company's mission is to facilitate the creation of fast, scalable, and technology-driven supply chains for shippers, allowing them to optimize inventory and orders efficiently without the need to develop such capabilities independently.

Elemy

Series A in 2021
Sprout Therapy is a health and wellness company that specializes in the fields of information technology, medical, and treatments. Sprout is a tech-enabled platform for autism care that matches children with therapists who create customized treatment plans that can be administered both in-home and online. It was founded in 2019 and headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Sunroom Rentals

Series A in 2021
Sunroom Rentals Texas, LLC is a technology company based in Austin, Texas, founded in 2018. The company offers an online application designed to simplify the process of finding and leasing rental properties, including condos, apartments, and houses. Users can easily locate available rentals, book tours, and submit applications directly through the platform. The service connects users with licensed agents and tour guides who facilitate property viewings during selected time slots. Additionally, the platform employs a backend dispatching application to notify agents when a tour is scheduled, enhancing the efficiency of the rental process.

Stord

Series B in 2020
Stord, founded in 2015 and based in Atlanta, Georgia, is a warehousing startup that offers a cloud-based software platform for managing warehousing and distribution services. The platform enables clients to oversee product flow across a network of over 500 warehouses and 15,000 carriers from a single dashboard, providing true visibility and control over their inventory. By leveraging advanced technology and data science, Stord delivers significant cost savings and improved customer satisfaction for major retailers, consumer packaged goods companies, and manufacturers. The company's mission is to facilitate the creation of fast, scalable, and technology-driven supply chains for shippers, allowing them to optimize inventory and orders efficiently without the need to develop such capabilities independently.

Tend

Seed Round in 2019
Tend Exchange LLC, founded in 2017 and based in El Segundo, California, specializes in providing software solutions for event staffing through a digital marketplace. This platform connects event hosts with a curated network of professionals known as Tenders, who offer various hospitality staffing services, including bartending. Users can select staff based on their profiles, experience, and ratings, enabling them to make informed choices for future events. Tend aims to streamline the staffing process for both businesses and individuals in the hospitality industry.

Workrise

Series D in 2019
Workrise, formerly known as RigUp Inc., is a technology company that operates a marketplace connecting independent contractors with companies in the energy sector. Founded in 2014 and based in Austin, Texas, the platform streamlines the hiring process by tracking workforce information, managing drug screenings, conducting background checks, and verifying certifications and insurance. It serves various sectors, including oil and gas, solar, and wind, and offers solutions such as workforce and vendor marketplaces, as well as managed field services. Additionally, Workrise provides digital tools for auditing and archiving operations, optimizing inventory, and enhancing operational efficiencies for energy companies across the United States.

Vahan.ai

Seed Round in 2019
Vanan Online Services provides Translation,Transcription, Captioning and Subtitling,Voice Over, Typing on a single platform.

X-Vax Technology

Series A in 2019
X-Vax Technology is a biotechnology company focused on the preclinical and clinical development of vaccines against pathogens that cause mucosal infections such as herpes, influenza, tuberculosis and HIV, affecting hundreds of millions of people around the globe. They believe that inducing antibodies that mediate the killing of infected cells will provoke an entirely new and effective immune response – so that they can finally beat these pathogens. The company was founded in 2015 and based in Jupiter, Florida.

Solugen

Series B in 2019
Solugen, Inc. is a specialty chemicals manufacturer based in Houston, Texas, founded in 2016. The company utilizes industrial biotechnology and green chemistry to produce a range of eco-friendly industrial chemicals. Its product offerings include BioPeroxide, a carbon-negative hydrogen peroxide; BioChelate, a biodegradable chelant; ScavSol, a multivalent metal sequestrant for energy applications; ScaleSol, a scale control alternative to phosphonates; and CorrSol, designed for corrosion and fouling control. Solugen focuses on creating safe, cost-effective, and environmentally-friendly solutions, serving various sectors such as agriculture, cleaning, energy, and water. The company employs a patented method that leverages bio-inspired reactions and plant materials as low-cost feedstocks, enabling it to produce innovative products that are competitively priced in the market.

Workrise

Series C in 2019
Workrise, formerly known as RigUp Inc., is a technology company that operates a marketplace connecting independent contractors with companies in the energy sector. Founded in 2014 and based in Austin, Texas, the platform streamlines the hiring process by tracking workforce information, managing drug screenings, conducting background checks, and verifying certifications and insurance. It serves various sectors, including oil and gas, solar, and wind, and offers solutions such as workforce and vendor marketplaces, as well as managed field services. Additionally, Workrise provides digital tools for auditing and archiving operations, optimizing inventory, and enhancing operational efficiencies for energy companies across the United States.

