Kautuk | Conscious Engines

Last week I posted a rant about Indian VCs. Specifically, a red-orange logo firm that passed on multiple research labs and then confidently told me the Chinese are winning in AI. I felt it, a lot of you felt it. So here's what I'm doing about it - I am getting into the system. Over the weekend I leased out a 3000+ sq ft space to convert into a deep AI research incubator in Indiranagar, Bangalore. If you're a pre-seed founder with a deep tech or AI research idea - and you've been burnt by VCs who want traction before they'll give you the time of day - this is for you. Here's what I'm putting on the table: - A place to work, think, and build without distraction - Introductions to investors who actually understand early stage - The best research minds in the same room as you - 3 months to prove your thesis (Important) - And to promising projects - a stipend; so survival isn't the thing eating your focus No pedigree filter. No "come back when you have PMF." No sitting across the table asking why you're doing too many things while doing nothing yourself. My Creds? - Raised $5M + from a16z and others for my first startup as a solo founder - before I turned 24 - Exited to build something meaningful in AI - now running Conscious Engines (Conscious Engines), focused on small models doing big things - Helped 10+ teams with fundraising and operational mettle in their 0 to 1 journey - I know what 'early' looks like, and I know what it needs. What do I get in return? (candid) - New Friends and mutual contacts - Peer group to review our own work at Conscious Engines - Maybe the ability to put some $ early in on promising projects - Provenance --- To beat the system, sometimes you have to become the system. This will probably be hard. It might not work. But I have more risk appetite than the red-orange logo VCs who inspired this - so that's something. Founders: Join the WhatsApp Community. VCs: DM me. I have privilege. I would like to share it.

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