Participated · Seed · Apr 2021

Applied XL builds an AI-driven real-time data tracking platform that leverages machine learning and editorial algorithms to monitor dozens of databases and surface proprietary events and trends. Founded in 2020 and headquartered in New York, the company's engine applies a journalistic lens, enrichment layers, entity normalization, and ML classification to track thousands of daily changes and rank events by relevance. It augments its models with a network of experts who contribute data to retrain algorithms and improve accuracy. Applied XL's current product, Trials Pulse, was developed in partnership with STAT News to help pharma, biotech, and healthcare professionals navigate clinical-trial updates and inform regulatory, clinical-development, and investment decisions. The company reports 700+ users across global pharmaceutical companies, emerging biotech firms, and life-sciences investment funds, and says a number of customers are upgrading to an annual subscription priced at $1,500. With new funding, Applied XL plans to accelerate development of Trials Pulse and expand its coverage in the healthcare and life-sciences industry. Applied XL develops machine-learning tools that it describes as a swarm of "editorial algorithms" built by computational journalists and informed by journalistic principles like transparency and bias awareness. The company emerged from the Newlab Venture Studio last year and is led by CEO Francesco Marconi and CTO Erin Riglin. Applied XL says it will initially focus on the life sciences industry and plans a broad product launch this summer. Target customers include competitive intelligence teams at pharmaceutical companies and life sciences funds that need real-time, contextualized signals rather than raw database results. The founders compare their approach to how Bloomberg and Dow Jones collect and standardize financial data and envision building industry "micro models" across other categories over time. Financially, the startup recently closed a $1.5 million seed round to support its early product and go-to-market efforts.

Participated · Equity · Jan 2019

Alto offers on-demand rides through a members-only platform in which all drivers are employees and the company owns and maintains a fleet of new, 5-star crash-rated SUVs. Its mobile app lets riders customize music, lighting, climate, and provides exterior vehicle lighting for easy identification, creating a curated "vibe" for each trip. The model emphasizes safety: drivers are rigorously vetted, performance-managed, and can unlock doors only when the passenger is in range. Alto specifically targets customers—especially women—who are hesitant to use traditional ridesharing services due to safety concerns. The company is currently live in Dallas and intends to expand to additional cities in 2019, aiming for national coverage by 2020. Financially, Alto has raised $14.5 million across two funding rounds to support its launch and early operations and plans another raise in the spring to fuel further growth.

Participated · Seed · Feb 2016

Revl builds camera hardware and in-house AI to capture, edit, and deliver videos in real-time through its video production service, Revl X. The platform includes geospatially aware cameras and software that can understand human emotions and identify key moments in an experience. The company intends to use the Series A funds to accelerate growth of Revl X. Revl's technology is used by customers including Audi, Porsche, two major cruise lines, Zip World UK and Skydive Drop Zones. The company was founded in 2015 by Eric Sanchez, Nelson Vazquez and Bruce Pla. It raised $5.5M in a Series A to scale its AI video production offering. Revl is building the REVL, a smart action camera designed for fully stabilized instant capture and sharing with additional intelligent features planned. The company partners with Sony, Ambarella and Frog Design to access stabilization technologies, sensors and chips. Led by founder and CEO Eric Sanchez, Revl plans to launch a crowdfunding campaign in spring 2016 to introduce the camera to the general public. It also intends to use new funding to accelerate production, build backend capacity via the REVL iOS app and pursue growth initiatives. Revl was accepted into Y Combinator’s Winter 2016 batch.