Messina, who has previously worked at Google and Uber and is known as the inventor of the hashtag, believes that generative AI will redefine industries and that the startups they invest in will lead this change. He argued that the opportunities they're investing in are too small and specific for big tech companies to focus on, and that these companies lack the speed and product elegance to win in these markets. He also dismissed concerns about the blocking of AI crawler bots, stating that those waiting for clear sailing will regret it in 18 months.
Key takeaways:
- Tech veteran Chris Messina and writer/podcaster Brian McCullough are launching a $15 million fund aimed at AI startups, with backers including Marc Andreessen, Chris Dixon, and Dennis Crowley.
- The fund plans to be the first check in at pre-seed or seed and deploy all its capital in the next 12-18 months. The fundraising will close on October 31.
- Messina believes that generative AI will change how software is built and used, and that the companies they invest in will redefine industries. He also thinks that the opportunities they're investing in are too small and specific for big tech companies to focus on.
- Messina and McCullough see the current influx of talent into AI as a "perfect storm" situation, with the best talent of the previous and current generation converging on the field.