Precursor Ventures

Highnote is an innovative audio creators platform tailored for musicians, podcasters, and voiceover artists. It provides tools for capturing notes, annotating audio files, and collecting feedback seamlessly. Users can ask questions, create polls, and compare multiple versions of their work, all within a single interface. The platform allows listeners to respond and provide feedback directly on audio tracks without the need for account creation or app downloads. By facilitating high-quality audio streaming and efficient workflow management, Highnote aims to enhance collaboration and streamline the creative process for audio creators globally. As the industry for creator tools and services approaches a significant market size, Highnote positions itself as a pivotal resource for empowering music makers and audio professionals.

PodcastAI is a technology company that specializes in AI-driven tools for podcast production. It aims to streamline content creation by automating text-to-audio conversion, making podcasting more efficient and accessible for creators and media companies worldwide. The company's platform transforms podcasters into producers, enabling them to generate entire episodes using artificial intelligence, thereby facilitating swift and effective episode publication.

Wicked Saints Studios is a company focused on developing a unique game studio platform. This platform leverages behavioral technology to create interactive media experiences. The company's approach integrates narrative augmented reality (AR) to engage users who prioritize mental health and global awareness. By offering real-life quests facilitated through AR, Wicked Saints Studios aims to provide meaningful and immersive experiences for its clients.

Crate is an AI-powered platform for saving, organizing, and sharing online content. The service collects data from across the internet and provides automatic sorting and categorization, along with AI-generated summaries, to help users find and use saved material. Content can be captured from anywhere via a browser extension, enabling easy access to organized information. Founded in 2021, Crate is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

Founded in 2021, Glystn is a San Francisco-based company that operates a platform designed to support creator analytics and insights at scale. Its primary focus is to help podcasters grow and manage their audiences across multiple platforms by providing tools for understanding and engaging listeners.

Highnote is an innovative audio creators platform tailored for musicians, podcasters, and voiceover artists. It provides tools for capturing notes, annotating audio files, and collecting feedback seamlessly. Users can ask questions, create polls, and compare multiple versions of their work, all within a single interface. The platform allows listeners to respond and provide feedback directly on audio tracks without the need for account creation or app downloads. By facilitating high-quality audio streaming and efficient workflow management, Highnote aims to enhance collaboration and streamline the creative process for audio creators globally. As the industry for creator tools and services approaches a significant market size, Highnote positions itself as a pivotal resource for empowering music makers and audio professionals.

Charter is a company focused on transforming workplaces into dynamic organizations where all employees can thrive. It publishes an email newsletter that serves as a resource for workplace decision-makers, offering insights and strategies for effective organizational practices. In addition to its written content, Charter hosts events aimed at fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among leaders in the business sector. The company also provides an online training program centered on hybrid work, equipping businesses with practical tools and a tactical playbook for optimizing work environments. Through these initiatives, Charter seeks to catalyze meaningful change in how organizations operate and support their workforce.

Arkive is building the people’s museum: a collection of art and culture curated by a global community of members and displayed around the world.

Brkaway facilitates collaboration between brands and content creators. It provides a platform for brands to acquire short-form video content for social media channels like TikTok and Instagram Reels, while enabling creators to monetize their content creation skills.

Moonlight is an online platform that serves as a social space for tarot enthusiasts and professionals. It offers tools for tarot readings, education, and community engagement, allowing users to explore various facets of themselves through transformative rituals and visual storytelling. The platform facilitates connections among tarot hobbyists and practitioners, promoting an environment where participants can learn about tarot, share experiences, and receive professional readings. Through its focus on these therapeutic rituals, Moonlight aims to provide life-changing perspectives for its users.

Brilliant Illustrations is a bible study platform that integrates comics, group collaboration, and gamification to reimagine biblical texts for modern readers. The service employs living translations and visual storytelling to present scriptural narratives as accessible visuals, enabling users to explore and discuss stories within a group setting. By combining interactive elements with narrative visuals, the platform aims to enhance engagement and comprehension of scripture for individuals and study groups.

Startupy is a digital playground for thinkers and creators to curate, organize, and interconnect the most valuable insights and ideas.

Honeycomb is a company that develops an audio recording application aimed at helping families capture and preserve the life stories of their aging loved ones. The application creates a private family channel, functioning like a podcast, where these stories can be stored and accessed later. Family members can easily record conversations by merging them into existing calls or by using a designated phone number, allowing for a seamless audio capture from all participants. This technology not only enables families to save and share memories but also provides a nostalgic experience for users who wish to connect with their personal histories. Honeycomb is headquartered in Palo Alto, California.

