Ground Up Ventures

Companies use Pillar to accelerate their AI adoption by safely and securely deploying GenAI. Pillar puts enterprise-grade policy controls and security guardrails around your mission-critical AI applications with a few lines of code.

Jones is a software company that helps real estate and construction companies to remove insurance risk across every property, project, and application. We believe that real estate and construction managers in the built world can make smarter, faster decisions about risk transfer. To realize this vision, we provide our clients with software, data, and insights to unlock the intelligence for better decision making. We call it “Risk Intelligence”.

Panjaya is a technology company based in the San Francisco Bay Area, founded in 2022. It specializes in generative AI dubbing technology designed to localize video content across multiple languages. The company's innovative platform allows video content creators from various industries to accurately recreate videos while preserving the original speakers' natural voice and lip movements. This technology enables the transformation of keynote speeches and conference presentations for international audiences, maintaining the speaker's style, charisma, and intent. By utilizing Panjaya's services, businesses can effectively engage a global audience with compelling and authentic video content.

OurRitual is a digital platform designed to enhance and strengthen relationships through personalized guidance and support. Focused on improving mental health and relational dynamics, the company offers couples access to experienced clinicians for therapy sessions. In addition to direct counseling, OurRitual provides supplementary digital resources such as quizzes, video lessons, and video journaling prompts. These tools are aimed at facilitating better communication, effective conflict resolution, and the overall development of stronger bonds between partners. By combining professional expertise with interactive content, OurRitual seeks to transform the way individuals approach their relationships.

Producer of defense products intended to ensure safety for military professionals. The company offers defense products made using artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotics, enabling military professionals to use weapons with efficacy.

Draftboard is an online platform designed to enhance the recruitment process by allowing companies to publicly post their new-hire referral bonuses. The company specializes in human resources recruiting software that facilitates the connection between top talent and employers. Its platform provides access to open roles at leading organizations and features a referrals network that includes a unique pool of pre-qualified candidates. Draftboard also integrates with existing applicant tracking systems, enabling users to manage applications directly within their workflows. By defining incentive terms, Draftboard aims to assist companies in hiring the right individuals for specific roles, ultimately streamlining the recruitment process.

Refine Intelligence is a technology company specializing in anti-money laundering solutions aimed at helping banks manage the rising operational costs associated with financial crime. The company has developed a proprietary artificial intelligence system that analyzes anti-money laundering alerts from transaction monitoring systems. By identifying legitimate customer activities and marking them as "greenflags," the AI significantly reduces the time required for investigations. Additionally, Refine Intelligence's approach focuses on understanding the life events that influence changes in users' financial behavior, enabling the establishment of a baseline for normal activity. This methodology improves the accuracy of alerts, reduces false positives, and enhances the overall risk management processes for financial institutions, ultimately fostering greater trust in financial transactions.

OurRitual is a digital platform designed to enhance and strengthen relationships through personalized guidance and support. Focused on improving mental health and relational dynamics, the company offers couples access to experienced clinicians for therapy sessions. In addition to direct counseling, OurRitual provides supplementary digital resources such as quizzes, video lessons, and video journaling prompts. These tools are aimed at facilitating better communication, effective conflict resolution, and the overall development of stronger bonds between partners. By combining professional expertise with interactive content, OurRitual seeks to transform the way individuals approach their relationships.

At Fondue we've built CashBack to be a better discount: larger AOV, more profitable on first purchase, greater engagement, and higher LTV. It can’t be leaked to discount aggregation sites…and did we mention that shoppers love it?

Demoleap is an Israeli-founded company that offers an AI-powered live demo assistant and sales discovery platform designed to enhance the effectiveness of sales teams. With offices in Delaware, Israel, and Ireland, Demoleap provides technology that allows sales representatives to conduct improved demos by shifting focus from merely operating demos to delivering value. Its platform automatically offers insights, tracks and logs demo activities, which helps sales teams increase efficiency and execute more compelling demonstrations. The company is backed by notable US investors and firms, including former Cisco CMO Blair Christie and Aforza CEO Dominic Dinard.

