The Venture Codex

Participated · Seed · Jul 2026

European Technology Network (ETN) produces daily live-streamed programming that breaks down tech news and hosts interviews, debates and roundtables with founders, investors and public figures. Founded in October and based in London by Luke Knight and Ronan Chambers, the show currently streams on X and YouTube and has amassed over 5 million views. ETN operates with a small core team of eight and has become a frequent stop on European startup press tours, receiving about 70 pitches per week. Its business model is ad- and sponsor-driven, with sponsors such as Polymarket, Base and ElevenLabs. Following its $1.6 million seed raise, ETN plans to relocate to a larger Kings Cross studio, grow the team, launch a newsletter and expand its schedule from two days a week to five, while introducing formats like debates and Shark Tank-style pitching.

Participated · Equity · Apr 2025

Cheehoo develops AI-powered tooling to streamline animation workflows, speeding prototyping and iteration by handling tasks like data annotation, file conversion, and format consistency. Its workflow integrates with existing platforms such as Maya and Unreal and lets users toggle AI features for more control. The company uses in-house AI models for character and asset creation and supports integration of third-party models from OpenAI, Runway, and others for post generation, motion stylization, and scene composition. Born out of production company Rideback, Cheehoo’s founding team includes Rideback co-CEOs Michael LoFaso and Jonathan Eirich, co-founder Dan Lin, former DreamWorks Animation president Chris deFaria, and ex-Apple AI researchers Hubert Tsai and Wei-Cheng Kuo. Cheehoo says it is already working with several IP holders, studios, and creators. Looking ahead, the company plans to expand from enterprise and prosumer offerings toward more consumer-focused products.

Led · Seed · Apr 2024

Lil Snack is a new studio founded by Eric Berman and Travis Chen that is building an AI-powered pop culture trivia game platform. The company intends to combine games with the cultural zeitgeist to create an entertainment experience where consumers play rather than just watch. Its AI development tools use generative art for visual puzzles and custom general-purpose technologies for game modes and engineering. Lil Snack raised $3.1 million in funding to support product development. The founders say the investment will be used to develop the AI-powered pop culture trivia platform. Investors in the round included a16z Games Speedrun, Powerhouse Capital, Lerer Hippeau, and Waverley Capital.

Participated · Series A · Jan 2024

Betty operates an online casino tailored to female players, focusing on transparency, community-driven play, and gamification of traditional slot experiences. The company has built an in-house proprietary platform called Midnight 1 and plans to upgrade it to Midnight 2. Betty launched in February 2023 and is licensed by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, where it has gained significant traction. It reports an eight-figure net revenue run rate and has grown 30% month-over-month since launch. Female players retain at a rate three times higher than male counterparts, a KPI the company highlights as a competitive advantage. The latest capital will be deployed to expand user acquisition, improve live operations capabilities, and support the platform upgrade. Betty builds a proprietary real-money online casino (iCasino) and casual mobile gaming platform aimed at maximizing entertainment for casual players through a safe, social, and inclusive environment. Its core product is an iCasino platform tailored to casual slot players, especially women. The company is led by CEO Betty and plans to use newly raised capital to launch and expand operations in Ontario and continue platform development. Betty was issued a gaming license by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario on January 24 and anticipates a soft launch in February followed by a full go-to-market in Q2. The company previously raised $1.8M in a March 2022 pre-seed round and maintains an R&D office in Bulgaria. The new funding is intended to support expansion in Ontario and further R&D on its proprietary iCasino offering.

Participated · Equity · Jul 2023

Closing Theory is a new mobile game development studio building casual, house-search-themed titles aimed at non-gamers. The studio is developing two debut games, HOUSE RUSH! and NEIGHBORHOOD RUSH!, and House Rush is available for iOS playtesting signups. Founders say they want to create fun experiences closer to the real world and plan to leverage a strategic mix of gaming experts, real estate operators, and influencers. The company has reportedly been working on its two titles in stealth mode prior to this announcement. Co-founder Nitin Rajinikanth noted the studio targets the large audience of people who browse Zillow for fun. Closing Theory's founders also say they have previously had two of their companies acquired when pursuing similar strategies. The studio announced a $2.3M investment to support its early efforts.