Private Equity

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Founders.AI

Founders.AI is a Silicon Valley startup platform founded in 2020 by Michael Rumiantsau, investing pre-seed and seed in enterprise AI and data startups.

Founders.AI logo

Founders.AI

Founders.ai builds companies, makes venture investments, and provides liquidity to startup founders

General information

Firm type

Private Equity

Year founded

2020

AUM

Undisclosed

Location

Region

North America

Country

United States

City

Mountain View

Corporate office

1040 Castro St, Mountain View, CA 94040, United States

Principals

Michael Rumiantsau

Managing Director

Sector focus

AI/MLEnterprise SoftwareData & AnalyticsCloud InfrastructureCybersecurityFuture of Work

Frequently asked questions

Who runs investment decisions at Founders.AI?

Investment decisions are led by Managing Director Michael Rumiantsau, a former co-founder and CEO of FriendlyData (acquired by ServiceNow) and a core contributor to open-source projects. He also serves as chairman of Narrative BI.

How does Founders.AI source proprietary deal flow?

Founders.AI sources deal flow through its three-pronged model: it makes venture investments, builds companies from scratch by assembling founding teams, and buys secondary shares from early employees of VC-backed startups. This mix gives it access to companies at various stages and a pipeline of liquidity events.

Is Founders.AI structured as a single family office or does it operate more like a venture firm?

Founders.AI is structured as an asset manager operating a startup platform, not a family office. It makes direct venture investments and builds companies, acting as both an investor and operator.

Does Founders.AI participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

Founders.AI makes direct investments, not fund commitments. It focuses on pre-seed and seed rounds as a first check, with select early-stage follow-ons. It also buys secondary shares directly from startup employees.

What investment stages does Founders.AI typically target?

Founders.AI primarily invests at pre-seed and seed, often as a first check, and selectively in early-stage rounds as a follower. It also provides secondary liquidity by purchasing shares from early employees of VC-backed startups.

Which sectors does Founders.AI focus on?

Founders.AI targets enterprise B2B SaaS companies in AI/ML, data and analytics, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and the future of work. The firm explicitly focuses on startups transforming enterprise with AI and data.

Does Founders.AI maintain philanthropic structures, and how are they separated?

No philanthropic structures are disclosed. The firm operates as a for-profit startup platform with no public charitable arm.

Profile maintained by 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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