The timing was perfect. Just as startups were settling into NYU and ffVCs new brains-meet-money accelerator, AI Nexus Lab, Uber acquiredGeometric Intelligence. In a stroke of luck, the startup that would become Ubers AI lab happened to have been raised byNYU Tandons Data Future Labs. Ubers interest in Geometric helped solidifyNew Yorksplace in the minds of machine intelligence wonks and brought investor attention to other startups affiliated with the school.
Three months later, the inaugural cohort of the AI Nexus Lab istaking the stage at NYUsSkirball Center for the Performing Arts to present demos and progress updates. Addressing finance, healthcare, robotics, customer service and omnichannel retail intelligence, the five startups include:
- Cambrian Intelligence A customizable operating system for robots
- Behold.ai Using deep learning to reducemedical error
- Alpha Vertex Analytical tools for finance
- Klustera Infusing e-commerce intelligence with brick and mortar insights
- HelloVERA AI-powered customer support
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Yann LeCun of Facebook's FAIR lab speaking to the crowd -
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John Frankel speaking about ffVC's interest in AI investment -
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Alpha Vertex, one of the five accelerator startups, presenting a demo
All three founders I spoke withcited the programs small size as its greatest asset. With mentors like USVs Fred Wilson, FirstMark Capitals Matt Turck and Geometric IntelligencesGary Marcus, access is the key differentiatorbetween an assembly line and a true accelerator.
Miika Pera of Cambrian Intelligence specifically notedAI Nexus Labs help withfinding pilot customers. Meanwhile James Fan and LiangLiang Cao of HelloVERA pointed to presentation guidance.And while it wasntexplicitly mentioned, Im sure nobody was complaining about the $100,000 that ffVC invested into each startup.
Supporting founders commercialization efforts tends to be particularly key in the machine intelligence space. Its relatively easy to throw free compute and small amounts of cash at promising businesses, but highly technical foundersmost often need help tailoring their early-stage startups for product market fit.
NYU and ffVC plan to continue their partnership for a second cohort of AI startups. The deadline for the next batch will be May 3rd, 2017 and that program is expected to begin July 10th.