We reduce friction in the contracting process by providing contract transparency, which powers trust and builds healthy relationships between buyers and their vendors. Who is TermScout? A team of lawyers, engineers, and business people who believe that knowledge is power. We’re scouts who read terms and other contracts, providing truthful, simple, and objective reports and summaries to help you make educated decisions about what companies you want to do business with. What Does TermScout Deliver? We reduce friction in the contracting process by providing contract data transparency, which powers trust and builds healthy relationships between buyers and their vendors. We provide buyers with a summary of a vendor's contract and how that vendor's contract terms compare to that vendor's major competitors. By providing this information at the beginning of a contract review, buyers can more quickly move contracts through their review processes while at the same time realizing significant cost savings. We provide vendors with two data products: 1) an Industry Report that provides an analysis of the contracts of that vendor's top competitors and 2) a Contract TermSheet that provides a summary of that vendor's customer contract terms. The Industry Report is used by legal teams to review their company's customer contracts in relation to their major competitors - provision by provision. The Contract TermSheet is part of our Sales Accelerator Program used by sales teams to close deals more quickly by providing our data to their customers to save time in their customer's contract review process.

Flyp is a company focused on addressing landfill waste by leveraging artificial intelligence to facilitate the resale of used goods through a decentralized network of online sellers. The company empowers everyday individuals, including stay-at-home parents and small entrepreneurs, to turn millions of items that would otherwise end up in landfills into profitable sales. Flyp's innovative platform includes AI-driven technology that matches pre-owned items with suitable resellers, optimizing the selling process. Additionally, Flyp offers a suite of automation tools that streamlines inventory and sales management, significantly reducing the time resellers spend on these tasks. This approach not only promotes environmental sustainability by recirculating items in the marketplace but also generates economic opportunities by creating jobs for a growing community of resellers. By transforming waste into a source of income, Flyp aims to establish a circular economy that benefits consumers, businesses, and the environment alike.

SellX is a sales platform that provides businesses with on-demand access to top sales talent and collaborative tools. The platform integrates sales and marketing features, allowing companies to track performance, automate workflows, and manage payments effectively. SellX enables clients to launch customizable marketing campaigns directed at a network of high-performing sales representatives, facilitating lead generation and qualification. Its offerings include AI-matching for targeted customer segments, diverse campaign types, and personalized outreach sequences, all supported by real-time analytics to enhance sales strategies.

Dayslice is a company focused on creating software solutions that empower solopreneurs and part-time workers. It offers a platform designed to help users establish their storefronts, enabling them to streamline business management and concentrate on their core activities or creative endeavors. The company aims to accommodate various individuals, including parentpreneurs seeking part-time work and independent coaches, by facilitating a flexible work environment. By prioritizing ease of use and efficiency, Dayslice allows its users to minimize time spent on administrative tasks, thereby enhancing their productivity and creative output. The company's vision is to make work accessible and manageable for everyone, fostering an inclusive ecosystem for diverse entrepreneurial pursuits.

Accrue Savings is a financial technology company that offers an online savings platform designed to assist customers in planning for future purchases. The platform enables users to create merchant-embedded online savings accounts, allowing them to save money specifically for desired items while earning cash rewards in the process. By providing a straightforward way to manage savings and track expenses, Accrue Savings aims to incentivize consumers to save rather than rely solely on credit for their purchases. The company's approach emphasizes the importance of financial planning and responsible spending, giving consumers the tools they need to achieve their purchasing goals.

Accrue Savings is a financial technology company that offers an online savings platform designed to assist customers in planning for future purchases. The platform enables users to create merchant-embedded online savings accounts, allowing them to save money specifically for desired items while earning cash rewards in the process. By providing a straightforward way to manage savings and track expenses, Accrue Savings aims to incentivize consumers to save rather than rely solely on credit for their purchases. The company's approach emphasizes the importance of financial planning and responsible spending, giving consumers the tools they need to achieve their purchasing goals.

BrightHire is a technology company that specializes in performance optimization for recruiting teams through its interview intelligence platform. The platform aims to enhance the hiring process by transforming candidate conversations into actionable insights. By unlocking hidden value from each interaction, BrightHire enables organizations to fill roles more quickly, improve the effectiveness of their recruiters, and gain a deeper understanding of candidate intelligence. This focus on talent acquisition provides businesses with increased visibility and insight, ultimately facilitating more efficient hiring decisions.

