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Follow[the]Seed
Andrey Shirben's Follow[the]Seed uses behavioral data and enterprise demand signals to pick seed-stage startups globally from Sydney.
Follow[the]Seed
Follow[the]Seed operates as a globally distributed venture capital firm built around a core thesis that seed-stage conviction should be driven by behavioral data and enterprise demand signals, not pattern-matching. The firm was founded and is led by a team of four entrepreneur-partners across three continents, including Andrey Shirben — an angel investor with a personal track record of over 70 startup investments and one unicorn outcome — alongside Curt Shi, Chen Gabay, and venture partner Eliav Alaluf. Alaluf developed the RavingFans® behavioral psychology model which the firm uses to score early consumer adoption patterns. Follow[the]Seed targets post-seed companies globally, blending direct equity investments with operational support. Its B2C selection is governed by the RavingFans® SDK, which analyzes user behavior to identify habit-forming products before they reach scale. On the B2B side, its Reverse Problem Solving (RPS) methodology starts with pain-point discovery inside large enterprises and Fortune 500 companies, then sources startups that specifically solve those needs. The portfolio spans sectors including cybersecurity (Cylus, Salt), fintech and payments (Efficient Frontier, Lumi, EFTLab), digital assets and AI (WhiteRabbit, Abyss Solutions), and mobility (Jayride, listed on the ASX). Geographic exposure extends from Australia and New Zealand through Asia-Pacific, including Chinese consumer-tech platform Bangtuike and cross-border travel platform Cozitrip. A six-person leadership team runs the firm from Sydney, with additional partners and venture partners located internationally to support its cross-border sourcing model. Venture Partner Ajoy Mallik previously built a $1 billion innovation fund for a Fortune 500 company, reinforcing the firm's enterprise-access thesis. The firm publicly lists 20 portfolio companies on its website, spanning drone management (BIRDI), property risk assessment (Riskwise), and remote IoT monitoring (Farmbot). No subsequent fund announcements or vehicle launches appear in the public record for the last 24 months. Follow[the]Seed's structural distinctiveness comes from mandating hard data — not warm introductions — as the gate for founder engagement. Its website-reinforced posture insists applicants provide quantitative evidence of demand regardless of geography or network. This combination of a psychometric B2C screening tool with an enterprise-demand-led B2B sourcing process is an uncommon architecture for a globally distributed, sub-scale venture manager.
General information
Firm type
Private Equity
Year founded
—
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Asia
Country
Australia
City
Sydney
Corporate office
Sydney, Australia
Principals
Andrey Shirben
Partner - Investor
Curt Shi
Partner - Global / TMT Expert
Chen Gabay
Partner - Operations
Eliav Alaluf
Venture Partner
Ajoy Mallik
Venture Partner
Yifat Shirben
CMO
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Follow[the]Seed?
The firm is partner-led with no single CIO. Andrey Shirben serves as the lead investor, drawing on a personal track record of over 70 startup investments. Curt Shi leads global and TMT deal-making across Asia-Pacific, while Eliav Alaluf and Ajoy Mallik contribute as venture partners. Decisions appear to be collective across the four named partners.
How does Follow[the]Seed source proprietary deal flow?
The firm uses two proprietary, data-driven methodologies. Reverse Problem Solving (RPS) works with large enterprises and Fortune 500 companies to identify existing pain points, then sources startups whose technology can solve those specific problems. For consumer companies, the RavingFans® SDK — a behavioral psychology model — analyzes user behavior patterns to identify habit-forming products at very early stages.
Is Follow[the]Seed structured as a single family office or does it operate more like a venture firm?
It operates as a traditional venture capital firm rather than a family office. It describes itself as a 'global data-driven VC,' sources external startups, and maintains a standard portfolio of direct seed-stage equity investments.
What investment stages does Follow[the]Seed typically target?
The firm targets post-seed stage companies. Its ideal candidate is a startup whose innovative idea answers an existing market need and can demonstrate that with hard data and solid numbers, regardless of geographic location.
Which sectors does Follow[the]Seed emphasize or avoid?
The firm does not publish a list of excluded sectors. Known positions concentrate on fintech, cybersecurity, digital assets, AI/ML, IoT, and mobility. It also operates a dedicated Blockchain/Web 3.0 evaluation track, suggesting no blanket prohibition on token-based models.
What is Follow[the]Seed's known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?
The firm does not publicly discuss its co-investment posture. Its deal-by-deal descriptions and portfolio disclosures suggest it acts as a direct lead or participant in seed rounds; no fund-of-funds or LP commitments to other venture managers are disclosed.
Where does the firm's investment capital come from?
The source of the firm's capital is not publicly disclosed. Follow[the]Seed does not name any underlying wealth-owning family, anchor LP, or balance sheet backer on its website or in available public records. The principals contribute their own operator expertise and angel track records.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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