Founders Fund

Founders Fund is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm that backs science and technology companies across multiple stages, from seed to late-stage. It pursues transformative technologies and follows a founder-friendly investment approach that provides substantial support with minimal interference. The firm invests in ventures solving difficult problems across sectors such as aerospace and transportation, artificial intelligence, advanced computing, energy, healthcare, biotechnology, cybersecurity, fintech, consumer internet, software, robotics, and related technology fields. It has backed notable companies early, including SpaceX, Palantir, and Facebook, reflecting a history of partnering with ambitious founders to scale breakthrough technologies.

Lauren Gross

Partner and COO

Bridget Harris

Associate

Joey Krug

Partner

Jeffrey Lonsdale

Managing Director, Asia

John Luttig

Partner

Past deals in Advertising

Icon

Venture Round in 2025
Icon is a technology company focused on developing innovative solutions for screen-based devices, particularly those integrated with Amazon's Alexa Voice Service. As a software-led hardware company, Icon specializes in creating smart mirrors and other smart home devices that incorporate voice capabilities. The company is recognized for its professional technology development team, which provides customized hardware and software solutions tailored to meet the certification requirements for Alexa integration. Icon's smart mirror, which features Alexa built-in, has received accolades, including recognition as a CES 2020 Innovation Awards honoree. In addition to its product offerings, Icon also provides industrial design services and supports a wide range of customized designs for original equipment manufacturers. The company is backed by notable investors and industry executives, enhancing its credibility and reach in the tech market.

Icon

Venture Round in 2025
Icon is a technology company focused on developing innovative solutions for screen-based devices, particularly those integrated with Amazon's Alexa Voice Service. As a software-led hardware company, Icon specializes in creating smart mirrors and other smart home devices that incorporate voice capabilities. The company is recognized for its professional technology development team, which provides customized hardware and software solutions tailored to meet the certification requirements for Alexa integration. Icon's smart mirror, which features Alexa built-in, has received accolades, including recognition as a CES 2020 Innovation Awards honoree. In addition to its product offerings, Icon also provides industrial design services and supports a wide range of customized designs for original equipment manufacturers. The company is backed by notable investors and industry executives, enhancing its credibility and reach in the tech market.

Zenreach

Series C in 2017
Zenreach, Inc., founded in 2012 and based in San Francisco, California, specializes in online marketing solutions tailored for businesses with physical locations. The company's flagship product, Walk-Through Marketing, integrates digital marketing efforts with in-store results to enhance customer acquisition and lifetime value. Zenreach Engage tracks customer visits and builds detailed customer profiles, while Zenreach Attract optimizes ad performance by targeting audiences based on a business's best customers. The effectiveness of these campaigns is measured using the Walk-Through Rate™, a proprietary metric that indicates when someone exposed to an ad visits a location. Zenreach serves thousands of independent merchants and notable brands such as Peet’s Coffee, Ruth’s Chris, and BCBG Max Azria.

Wuu

Seed Round in 2016
Wuu is a social networking platform that focuses on providing a safe and private environment for users to share personal moments. It offers an invitation-only private messaging app designed to facilitate communication without the distractions of advertisements or the collection and sale of user data. Unlike many other platforms, Wuu does not engage with data miners or advertisers, allowing users to connect with friends in a space free from likes, followers, and transient content. The company's emphasis on privacy and user experience sets it apart in the social networking landscape.

Hive

Series A in 2016
Founded in 2013, Hive develops web-based platforms that connect customers with businesses using deep learning toolkits and computer vision models. Its products include Hive Media for analytics, Hive Security for video analytics, Hive Auto for autonomous vehicles, and Hive Retail for retail operations. Headquartered in San Francisco, the company empowers developers with pre-trained AI models and turnkey software, serving billions of API requests monthly.

Brave Software

Seed Round in 2016
Brave Software Inc., founded in 2014 and based in San Francisco, California, develops internet security software with a focus on enhancing browsing speed and safety for users. The company offers a privacy-oriented web browser that blocks invasive advertisements and online trackers while providing a streamlined browsing experience. Brave aims to transform the online advertising ecosystem through a blockchain-based digital advertising platform that utilizes micropayments and a novel revenue-sharing model. This approach enables content creators to increase their revenue share and offers users a less cluttered web experience. Ultimately, Brave Software seeks to create a safer and more efficient online environment that benefits users, publishers, and advertisers alike.

Zenreach

Series B in 2016
Zenreach, Inc., founded in 2012 and based in San Francisco, California, specializes in online marketing solutions tailored for businesses with physical locations. The company's flagship product, Walk-Through Marketing, integrates digital marketing efforts with in-store results to enhance customer acquisition and lifetime value. Zenreach Engage tracks customer visits and builds detailed customer profiles, while Zenreach Attract optimizes ad performance by targeting audiences based on a business's best customers. The effectiveness of these campaigns is measured using the Walk-Through Rate™, a proprietary metric that indicates when someone exposed to an ad visits a location. Zenreach serves thousands of independent merchants and notable brands such as Peet’s Coffee, Ruth’s Chris, and BCBG Max Azria.

