Jeff Bezos, the visionary behind Amazon and Blue Origin, doesn’t just build empires, he backs them. Through his venture capital firm, Bezos Expeditions, he invests in startups with disruptive potential across diverse sectors. Let’s dive into five fascinating companies where Bezos has placed his bets, exploring their latest innovations and how they’re faring:
Perplexity AI
Imagine supercharged language models creating compelling content, translating languages flawlessly, and even writing code! That’s the vision of Perplexity AI, building safer and more reliable LLMs.
Established in 2021 by Aravind Srinivas, the headquarter of the organisation is situated in San Francisco, California.
While still in its early stages, Perplexity’s technology has garnered partnerships with leading AI research institutions and Fortune 500 companies, indicating its potential to revolutionise how we interact with information.
Latest funding: $20 million Series A in January 2024
NotCo
Plant-based food is no longer fringe, and NotCo is leading the charge with AI-powered alternatives to dairy products. Their plant-based milk, cheese, and ice cream not only taste delicious but also boast impressive nutritional profiles.
Chilean-based NotCo was established in 2015 by a trio of technologists, including Matias Muchnick as CEO, Karim Pichara as CTO, and Pablo Zamora.
With over 2 million products sold and distribution across 13 countries, NotCo is experiencing explosive growth. Their innovative approach caters to the growing demand for sustainable and delicious plant-based options.
Latest funding: $70 million Series D in November 2023
Stark Bank
Founded in 2018 by Rafael Stark, Stark Bank is Brazil’s first digital bank to be rated by Fitch, signifying its commitment to operational security and excellence. Headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil, Stark Bank caters specifically to startups and medium-to-large companies across diverse industries.
It helps corporate banking by offering innovative solutions for payments, receivables, and financial management. As a tech-driven company, Stark Bank emphasises real-time transactions, seamless API integration, and data-driven insights to empower businesses with efficient financial operations.
Latest funding: $60 million Series C in August 2023
Synchron
Synchron, founded in 2012 by neurotechnologists Peter J. Handel and Robert A. Fischell, is pioneering a new era of human-computer interaction with minimally invasive brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). Headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, they raised $75 million in 2022, backed by prominent investors like Jeff Bezos’ Bezos Expeditions and Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures.
Their flagship technology, “The Synchron Switch,” is a surgically implanted neuroprosthetic device that translates brain activity into digital commands. This allows individuals with severe paralysis or locked-in syndrome to control external devices like cursors, robotic arms, or communication software with their thoughts alone. This revolutionary technology holds immense potential to restore communication, mobility, and independence for those with limited physical abilities.
Latest funding: $75 million in 2022
Arrived Homes
Democratising real estate investment, Arrived Homes allows everyday people to own shares in single-family rental properties starting at $100. This “fractional ownership” model unlocks opportunities for investors traditionally locked out of real estate’s high barriers to entry.
Founded in 2020 by Ryan Johnson and Luke Schoenherr, the startup is headquartered at San Francisco, California.
In just two years, Arrived has amassed over $3 billion in assets under management, showcasing the demand for its accessible investment approach.
Latest funding: $44 million Series A in May 2022
Notably, Bezos also backs established companies like Airbnb and Basecamp, demonstrating his diverse investment strategy. While not all ventures succeed, Bezos’ involvement signifies his belief in these companies’ potential to significantly impact their industries.
For example, Bezo’s backed GRAIL was a pioneering biotechnology startup focused on changing cancer detection. This multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and clinicians developed a pan-cancer screening test to detect various cancers early through blood analysis.
In 2021, genomics giant Illumina acquired GRAIL for a staggering $8 billion, recognizing the immense potential of their early detection technology to transform cancer care and reduce the global burden of this disease. Although now operating as a subsidiary, GRAIL’s mission remains steadfast: to leverage cutting-edge science to enable early intervention and improve patient outcomes.
Hence, it’s crucial to remember that investments come with inherent risks, and due diligence is essential before making any investment decisions.
This glimpse into Bezos’ portfolio showcases his keen eye for disruptive potential across various sectors. Time will tell how these ventures play out, but one thing’s certain: they’re mostly doing good.