Wicked Saints Studios is a company focused on developing a unique game studio platform. This platform leverages behavioral technology to create interactive media experiences. The company's approach integrates narrative augmented reality (AR) to engage users who prioritize mental health and global awareness. By offering real-life quests facilitated through AR, Wicked Saints Studios aims to provide meaningful and immersive experiences for its clients.

Windsor is a developer of a video personalization platform that leverages artificial intelligence and augmented media technology to enhance customer engagement for growing companies. By enabling the automated editing of videos to create a personalized appearance and sound, Windsor helps clients deliver tailored messages to their audiences as if each video were recorded individually. This innovative approach allows businesses to strengthen their connection with customers and improve their sales effectiveness.

Tribe is an e-fitness platform founded in 2020 by Justin Marston and based in Austin, Texas. The application caters to boutique studios and local gyms, enabling them to offer a digital workout experience. Tribe provides online and live workout classes, along with functional training, allowing users to engage with local fitness communities. The platform aims to replicate the in-person boutique experience by facilitating connections and interactions among members, ensuring that users can enjoy a sense of community similar to that found in physical fitness locations.

Founded in 2017, Tribe XR specializes in real-world skill training via virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). Its platform enables users to learn DJ skills through interactive lessons and live performances with renowned DJs like Kryoman. Beyond music, Tribe XR is developing a self-serve immersive learning platform for various organizations.

Funomena is an independent game studio based in downtown San Francisco, California, founded in January 2013 by game developers Robin Hunicke and Martin Middleton. The company focuses on creating experimental and engaging video games across various platforms, including mobile and PC. Funomena aims to provide colorful, interactive, and emotional experiences that allow players to immerse themselves in playful virtual environments. The studio is currently developing a mostly-unannounced commercial game, as well as a collaborative project with UC Davis and the National Science Foundation. They are also preparing to unveil a new game at this year's IndieCade, showcasing their commitment to innovation and positive impact through gaming.

Encantos Media Studios is an entertainment and educational company based in Culver City, California, with additional offices in Los Angeles and New York. Founded in 2015, Encantos creates a diverse range of content, including apps, books, toys, and videos, aimed at empowering creatives to tell their stories. The company connects children with skilled storytellers through an online platform designed to teach essential 21st-century skills. Encantos has garnered recognition through numerous awards and accolades from prestigious organizations such as CNN, Forbes, and The New York Times, highlighting its commitment to quality educational content and innovation in children's media.

Founded in 2018, The Juggernaut is a digital media publication that focuses on well-reported stories about South Asia and South Asians. It offers a subscription-based service covering diverse topics such as tech, culture, politics, and business, providing insights into the current developments in the Asian region.

Feedcast is a business that operates an online learning platform designed to assist creators in monetizing their content through audio courses. The company enables podcasters and other content producers to create and sell audio courses directly to students and listeners, thereby generating revenue for the creators.

Pod People is a content and marketing studio that creates award‑winning podcasts and social creative. It serves high‑profile clients such as HBO, Netflix, EA, Marvel, SoFi, Lattice, Chief, Optum, Intuit, People, Vogue, and Bon Appetit. The company also offers an on‑demand workforce platform, connecting clients with a global network of hand‑picked producers, editors, audio engineers, and sound designers for audio, video, and social storytelling production.

Eternal is an information technology company established in 2018, headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. The company specializes in developing an avatar social network designed to provide a novel social networking experience. By empowering artists and integrating innovative features, Eternal aims to redefine how individuals interact online. The company launched a private beta of its platform in January 2020, marking its commitment to enhancing user engagement through unique digital avatars.

Holloway is a publishing company that creates online guides about work and business. It maintains a library of book-length guides updated by dedicated teams, drawing on hundreds of hours of research, writing, and editing to help readers make informed decisions. The company operates a digital publishing platform that assembles and disseminates reliable knowledge across non-fiction topics, distilling the insights of industry experts into practical, in-depth resources. Founded in 2016 and based in San Francisco, Holloway aims to provide accessible, authoritative guidance for professionals and organizations seeking practical knowledge.

Founded in 2018, The Juggernaut is a digital media publication that focuses on well-reported stories about South Asia and South Asians. It offers a subscription-based service covering diverse topics such as tech, culture, politics, and business, providing insights into the current developments in the Asian region.