NextRoll

Series C in 2014
NextRoll is a marketing technology company based in San Francisco, California, that provides innovative products designed to help businesses grow. The company operates two main business units: RollWorks, which focuses on account-based marketing solutions for business-to-business teams, and AdRoll, an e-commerce marketing platform tailored for direct-to-consumer brands. Utilizing machine learning and integrated data platforms, NextRoll enables businesses to develop personalized advertising campaigns that maximize the return on their online marketing efforts. Its technology serves a diverse range of clients globally, empowering them to enhance their digital marketing strategies through advanced tracking, retargeting, and product recommendations.

Quora

Series C in 2014
Quora Inc. operates an online question-and-answer platform that facilitates knowledge sharing among users worldwide. Founded in 2009 and based in Mountain View, California, Quora allows individuals to post questions, provide answers, and engage in discussions on a diverse range of topics, including science, technology, business, health, and entertainment. The platform is designed to connect those seeking information with those able to provide insights, creating a community-driven environment for learning and sharing. In addition to its core functionality, Quora offers advertising opportunities for businesses looking to reach its user base.

theAudience

Series A in 2012
theAudience, Inc. is a multi-channel publisher specializing in social and digital content. Founded in 2011 and based in Los Angeles, the company offers a range of services including social consulting, influencer activation, content creation, and media buying. It also features the BackStage Publishing Platform, which streamlines the social publishing process through comprehensive workflow and analytics. theAudience enables brands to engage with popular culture by distributing content on a global scale, connecting leading entertainers, brands, and consumers. The company's innovative approach focuses on building meaningful relationships through compelling and shareable content across various social media platforms. As of 2015, theAudience operates as a subsidiary of Al Ahli Holding Group.

Moat

Series B in 2012
Moat, Inc. is a New York-based company that specializes in developing software-as-a-service analytics solutions for brand advertisers and publishers. Founded in 2007 and now a subsidiary of Oracle Corporation, Moat offers a range of tools designed to enhance advertising effectiveness. Its Moat Analytics platform provides insights into ad campaigns and website inventory, while Moat Pro delivers real-time ad intelligence, enabling users to visualize relationships between brands, publishers, and programmatic platforms. Additionally, Moat offers a search engine dedicated to display ads, allowing users to discover and explore advertisements from various brands. This comprehensive approach positions Moat as a key player in measuring and driving customer attention across digital marketing channels.

Rapleaf

Venture Round in 2011
Rapleaf, a division of TowerData, specializes in providing extensive data on U.S. email addresses, covering approximately 80% of the market. The company enables marketers to gain insights into their customer base and identify additional communication channels. By offering tools that facilitate the segmentation of subscribers, Rapleaf helps brands personalize their content, thereby enhancing customer engagement and satisfaction. Additionally, the company provides a meta-reputation system that allows users to compile and analyze consumer transaction reviews and ratings, further supporting businesses in understanding and improving their customer interactions.

Moat

Series A in 2011
Moat, Inc. is a New York-based company that specializes in developing software-as-a-service analytics solutions for brand advertisers and publishers. Founded in 2007 and now a subsidiary of Oracle Corporation, Moat offers a range of tools designed to enhance advertising effectiveness. Its Moat Analytics platform provides insights into ad campaigns and website inventory, while Moat Pro delivers real-time ad intelligence, enabling users to visualize relationships between brands, publishers, and programmatic platforms. Additionally, Moat offers a search engine dedicated to display ads, allowing users to discover and explore advertisements from various brands. This comprehensive approach positions Moat as a key player in measuring and driving customer attention across digital marketing channels.

140 Proof

Series B in 2011
140 Proof is a mobile-based software company that specializes in social advertising, utilizing individuals' social activity to tailor advertisements based on their interests. Founded in 2010 by Jon Elvekrog and John Manoogian III, along with Vanessa Naylon, Ryan Matsumura, and Andy Scott, the company has developed a patented technology known as the Blended Interest Graph. This technology allows 140 Proof to reach over 66 million unique social users by analyzing data from various social platforms to create detailed interest-based profiles, or "personas." The company offers a Relevance API that serves as a primary revenue stream for premium applications, providing targeted brand advertisements that are presented as concise messages or short videos. Unlike traditional ads on platforms like Facebook or Twitter, 140 Proof's approach combines insights from multiple social networks to deliver more relevant and personalized advertising experiences.

Quantcast

Series C in 2010
Quantcast Corporation is a digital advertising company that provides real-time advertising and audience measurement solutions for marketers and publishers. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, with additional offices in Manchester and Austin, the company offers two primary products: Quantcast Measure and Quantcast Advertise. Quantcast Measure delivers audience insights derived from data generated by over 100 million digital destinations, enabling marketers and publishers to understand their audiences through demographic and geographic information. Quantcast Advertise utilizes predictive modeling and data analytics to tailor advertising delivery, helping marketers engage consumers throughout their online journey and enhance the effectiveness of their campaigns. With a commitment to harnessing big data, Quantcast aims to improve connected experiences and provide actionable insights that drive business growth.