PrettyDamnQuick is an innovative order management platform that enhances the eCommerce experience by streamlining the order-to-delivery workflow. It focuses on maximizing profitability by segmenting customers and utilizing A/B testing to optimize the checkout process for each individual. The platform efficiently manages the entire order lifecycle, ensuring timely deliveries at the lowest possible shipping rates. It features instant fraud detection, validation of contact information, and exception management, which help to eliminate delays and errors. By connecting and tracking multiple carriers and services, PrettyDamnQuick assigns orders to the most cost-effective and expedient delivery options. The platform supports over 25 million checkouts monthly for more than 250 fast-growing brands, making it a crucial tool for businesses looking to enhance their eCommerce operations.

Disco is a company that specializes in AI-driven partnership software, aimed at enhancing customer acquisition for brands. Its platform operates as a collaborative network, allowing brands to share insights about their customers and optimize merchandising distribution. Disco's innovative widget tool enables merchants to recommend additional products to customers immediately after their initial purchase, thereby driving traffic to their sites and facilitating lead nurturing through retargeting efforts. This approach helps merchants capitalize on moments when customers are most receptive to making additional purchases, ultimately lowering customer acquisition costs and fostering a mutually beneficial ecosystem among participating brands.

BrightHire is a technology company that specializes in performance optimization for recruiting teams through its interview intelligence platform. The platform aims to enhance the hiring process by transforming candidate conversations into actionable insights. By unlocking hidden value from each interaction, BrightHire enables organizations to fill roles more quickly, improve the effectiveness of their recruiters, and gain a deeper understanding of candidate intelligence. This focus on talent acquisition provides businesses with increased visibility and insight, ultimately facilitating more efficient hiring decisions.

TULU is a company based in Tel Aviv, Israel, that specializes in on-demand rentals of household and lifestyle products through its application. It operates as a Usage Economy platform, providing tenants in residential buildings, student housing, and offices with convenient access to a variety of brand-name appliances, grocery essentials, and entertainment devices. TULU utilizes IoT-based smart rental units that are tailored to meet the needs of users, leveraging data to analyze behavior, optimize usage, and refine inventory. This approach enables TULU to enhance the living experience for urban dwellers while promoting efficient space usage and reducing waste. The company operates in 15 cities across the United States and Europe and collaborates with major landlords and top brand manufacturers to ensure a diverse and quality offering for its customers.

Dandelion Energy, Inc. is a Palo Alto, California-based company founded in 2017 that specializes in affordable geothermal heating and cooling solutions. The company replaces traditional air conditioning and heating systems with an innovative home geothermal system that utilizes a powerful heat pump and underground pipes to transfer heat between the earth and the residence. This system is designed to harness thermal energy from below the earth's surface to regulate indoor temperatures and provide hot water, allowing homeowners to transition from conventional heating fuels to a more sustainable geothermal alternative. Dandelion Energy is committed to making renewable heating and cooling accessible and cost-effective for homeowners.

Flyp is a company focused on addressing landfill waste by leveraging artificial intelligence to facilitate the resale of used goods through a decentralized network of online sellers. The company empowers everyday individuals, including stay-at-home parents and small entrepreneurs, to turn millions of items that would otherwise end up in landfills into profitable sales. Flyp's innovative platform includes AI-driven technology that matches pre-owned items with suitable resellers, optimizing the selling process. Additionally, Flyp offers a suite of automation tools that streamlines inventory and sales management, significantly reducing the time resellers spend on these tasks. This approach not only promotes environmental sustainability by recirculating items in the marketplace but also generates economic opportunities by creating jobs for a growing community of resellers. By transforming waste into a source of income, Flyp aims to establish a circular economy that benefits consumers, businesses, and the environment alike.

Wellory Inc. is a nutrition and wellness technology company based in Brooklyn, New York, established in 2018. The company has developed a mobile application that facilitates personalized nutrition plans and health goals, connecting users with certified nutritionists, dietitians, and health coaches. The platform offers features such as personalized meal planning, photo-based meal logging, and daily communication with coaches. Wellory aims to make healthy eating both accessible and affordable, fostering one-on-one relationships through a live messaging platform. By creating detailed profiles based on consumers' health and behavior trends, Wellory provides tailored support and accountability, empowering users to cultivate sustainable eating habits. The company also offers subscription services to enhance user experience and engagement.

