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 Social Network

Open

Series A in 2021
Open operates a mediation studio that focuses on creating spaces for meditation and movement, promoting the mind-body connection. The company offers a platform that provides various wellness and fitness sessions, including meditation and training classes. By facilitating shared mindful experiences, Open aims to help individuals engage meaningfully with friends and community, both online and offline. Through its offerings, the company seeks to enhance overall well-being by providing a tranquil environment conducive to personal growth and mindfulness.

IRL

Series C in 2021
IRL is a social planning application designed to facilitate real-life interactions among users. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in San Francisco, the app simplifies the process of sending and receiving invitations to social gatherings. It offers users a range of suggestions for activities based on their interests, locations, seasons, and upcoming holidays. In addition to event planning, IRL allows users to anonymously nominate friends for activities suited to their skills. The application also integrates local public events and enables users to sync their calendars with friends while following sports teams, musicians, and local venues. Overall, IRL aims to enhance social connectivity and encourage users to engage in shared experiences.

Push Party

Seed Round in 2020
Push Party is a new entrant to the exciting space of post-social digital campfires that rekindle a more intimate, authentic connection between users and the people they care about most.

IRL

Series B in 2020
IRL is a social planning application designed to facilitate real-life interactions among users. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in San Francisco, the app simplifies the process of sending and receiving invitations to social gatherings. It offers users a range of suggestions for activities based on their interests, locations, seasons, and upcoming holidays. In addition to event planning, IRL allows users to anonymously nominate friends for activities suited to their skills. The application also integrates local public events and enables users to sync their calendars with friends while following sports teams, musicians, and local venues. Overall, IRL aims to enhance social connectivity and encourage users to engage in shared experiences.

IRL

Series A in 2019
IRL is a social planning application designed to facilitate real-life interactions among users. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in San Francisco, the app simplifies the process of sending and receiving invitations to social gatherings. It offers users a range of suggestions for activities based on their interests, locations, seasons, and upcoming holidays. In addition to event planning, IRL allows users to anonymously nominate friends for activities suited to their skills. The application also integrates local public events and enables users to sync their calendars with friends while following sports teams, musicians, and local venues. Overall, IRL aims to enhance social connectivity and encourage users to engage in shared experiences.

IRL

Seed Round in 2018
IRL is a social planning application designed to facilitate real-life interactions among users. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in San Francisco, the app simplifies the process of sending and receiving invitations to social gatherings. It offers users a range of suggestions for activities based on their interests, locations, seasons, and upcoming holidays. In addition to event planning, IRL allows users to anonymously nominate friends for activities suited to their skills. The application also integrates local public events and enables users to sync their calendars with friends while following sports teams, musicians, and local venues. Overall, IRL aims to enhance social connectivity and encourage users to engage in shared experiences.

Wuu

Seed Round in 2016
Wuu is a social networking platform. Wuu has no ads, does not collect or sell user data, and is not affiliated with data miners or advertisers.

Lascaux

Grant in 2011
Lascaux Co. is dedicated to revitalizing the enjoyment of art for a broad audience through its innovative social networking applications designed for mobile devices. By leveraging technology, Lascaux aims to foster a community where art appreciation is accessible and engaging, making it a central part of everyday life for users.

fflick

Angel Round in 2010
fflick is a company that specializes in organizing and analyzing social media data to provide relevant insights. It develops a web portal that features movie trailers, reviews, and ratings, making it a valuable resource for users seeking information about films. By filtering and presenting information derived from social media, fflick ensures that its offerings are both consumable and pertinent to its audience. The platform serves as a comprehensive source for reviews, news, and data related to the movie industry, enhancing the decision-making process for viewers.

Sofa Labs

Series A in 2009
Sofa Labs, Inc. develops and operates social Web platforms. It develops Thread, a relationship site built on the Facebook Connect platform that helps its users to meet new friends through existing friends. The company was founded in 2009 and is based in San Mateo, California.

Buddy Media

Series A in 2007
Buddy Media is a social media marketing and customer engagement software company that serves some of the largest global advertisers. Headquartered in New York City, with additional offices in Asia, London, and San Francisco, Buddy Media provides a suite of tools designed to help brands foster strong relationships with consumers in a digital landscape. The company's platform offers scalable and secure solutions, leveraging data-driven insights to guide brands from the initial point of contact to the point of purchase.

Mogad

Series A in 2007
Mogad, Inc. is a San Francisco-based company that specializes in information sharing and privacy control. The company offers a product called Social.im, which is a desktop instant messaging client designed for Facebook users. This application automatically integrates users' Facebook friends, facilitating easy communication. In addition to instant messaging, Social.im provides users with updates on their Facebook activity, including new wall posts and messages. Currently, Social.im is available exclusively for Windows, with plans to release a Mac version in the near future.

Meta

Series B in 2006
Meta is a leading online social networking service that connects users with friends, family, and new acquaintances. Founded by Mark Zuckerberg in 2004, it allows individuals to create profiles, share updates, and engage with a variety of multimedia content. Users can join or create groups and pages centered around numerous interests, including entertainment, sports, and business. With over 1.32 billion monthly active users, Meta has established itself as the world's largest social network, facilitating significant daily interactions and content sharing. The platform's mobile user base constitutes a substantial portion of its audience, reflecting the growing trend of mobile engagement. Meta also operates various applications and services, enhancing user experiences and driving advertiser value through its Facebook Audience Network, which supports publishers and developers in maximizing their reach. Through strategic partnerships and continuous innovation, Meta aims to maintain its position at the forefront of social connectivity and digital marketing.