Founders Fund, a San Francisco, CA-based venture capital firm, has closed its fourth suite of funds at $625m.
The new fund will invest the new capital in early-stage technology start-ups and follow-ons, across sectors including aerospace, artificial intelligence, analytical software, emerging biotechnologies, robotics, education, and consumer internet.
According to a written statement, “Founders Fund looks for companies that advance human capabilities and ease, including through adaptive learning software, communications tools, robotics, and advanced programs that help people make sense of an ever-growing amount of data.
“The firm will also emphasize companies that can extend the IT revolution into sectors desperately in need of efficiency improvements, like healthcare, where real-time collection and analysis of bioinformatics can drive down costs while improving outcomes“.
The firm, which has backed companies including Facebook, Palantir Technologies, Spotify, SpaceX, Discovery Engine, and ZocDoc, is managed by partners Peter Thiel, Ken Howery, Luke Nosek, Bruce Gibney, and Brian Singerman. Its team also includes Sean Parker, co-founder of Napster, the first president of Facebook, and co-founder of portfolio company Airtime.