Flock Safety

Series A in 2018
Flock Safety is a crime-fighting technology company that specializes in developing wireless security systems for neighborhoods, law enforcement, and municipalities. The company designs outdoor cameras that automatically record the license plates of vehicles passing through a monitored area, utilizing proprietary machine-learning algorithms to identify vehicle fingerprints. In addition to capturing images, Flock Safety provides valuable data to local police departments during criminal investigations and alerts them when stolen vehicles enter a neighborhood. This system not only aids law enforcement in solving crimes but also empowers residents to contribute to community safety by sharing relevant data. Founded in 2017, Flock Safety is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Coder

Seed Round in 2018
Coder Technologies Inc. is an information technology company that specializes in developing cloud-based integrated development environments (IDEs) for coding on any device. The company's flagship product, Coder Enterprise, automates the configuration, security, and management of development environments, allowing developers to concentrate on product development. Coder Enterprise supports the use of existing development tools, CI/CD pipelines, source code management systems, and editors, thereby facilitating source control and simplifying updates. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, Coder aims to provide open-source tools and an enterprise platform designed to enhance the efficiency and scalability of development processes.

Solugen

Series A in 2018
Solugen, Inc. is a specialty chemicals manufacturer based in Houston, Texas, founded in 2016. The company utilizes industrial biotechnology and green chemistry to produce a range of eco-friendly industrial chemicals. Its product offerings include BioPeroxide, a carbon-negative hydrogen peroxide; BioChelate, a biodegradable chelant; ScavSol, a multivalent metal sequestrant for energy applications; ScaleSol, a scale control alternative to phosphonates; and CorrSol, designed for corrosion and fouling control. Solugen focuses on creating safe, cost-effective, and environmentally-friendly solutions, serving various sectors such as agriculture, cleaning, energy, and water. The company employs a patented method that leverages bio-inspired reactions and plant materials as low-cost feedstocks, enabling it to produce innovative products that are competitively priced in the market.

Contraline

Seed Round in 2018
Contraline, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Charlottesville, Virginia, focused on developing innovative male birth control solutions. The company has created Echo-V, an ultrasound-visible polymer solution that is injected into the vas deferens, forming a semi-permeable hydrogel device that blocks sperm while allowing bodily fluids to pass through. This product is part of a non-surgical procedure known as Vasintomy. Contraline's first product, Adam, utilizes a proprietary injectable hydrogel platform and is designed for a minimally invasive outpatient procedure. Adam is non-hormonal, intended to provide effective contraception for several years, and can be easily reversed. Established in 2015, Contraline aims to advance reproductive health through its unique approaches to male contraception.

Workrise

Series B in 2018
Workrise, formerly known as RigUp Inc., is a technology company that operates a marketplace connecting independent contractors with companies in the energy sector. Founded in 2014 and based in Austin, Texas, the platform streamlines the hiring process by tracking workforce information, managing drug screenings, conducting background checks, and verifying certifications and insurance. It serves various sectors, including oil and gas, solar, and wind, and offers solutions such as workforce and vendor marketplaces, as well as managed field services. Additionally, Workrise provides digital tools for auditing and archiving operations, optimizing inventory, and enhancing operational efficiencies for energy companies across the United States.

Home61

Venture Round in 2017
HOME61 Miami Inc. operates as an online real estate company that helps users to find real estate properties in Miami and other surrounding areas. It enables users to search residential (house, apartment, condos, and penthouse) and other properties for rent and sale. It allows individuals, landlords, management companies, or brokers to list their real estate properties for rent and sale. The company was incorporated in 2014 and is based in Miami, Florida.

AvidXchange

Private Equity Round in 2017
AvidXchange is the industry leader in automating invoice and payment processes for mid-market businesses. Founded in the year 2000, AvidXchange processes over $140 billion transactions annually across its network of more than 680,000 suppliers, transforming the way 6,000 customers in North America pay their bills. AvidXchange is distinguished as a global fintech unicorn and one of the fastest growing technology companies in the U.S. with 1,500 employees supporting customers across seven office locations.

Sunroom Rentals

Seed Round in 2017
Sunroom Rentals Texas, LLC is a technology company based in Austin, Texas, founded in 2018. The company offers an online application designed to simplify the process of finding and leasing rental properties, including condos, apartments, and houses. Users can easily locate available rentals, book tours, and submit applications directly through the platform. The service connects users with licensed agents and tour guides who facilitate property viewings during selected time slots. Additionally, the platform employs a backend dispatching application to notify agents when a tour is scheduled, enhancing the efficiency of the rental process.

