Perplexity AI Launches $50 Million Fund for Early-Stage AI Startups

Perplexity AI is launching a $50 million venture fund to support pre-seed and seed AI startups in the U.S., according to TechCrunch. The fund will be managed by Kelly Graziadei and Joanna Lee Shevelenko.

Perplexity AI, known for its AI-powered search engine, is launching a $50 million venture fund aimed at supporting early-stage AI startups in the U.S. according to TechCrunch. The fund will focus on pre-seed and seed investments, with Perplexity acting as an anchor investor.

The majority of the capital for this fund is sourced from outside limited partners, while Perplexity contributes some of its own capital raised for company growth. The fund will be managed by general partners Kelly Graziadei and Joanna Lee Shevelenko, who previously co-founded F7 Ventures, an early-stage venture firm.

Perplexity AI is creating a $50 million fund focused on pre-seed & seed AI startups based in the U.S., a person familiar told CNBC. The company will operate as an anchor investor in the fund but most of the capital is coming from outside LPs. @haydenfield https://t.co/Oyx2mu0LkP
— Jennifer E. (@jenn_elias) February 25, 2025

Perplexity's strategic move into venture funding comes after the company raised $500 million at a $9 billion valuation in December. This initiative positions Perplexity to leverage its network of approximately 80,000 developers, providing visibility into potential startup investments through its API usage.

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