Led · Seed · Dec 2022

Founded in 2017, Automotus has built a computer-vision platform that lets municipalities and airports track curb activity, generate data analytics, and automate payments for commercial vehicles, ride-hail drivers, and delivery fleets. The system, already deployed in dozens of U.S. markets, supplies real-time insights that cities have used to redesign parking policies, as demonstrated by a deployment in Lincoln, Nebraska. By addressing the surge in ride-hailing and e-commerce deliveries, the company aims to make streets safer, more efficient, and more sustainable. Automotus’ business model centers on selling its software and camera hardware to public-sector agencies managing increasingly congested curb space. The company plans to use its newest capital to deepen product capabilities, expand into additional markets, and bolster customer support. Including the latest equity infusion, Automotus has raised $26 million in equity funding to date, alongside the newly secured credit line.

Participated · Seed · Sep 2022

Native Teams is a work payments platform that centralises global remuneration for freelancers, remote workers, and business owners. Founded in 2020 and based in London, it positions itself between traditional EOR providers and generalist payment platforms with an employee-first approach. The platform has grown to tens of thousands of users across more than 65 countries and employs over 200 people. Native Teams focuses on simplifying compliance, employment options and work payments via a centralised financial services platform. The company plans continued product enhancements and geographic expansion, with strategic focus on the US, India and the wider Asian region. The business describes itself as capital-efficient and recently closed a new pre-Series A investment totaling €6.275 million to support these plans. Native Teams offers an Employment-as-a-Service platform combining a multi-currency wallet, Visa cards, employer-of-record services, tax management and access to benefits, visas and work permits to enable remote workers to be employed locally. The startup serves users in more than 30 (reported as 35) countries and has employees in around 19 countries, with a regional representative office in Skopje and a team of about 70 people. Founded in July 2021 by Jack Thorogood (CEO) and Aleksandra Mitrevska (COO), the company says it achieved 10x revenue growth in the first half of 2022 versus the end of 2021. Native Teams has expanded beyond Europe, launching in Nigeria and planning a first South America location, and intends to continue localizing its payment and compliance services ahead of a full global rollout in 2023. The product emphasizes employee benefits and flexible remuneration (cash, card spending, and benefits) alongside core payment and compliance functionality.

Led · Seed · Oct 2021

PHYTunes is a Palo Alto, California-based company developing 5G-at-the-edge and wireless-wireline convergence technologies. Led by John Cioffi, the company uses existing wireline infrastructure to transport high-frequency wireless signals over telephone lines, fiber-optic cables, ethernet wires, and coaxial cables to deliver 5G speeds without degradation or latency. Its solution is intended to provide 5G performance within homes, small businesses and enterprises. PHYTunes targets telecom carriers and businesses to improve customer experiences and foster brand loyalty, and it helps industrial enterprises enable IoT solutions and digital transformation. Industries mentioned include gaming, healthcare, hospitality, industrial IoT and retail. The company raised $1.5M in Seed funding and plans to use the proceeds to accelerate growth and expand operations.

Participated · Seed · Apr 2021

Leo AR began as MojiLala and later released Surreal before pivoting to focus on 3D augmented-reality objects while maintaining an easy-to-use outlet for artists. The company was founded and is led by entrepreneur Dana Loberg and launched out of betaworks. Its core product is a freemium mobile app and marketplace where users can subscribe to artists and place 3D objects in camera scenes, share to platforms like Instagram, and view a feed of top user-created videos. Leo takes a 30% cut on artist purchases but says ensuring artists are paid well and incentivized to create is a priority. The app has been especially popular with children and has driven strong engagement: users have created more than 8 million videos, and active users add more than 85 3D objects to their scenes and average over 10 minutes per session. The company leverages ARKit and consumer video creation to grow its marketplace and artist ecosystem.

Participated · Seed · Aug 2020

Virtual Arts builds DanceFight, a free mobile app that stages side-by-side, skills-based competitions (primarily dance) and lets viewers pick winners; monetization comes from in-app purchases, ads, and sponsorships. The app launched on Apple about eight weeks before the article and was featured as an “Apps We Love.” The company is working with major labels (Sony, Warner, Universal) and artists like Pitbull for licensed dance challenges and access to songs. Virtual Arts uses Hive AI to help block inappropriate content and has removed commenting and direct messaging to reduce harassment. The startup plans an Android release in October, international expansion later in the year, and a rebrand to expand beyond dance into singing, comedy, sports tricks, and other competitions. It also plans an equity pool to reward contributors and intends to grow headcount from 17 current employees (11 full-time, 6 part-time) by about 20 hires over the next year.