Contraline

Seed Round in 2017
Contraline, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Charlottesville, Virginia, focused on developing innovative male birth control solutions. The company has created Echo-V, an ultrasound-visible polymer solution that is injected into the vas deferens, forming a semi-permeable hydrogel device that blocks sperm while allowing bodily fluids to pass through. This product is part of a non-surgical procedure known as Vasintomy. Contraline's first product, Adam, utilizes a proprietary injectable hydrogel platform and is designed for a minimally invasive outpatient procedure. Adam is non-hormonal, intended to provide effective contraception for several years, and can be easily reversed. Established in 2015, Contraline aims to advance reproductive health through its unique approaches to male contraception.

Willing

Series A in 2016
Willing is an online legal service that simplifies the process of end-of-life planning, making it accessible and affordable for all. The platform provides users with tools to create wills and living wills quickly, allowing them to secure their estate plans in just minutes. Additionally, Willing assists users in comparing costs for funeral homes and cemeteries, facilitating informed decisions regarding their end-of-life arrangements. By focusing on user-friendly solutions, Willing helps individuals protect their families and assets while saving time and money.

Workrise

Series A in 2016
Workrise, formerly known as RigUp Inc., is a technology company that operates a marketplace connecting independent contractors with companies in the energy sector. Founded in 2014 and based in Austin, Texas, the platform streamlines the hiring process by tracking workforce information, managing drug screenings, conducting background checks, and verifying certifications and insurance. It serves various sectors, including oil and gas, solar, and wind, and offers solutions such as workforce and vendor marketplaces, as well as managed field services. Additionally, Workrise provides digital tools for auditing and archiving operations, optimizing inventory, and enhancing operational efficiencies for energy companies across the United States.

Workrise

Seed Round in 2014
Workrise, formerly known as RigUp Inc., is a technology company that operates a marketplace connecting independent contractors with companies in the energy sector. Founded in 2014 and based in Austin, Texas, the platform streamlines the hiring process by tracking workforce information, managing drug screenings, conducting background checks, and verifying certifications and insurance. It serves various sectors, including oil and gas, solar, and wind, and offers solutions such as workforce and vendor marketplaces, as well as managed field services. Additionally, Workrise provides digital tools for auditing and archiving operations, optimizing inventory, and enhancing operational efficiencies for energy companies across the United States.

BitPay

Series A in 2014
BitPay, Inc. is a provider of enterprise-grade bitcoin payment solutions designed for businesses and organizations. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, the company offers a range of services, including a RESTful API and a bitcoin payment gateway API, which facilitate secure payment processing. BitPay supports native payment protocols, signed payment requests, and direct payment communication, enhancing transaction efficiency. Additionally, the company offers Copay, a bitcoin wallet solution that incorporates Intel hardware security, ensuring robust protection for private key generation and transaction signing. BitPay Send is another key service, allowing organizations to pay employees, vendors, and contractors with cryptocurrency. The company also has a strategic processing partnership with Aliant Payment Systems, further expanding its payment processing capabilities.

Outbox

Series A in 2013
Outbox provides a disruptive alternative to the old system of postal delivery. Their service worked by sending an Outbox employee to customers’ homes to pick up their mail three times a week. The items were electronically scanned into images and then made available for viewing via a secure website, on iPads and smartphones.

BitPay

Seed Round in 2013
BitPay, Inc. is a provider of enterprise-grade bitcoin payment solutions designed for businesses and organizations. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, the company offers a range of services, including a RESTful API and a bitcoin payment gateway API, which facilitate secure payment processing. BitPay supports native payment protocols, signed payment requests, and direct payment communication, enhancing transaction efficiency. Additionally, the company offers Copay, a bitcoin wallet solution that incorporates Intel hardware security, ensuring robust protection for private key generation and transaction signing. BitPay Send is another key service, allowing organizations to pay employees, vendors, and contractors with cryptocurrency. The company also has a strategic processing partnership with Aliant Payment Systems, further expanding its payment processing capabilities.

Portalarium

Venture Round in 2011
Portalarium was formed in September 2009 for the purpose of developing and publishing online social games, virtual worlds and related services and products. Portalarium is revolutionizing role-playing games for social media. Located in Austin, Texas, Portalarium is developing and publishing premium online games and virtual worlds for popular social networks and mobile platforms. Portalarium games maximize the fun and social play experience between friends, making it easy to find each other and play together regardless of where you are or what you are playing.

Gowalla

Series A in 2008
Gowalla is an augmented reality social game and a social guide that enables users to share and discover photos, experiences, and recommendations related to various locations and cities. Launched in 2009 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, Gowalla features an award-winning mobile app and website that offer a growing collection of guides curated by both the community and renowned experts from organizations like Disney and National Geographic. The platform facilitates the exploration of beloved places and parks worldwide, making it easy for friends and families to connect and share their travel experiences. Backed by notable investors, Gowalla aims to enhance how users interact with their surroundings through social engagement.