BigBrain is a developer of interactive platforms focused on digital entertainment. The company offers a unique trivia game that allows participants to engage in live, multi-player quizzes on various topics. Users have the opportunity to win real-money prizes, combining learning with entertainment. By creating an engaging environment for trivia enthusiasts, BigBrain aims to attract a wide audience interested in both knowledge and competition.

Dandelion Energy, Inc. is a Palo Alto, California-based company founded in 2017 that specializes in affordable geothermal heating and cooling solutions. The company replaces traditional air conditioning and heating systems with an innovative home geothermal system that utilizes a powerful heat pump and underground pipes to transfer heat between the earth and the residence. This system is designed to harness thermal energy from below the earth's surface to regulate indoor temperatures and provide hot water, allowing homeowners to transition from conventional heating fuels to a more sustainable geothermal alternative. Dandelion Energy is committed to making renewable heating and cooling accessible and cost-effective for homeowners.

Fast's mission is to make buying online faster, safer and easier for everyone. Its Fast Login and Fast Checkout product enable a one-click sign-in and purchasing experience that makes it easier for people to buy and merchants to sell. The company's products work on any browser, device or platform for consistent, stress-free purchasing, either on a merchants own domain or through headless checkout on any other website. Fast invests heavily in its user privacy and security, with a Zero Fraud Guarantee on chargebacks for sellers. Headquartered in San Francisco, Fast is a privately held company founded by Domm Holland and Allison Barr Allen and funded by Stripe, Addition, Index Ventures, Susa Ventures and Sugar Capital. Headquartered in San Francisco, Fast is a privately held company funded by Stripe, Index Ventures, Susa Ventures, Global Founders Capital, and Brian Sugar – who also serves on the board.

BuildOps, Inc. is a software company founded in 2018 and headquartered in Santa Monica, California. It specializes in providing an all-in-one operational software solution tailored for commercial HVAC, plumbing, and electrical contractors. The platform streamlines various aspects of business management, including invoicing and billing, scheduling, customer management, estimates, proposals, payments, and financial reporting. By integrating essential functions into a single cloud-based system, BuildOps enhances operational efficiency and profitability for subcontractors. The software is designed to support technicians and office staff by automating workflows, enabling mobile invoicing, and facilitating real-time communication and documentation. With its foundation in the experiences of subcontractors and expertise from skilled engineers, BuildOps aims to empower businesses to optimize their operations and drive growth.

Jones is a software company that helps real estate and construction companies to remove insurance risk across every property, project, and application. We believe that real estate and construction managers in the built world can make smarter, faster decisions about risk transfer. To realize this vision, we provide our clients with software, data, and insights to unlock the intelligence for better decision making. We call it “Risk Intelligence”.

ShapeShift Gaming Ltd. is a company based in Tel Aviv, Israel, founded in 2018, that develops Jumper.tv, a streaming content aggregator and viewership platform. This platform captures, tracks, and analyzes live video game streams from various streaming services, enhancing the viewing experience for gamers. By leveraging proprietary computer vision and machine learning algorithms, the platform allows users to track every moment of gameplay, creating an interactive and engaging environment for viewers. ShapeShift Gaming aims to elevate the gaming and eSports viewing experience, ensuring that fans can enjoy a unique and dynamic way to connect with their favorite streamers.

EliseAI is an artificial intelligence company specializing in developing a conversational platform aimed at automating business processes. The company's primary offering is a virtual leasing assistant designed for the rental housing sector, which aids real estate management companies by efficiently managing inquiries, scheduling property viewings, and providing timely follow-ups with prospects. This tool enhances customer service, maximizes revenue potential, and helps apartment managers reduce property management costs. By utilizing machine learning, EliseAI's platform ensures that no lead is overlooked, streamlining operations for businesses of all sizes in the real estate industry.

