Founders Future Establishes San Francisco Office to Foster AI-First Innovation
In a significant move poised to deepen the ties between the European and American technology landscapes, Founders Future has inaugurated its new office at One Ferry Building in San Francisco. This strategic establishment marks a milestone in the company's mission to become a leading player in the realm of 'AI-first' ventures, effectively bridging the gap between innovators and investors across the Atlantic.
Founded with the goal of empowering the next generation of global tech champions, Founders Future’s expansion into the heart of Silicon Valley signifies a bold step forward. By positioning itself in San Francisco, the company aims to support both European scale-ups seeking to enter the U.S. market and American 'AI-native' founders looking to expand their footprint in Europe. This dual focus will facilitate investment opportunities and foster collaboration, inviting an exchange of ideas that is crucial for innovation in today's tech-driven economy.
The leadership of Founders Future's U.S. office will be under the expertise of Dulcie Fforde and Jonathan Karlson. Dulcie, who brings a wealth of experience from her tenure at Baillie Gifford—where she was involved with high-profile investments in companies like Airbnb and Brex—will oversee the sourcing and selection of AI and consumer investment opportunities. Her background as an active player in Silicon Valley's entrepreneurial ecosystem positions her well to identify potential winners in the tech space.
Jonathan Karlson, as Senior Associate, complements the leadership team with his experience from ICONIQ Capital and BlackRock. At Founders Future, Karlson will focus on early-stage investment analysis and strengthening relationships with limited partners (LPs) to enhance the company's venture capital activities.
In addition to leadership roles, Founders Future plans to expand its teams further, seeking to recruit individuals in growth, investor relations, and operations. The overarching ambition of the firm is to manage assets totaling €1 billion while launching a growth fund in 2026. According to Marc Menasé, Founding Partner of Founders Future, "Our goal is to build an international investment platform that supports visionary founders, regardless of location. By connecting Europe and the United States with an AI-centric approach, we are executing our transatlantic mission and paving the way for the next generation of tech champions."
With this new office, Founders Future is set to make a lasting impact on the investment landscape, fostering an environment where innovation thrives and future tech leaders can emerge. As the company builds its transatlantic platform, it represents not just an investment opportunity but a collaborative future, driven by artificial intelligence, where synergies between differing regions can lead to groundbreaking advancements. Investors and founders alike are encouraged to engage with Founders Future as it embarks on this exciting chapter. In a world increasingly defined by tech, the establishment of this office underscores the critical convergence of ideas, funding, and partnership necessary for bringing visionary projects to fruition.
The success of Founders Future's initiative rests on its ability to cultivate relationships across borders, ensuring that brilliant ideas from both sides of the Atlantic are supported and accelerated toward success. As the lines of communication between Europe and the U.S. continue to blur in the tech sector, Founders Future’s strategic positioning in San Francisco is emblematic of the growing necessity for transnational collaboration. With a firm grasp of the pulse of innovation in both regions, the company is excellently poised to take advantage of these opportunities, ultimately evolving the landscape of global technology investment as we know it.