USV Microfiche Issue #1

Some ideas we’ve been discussing and would love to discuss with you

1/ Mining Companies That Don’t Look Like Mining Companies: Our excitement centers on software-enabled exploration, cleaner extraction methods, targeting previously untapped markets, and developing material synthesis platforms.

2/ Personhood being Probabilistic: On the internet, there will likely never be a view with 100% confidence that an entity is a unique human. We need ensemble approaches to increase the probability of personhood.

3/ The Cognitive Load of Truth: People prefer simple, credible sources to verify content. Platforms that offer straightforward, reliable verification mechanisms will thrive in an era of widespread misinformation.

4/ Open Social for Personal Agents: We're trying to crack the code on personal agents that can seamlessly navigate both private and public data in open social architectures. It's like building a digital diplomat that can whisper your secrets while shouting from the rooftops.

5/ You don't churn off your friends: Consumer AI companies have a massive churn problem. Perhaps we're too focused on what they can do and not enough on how they make us feel. No one at USV cared about the Librarian till I had a name and a face.

Our more formalized thoughts and announcements

1/ Collision Course by Rebecca Kaden*

2/ Introducing the Slow Hunch Podcast. Episode 1 featuring Fraser Kelton on AI and the launch of ChatGPT.

3/ Build for Yourself by Jared Hecht*

4/ Deep Reals by Grace Carney*

5/ Going on a Voyage by Albert Wenger

*These posts contain ideas we're actively seeking investments for

Checks written this month

1/ Unigrid - Series A

2/ Neynar - Series A

1/ Journey Clinical has signed its first large insurance contract with Aetna.

2/ The ZKsync project completed the airdrop for the ZK token.

3/ US DOE approves safety design for Radiant’s microreactor.

4/ Cathy Hawley has taken over as CEO of Bolster.

5/ Station was acquired by Coinbase.

1/ Possible Finance - VP of Engineering (Remote)

2/ Leap - Chief Financial Officer (SF) 

3/ Ghost - Head of Finance (LA) 

4/ David Energy - VP of Sales & Partnerships (NYC)

5/ Jam - Lead Designer (Remote) 

6/ Zeitview - SVP Finance (Southern California)