The Venture Codex

Participated · Seed · Dec 2023

Inverted AI develops predictive human behavioral models learned from large quantities of video data and transfers those models into simulated environments to drive realistic, diverse, and reactive NPCs for ADAS and AV testing. Its ITRA (Imagining the Road Ahead) technology enables longer, more complex simulation scenarios to test systems against a full range of human road-user behaviors. The company offers API access to DRIVE (human-like NPC driving behaviors) and INITIALIZE (realistic agent placements), and is beta testing BLAME (automatic collision attribution) and SCENARIO (whole-scene scenario generation). Inverted AI says its technology reduces development costs and time by enabling diverse, realistic testing scenarios for ADAS, autonomous vehicles, and robots. The company recently launched a new site with an interactive demo and trial API key sign-up. In December 2023 it raised over $4M in seed funding to accelerate and expand its product offerings based on ITRA; the business is led by CEO Frank Wood and is based in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Led · Seed · Aug 2023

Electric Sheep is a London, UK-based AI tech startup specializing in visual effects (VFX) automation. Its core product, Spotlight, is a cloud-native AI rotoscoping tool that automates background removal and outputs an editable layer allowing VFX artists to make key spline adjustments. The company says Spotlight can process 1 second of footage in less than a minute. Led by CEO Gary Palmer, Electric Sheep focuses on speed, scale, and security to accelerate workflows for TV and film production. The startup intends to use the funds to build and enhance Spotlight and expand its capabilities to deliver big-screen detail. Financially, Electric Sheep completed a USD 500K pre-seed raise to support product development.

Participated · Seed · May 2021

interviewIA is a hiring workflow management technology company that manages all aspects of the job interview workflow to enable equitable and efficient hiring. Its fully integrated cloud application brings interviewer support, HR transformation, structure, and data-driven interview outcomes into a single system. The platform uses deep learning Intelligence Amplification (IA) technology and behavioral science to reduce human errors and bias in the hiring process. It is designed to improve collaboration, candidate experience, and increase transparency and control of the hiring process. The company raised $2M in seed funding and intends to use the proceeds for strategic hires, product development, and growth initiatives. interviewIA is led by CEO Joe Thurman and is based in Denver, CO.