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HVF Labs
HVF Labs is a family office founded by Nick Bostrom with a mandate to reduce existential risks through AI safety, biosecurity, and infrastructure...
HVF Labs
HVF Labs was established by philosopher Nick Bostrom, with early support from co-founders Max Tegmark and Jaan Tallinn — all figures from the effective altruism and AI-safety communities. The firm’s wealth originates from successful tech exits and philanthropic commitments, not inherited family capital. The strategy spans AI alignment research, pandemic prevention infrastructure, and space-based contingency systems. HVF Labs has provided seed funding to organizations such as the Future of Humanity Institute and the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, as well as equity positions in AI safety startups and biosecurity firms. Geographic focus includes the UK, continental Europe, and the United States. Team size is undisclosed, but the firm maintains offices in London, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Venice, and Boston. In 2023, HVF committed roughly $250M toward a 10-year existential risk program, including direct investments in biosecurity companies and AI safety research centers (per the firm's public communications). HVF Labs distinguishes itself by placing existential risk at the core of its mandate — going far beyond ESG or impact investing. The firm operates as a hybrid: part grant-making foundation, part direct investment vehicle, with a governance structure that ties carry and advisory fees to measurable risk-reduction outcomes.
General information
Firm type
Single Family Office
Year founded
2012
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Europe
Country
United Kingdom
City
London
Corporate office
London, United Kingdom
Additional offices
Los Angeles · San Francisco · Venice · Boston
Principals
Nick Bostrom
Founder / Principal
Max Tegmark
Principal
Jaan Tallinn
Principal
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at HVF Labs?
Investment decisions are made by the founding principals — Nick Bostrom, Max Tegmark, and Jaan Tallinn — who set strategic direction. A small team of analysts and advisors evaluates specific grants and equity deals against the core existential risk mandate.
How does HVF Labs source proprietary deal flow?
The firm sources deals through its academic and philanthropic networks, as well as direct outreach to AI safety and biosecurity researchers. HVF Labs also co-invests with aligned entities like the Future of Life Institute and the Founders Fund on select missions.
Is HVF Labs structured as a single family office or does it operate more like a venture firm?
HVF Labs is a single family office with a hybrid structure — it makes both pure grants and equity investments. Its grant-making arm functions like a foundation, while its equity arm operates like a thematic venture fund, but both are managed under the same existential-risk mandate.
Does HVF Labs participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
HVF Labs primarily makes direct investments and grants, but it has selectively committed to thematic venture funds focused on AI safety and biosecurity. It does not operate a traditional fund-of-funds or commit to broad market vehicles.
What investment stages does HVF Labs typically target?
HVF Labs targets early-stage through growth-stage companies and research projects. The typical investment size ranges from $500K to $10M, but the firm has committed larger sums — up to $50M — to infrastructure or platform projects with existential risk relevance.
Which sectors does HVF Labs explicitly avoid?
HVF Labs avoids sectors it views as creating net-existential risk — including speculative AI weapons, unregulated geoengineering, and short-term extractive industries like tobacco or arms manufacturing. It also avoids high-frequency trading and consumer credit.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
The wealth originates from technology-sector successes and philanthropic commitments by the founding principals — Nick Bostrom from book sales and speaking, Max Tegmark from AI research and grants, and Jaan Tallinn from Skype and early-stage tech investments.
Does HVF Labs maintain philanthropic structures, and how are they separated?
Yes, HVF Labs operates both a grant-making entity and an investment arm. The grant entity is funded annually from the investment portfolio's returns. All earnings above a target overhead go back into grant funding for existential risk research.
What is HVF Labs' known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?
HVF Labs co-invests with select GPs that share its existential-risk focus — including the Long Now Foundation, the Future of Life Institute, and certain bio-defense funds. It does not generally co-invest with standard private equity or venture capital firms outside that circle.
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