140 Proof

Series A in 2009
140 Proof is a mobile-based software company that specializes in social advertising, utilizing individuals' social activity to tailor advertisements based on their interests. Founded in 2010 by Jon Elvekrog and John Manoogian III, along with Vanessa Naylon, Ryan Matsumura, and Andy Scott, the company has developed a patented technology known as the Blended Interest Graph. This technology allows 140 Proof to reach over 66 million unique social users by analyzing data from various social platforms to create detailed interest-based profiles, or "personas." The company offers a Relevance API that serves as a primary revenue stream for premium applications, providing targeted brand advertisements that are presented as concise messages or short videos. Unlike traditional ads on platforms like Facebook or Twitter, 140 Proof's approach combines insights from multiple social networks to deliver more relevant and personalized advertising experiences.

Tremor Video

Series C in 2009
Provides video advertising solutions for advertisers and agencies, and publisher partners in the United States and internationally.

NextRoll

Series A in 2008
NextRoll is a marketing technology company based in San Francisco, California, that provides innovative products designed to help businesses grow. The company operates two main business units: RollWorks, which focuses on account-based marketing solutions for business-to-business teams, and AdRoll, an e-commerce marketing platform tailored for direct-to-consumer brands. Utilizing machine learning and integrated data platforms, NextRoll enables businesses to develop personalized advertising campaigns that maximize the return on their online marketing efforts. Its technology serves a diverse range of clients globally, empowering them to enhance their digital marketing strategies through advanced tracking, retargeting, and product recommendations.

Quantcast

Series B in 2008
Quantcast Corporation is a digital advertising company that provides real-time advertising and audience measurement solutions for marketers and publishers. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, with additional offices in Manchester and Austin, the company offers two primary products: Quantcast Measure and Quantcast Advertise. Quantcast Measure delivers audience insights derived from data generated by over 100 million digital destinations, enabling marketers and publishers to understand their audiences through demographic and geographic information. Quantcast Advertise utilizes predictive modeling and data analytics to tailor advertising delivery, helping marketers engage consumers throughout their online journey and enhance the effectiveness of their campaigns. With a commitment to harnessing big data, Quantcast aims to improve connected experiences and provide actionable insights that drive business growth.

Rapleaf

Series B in 2007
Rapleaf, a division of TowerData, specializes in providing extensive data on U.S. email addresses, covering approximately 80% of the market. The company enables marketers to gain insights into their customer base and identify additional communication channels. By offering tools that facilitate the segmentation of subscribers, Rapleaf helps brands personalize their content, thereby enhancing customer engagement and satisfaction. Additionally, the company provides a meta-reputation system that allows users to compile and analyze consumer transaction reviews and ratings, further supporting businesses in understanding and improving their customer interactions.

Quantcast

Series A in 2007
Quantcast Corporation is a digital advertising company that provides real-time advertising and audience measurement solutions for marketers and publishers. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, with additional offices in Manchester and Austin, the company offers two primary products: Quantcast Measure and Quantcast Advertise. Quantcast Measure delivers audience insights derived from data generated by over 100 million digital destinations, enabling marketers and publishers to understand their audiences through demographic and geographic information. Quantcast Advertise utilizes predictive modeling and data analytics to tailor advertising delivery, helping marketers engage consumers throughout their online journey and enhance the effectiveness of their campaigns. With a commitment to harnessing big data, Quantcast aims to improve connected experiences and provide actionable insights that drive business growth.

Engage

Post in 2006
Engage is a company that specializes in enhancing customer experiences across various digital channels. It offers a comprehensive solution platform that allows businesses to effectively manage and optimize their interactions with customers. Engage's products and services include advertising management software and outsourced services, which enable Web publishers, advertisers, and merchants to deliver targeted advertisements, content, and e-commerce offerings. The company has also developed Engage Knowledge, a data service that provides real-time access to a vast database of anonymous user profiles, aimed at improving the targeting of online advertising and promotions. Engage anticipates that its future growth will largely stem from subscriptions to the Engage Knowledge service and other offerings based on its advanced profiling technology, all designed to simplify implementation and reduce costs for clients.

Rapleaf

Series A in 2006
Rapleaf, a division of TowerData, specializes in providing extensive data on U.S. email addresses, covering approximately 80% of the market. The company enables marketers to gain insights into their customer base and identify additional communication channels. By offering tools that facilitate the segmentation of subscribers, Rapleaf helps brands personalize their content, thereby enhancing customer engagement and satisfaction. Additionally, the company provides a meta-reputation system that allows users to compile and analyze consumer transaction reviews and ratings, further supporting businesses in understanding and improving their customer interactions.
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