Neighborhood Goods, Inc. is a retail company that operates a department store in Dallas, Texas, offering a diverse range of products including apparel, accessories, cosmetics, and groceries. Established in 2017, the company emphasizes an innovative shopping experience by featuring a rotating selection of brands and concepts, along with community-focused activities such as events, food offerings, and live speakers. Neighborhood Goods aims to create a vibrant environment where customers can shop, dine, and engage with thoughtful content, both in their physical locations and through their online platform.

Dandelion Energy, Inc. is a Palo Alto, California-based company founded in 2017 that specializes in affordable geothermal heating and cooling solutions. The company replaces traditional air conditioning and heating systems with an innovative home geothermal system that utilizes a powerful heat pump and underground pipes to transfer heat between the earth and the residence. This system is designed to harness thermal energy from below the earth's surface to regulate indoor temperatures and provide hot water, allowing homeowners to transition from conventional heating fuels to a more sustainable geothermal alternative. Dandelion Energy is committed to making renewable heating and cooling accessible and cost-effective for homeowners.

Dandelion's vision is to enable frictionless discovery of content and commerce. In a world where its easy for anyone to be a seller, it should be easy for anyone to be a marketer too. Dandelion provides the platform to storefronts, marketplaces, and their participants to make that happen.

We developed the most advanced micromobility service – through a first-of-its-kind subscription model that transforms the convenience, accessibility, and environmental impact of transportation.

Upfort is a cybersecurity and insurance platform dedicated to providing comprehensive protection for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) against evolving cyber threats. The company offers an integrated solution that encompasses various essential services, including phishing simulation, public Wi-Fi protection, inbox protection, password management, and cyber liability insurance. By consolidating these critical tools into a single, user-friendly platform, Upfort enables organizations to effectively manage their cyber security needs and safeguard their business activities from modern cyber risks.

Pact Insurance Services LLC is a San Francisco-based company founded in 2016 that specializes in providing car insurance brokerage services through an online platform. The company focuses on delivering instant and affordable car insurance solutions that cater to both traditional and modern mobility needs. Pact offers a mobile application that allows users to manage their insurance conveniently from their phones, emphasizing personalized plans that include both liability and non-liability coverages. By integrating consumer behavior with flexible coverage technology, Pact aims to create tailored insurance solutions that save customers time, money, and effort.

Neighborhood Goods, Inc. is a retail company that operates a department store in Dallas, Texas, offering a diverse range of products including apparel, accessories, cosmetics, and groceries. Established in 2017, the company emphasizes an innovative shopping experience by featuring a rotating selection of brands and concepts, along with community-focused activities such as events, food offerings, and live speakers. Neighborhood Goods aims to create a vibrant environment where customers can shop, dine, and engage with thoughtful content, both in their physical locations and through their online platform.

Jones is a software company that helps real estate and construction companies to remove insurance risk across every property, project, and application. We believe that real estate and construction managers in the built world can make smarter, faster decisions about risk transfer. To realize this vision, we provide our clients with software, data, and insights to unlock the intelligence for better decision making. We call it “Risk Intelligence”.

Dandelion Energy, Inc. is a Palo Alto, California-based company founded in 2017 that specializes in affordable geothermal heating and cooling solutions. The company replaces traditional air conditioning and heating systems with an innovative home geothermal system that utilizes a powerful heat pump and underground pipes to transfer heat between the earth and the residence. This system is designed to harness thermal energy from below the earth's surface to regulate indoor temperatures and provide hot water, allowing homeowners to transition from conventional heating fuels to a more sustainable geothermal alternative. Dandelion Energy is committed to making renewable heating and cooling accessible and cost-effective for homeowners.

Frank’s online platform streamlines and simplifies the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) application process. Its mission is to help students reach their greatest potential by getting the most value from their education. Frank aims to assist each student and help them get their maximum financial aid.

Jones is a software company that helps real estate and construction companies to remove insurance risk across every property, project, and application. We believe that real estate and construction managers in the built world can make smarter, faster decisions about risk transfer. To realize this vision, we provide our clients with software, data, and insights to unlock the intelligence for better decision making. We call it “Risk Intelligence”.

Portless fulfills e-commerce orders directly from China to your customer's front door. The company offers simple integrations with all major e-commerce platforms and an array of customized packaging and shipping services. Its headquarters is located in Exeter, Pennsylvania.