The firm has attracted investments from next-generation members of ultra-rich families, including Ryan Rice, Magnus Rausing, and Chile’s Luksic clan. 8090 Industries, which has invested about $250 million to date across roughly two-dozen businesses, recently closed its second fund totaling more than $100 million. The firm plans to explore opportunities around reducing carbon emissions for the cement and steel industries, while continuing to avoid AI and other Silicon Valley trends.
Key takeaways:
- Rayyan Islam and Kerem Ozmen, founders of 8090 Industries, are focusing their early-stage investments on companies in the manufacturing and energy sectors, rather than typical Silicon Valley startups.
- The venture firm has seen significant success, with gains of at least 275% on an investment in Oklo Inc., a developer of advanced nuclear systems.
- 8090 Industries has attracted investment from next-generation members of ultra-rich families, including Ryan Rice, Magnus Rausing, and Chile’s Luksic clan.
- Despite the hype around AI and crypto, 8090 Industries is focusing on 'real stuff' like transforming the manufacturing and energy sectors, and plans to explore opportunities around reducing carbon emissions in the cement and steel industries.