Drivetime, Inc. is a San Francisco-based company that specializes in designing and developing interactive audio games for the entertainment industry. Founded in 2018, Drivetime offers an online platform that allows users to engage in trivia games and challenge friends, family, and co-workers while driving. The company focuses on creating non-distracting, voice-driven gameplay, enabling users to participate in hands-free gaming experiences that can be enjoyed during their commutes.

Trash Inc. is a company that specializes in designing and developing artificial intelligence-assisted video editing application software. Founded in 2017 and based in Brooklyn, New York, Trash Inc. provides a machine learning-based toolkit that allows users to quickly create and edit high-quality short-form videos. The platform features a stock video repository and utilizes computer vision and artificial intelligence to enable predictive video editing in real-time. As of December 2020, Trash Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Visual Supply Company.

Audm is a mobile application that transforms long-form print journalism into professionally narrated audio content. Launched in 2016, the app employs professional voice actors to read news articles, making the experience enjoyable for users. By bridging the gap between traditional print media and the growing digital audio market, Audm enables users to listen to in-depth journalism while on the move, catering to the demand for accessible and engaging news consumption.

Morphin is a technology company that specializes in creating personalized GIFs and avatars for users. Its innovative image-mapping application allows individuals to generate custom three-dimensional avatars that can be utilized across various platforms, including virtual reality and augmented reality applications as well as video games. By focusing on user customization, Morphin enables clients to express themselves in unique ways through their digital representations, facilitating a more engaging and personalized experience in the virtual realm.

Scout FM is a San Francisco-based company that specializes in creating personalized podcast radio stations. Founded in 2017 by Cara Meverden, Saul Carlin, and Dan McCartney, Scout FM leverages data and artificial intelligence to curate high-quality audio content. Their service combines the traditional experience of radio with modern editorial curation, allowing listeners to customize their stations based on individual preferences. This innovative approach transforms how users discover and consume audio content, making it more tailored and accessible.

The Athletic is an online media company founded in 2015 and headquartered in San Francisco, California. It operates a subscription-based platform dedicated to providing in-depth coverage of sports news, focusing on both local and national events. The service features a wide array of articles about various sports, including basketball and football, delivered by skilled journalists. The Athletic distinguishes itself by offering an ad-free experience, allowing subscribers to access authentic sports content without distractions such as pop-ups or auto-play videos. Through its comprehensive reporting and updates, the company aims to engage sports enthusiasts seeking detailed insights into their favorite teams and athletes.

Convoz is a social video application that facilitates public collaborative conversations through video. It provides a platform for users to engage in face-to-face interactions with both celebrities and peers who share similar interests. The app enables users to upload 15-second video clips, often directed at specific celebrities, and allows them to view and respond to others' messages. This asynchronous video format fosters a space for users to express their opinions and engage in discussions about current events, enhancing the way individuals connect and communicate through video representation.

The Relish is a sports video network established in 2016 and based in San Francisco, California. The company focuses on creating digital and social content tailored for female sports fans, allowing them to stay informed and engaged with the sports and topics they are passionate about. By operating an online sports media application, The Relish aims to democratize sports for the next generation of fans, connecting and empowering female audiences and other underrepresented groups across various sports. The platform serves as a space for entertainment, community, and discussion, fostering a more inclusive sports culture.

INKLO is a mobile application aimed at transforming the experience of reading and writing. It offers exclusive stories from bestselling authors presented in bite-sized episodes released weekly. This innovative format encourages users to engage with literature in a more social and interactive manner, allowing them to enjoy storytelling in a fresh way. By combining elements of creative writing and reading, INKLO seeks to redefine how individuals experience and share written narratives.

FieldVision Co. is a New York-based company that specializes in developing unmanned camera systems designed to automatically film sports events for youth, high school, and college teams. Incorporating advanced technology, their FieldCam can detect the action on the field and autonomously pan and tilt to follow the flow of the game, eliminating the need for camera operators. In addition to the camera system, FieldVision provides a web application that allows users to watch recorded videos, stream live games, and share highlights with friends and family. Founded in 2016, FieldVision has positioned itself as a pioneer in sports filming technology, ensuring that audiences can engage with their favorite events effortlessly. The company operates as a subsidiary of Baller, Inc. as of September 2019.

Sparks is a global experiential marketing agency specializing in creating memorable brand experiences. With over 400 associates across ten locations worldwide, they deliver impactful trade shows, events, activations, and digital engagements for iconic brands.