Cosmos Ventures announces its establishment, betting on "philosopher-type entrepreneurs" in the AI era.

BlockBeats news, September 17 — Cosmos Ventures announced its official launch, planning to invest in "philosopher-founders" dedicated to creating new institutions and infrastructure for the AI era. Brendan McCord and Matt Mandel have launched a $77.6 million Fund I to support philosopher-builders founding institutions for the AI era.

McCord is the founder of Cosmos Institute and Cosmos Ventures, while Mandel comes from Union Square Ventures. The fund has already invested in AIUC, Prime Intellect, Workshop Labs (acquired by Thinking Machines), and an undisclosed education company. LPs include Reid Hoffman, Joe Liemandt, Stand Together, Fred Wilson, Micky Malka, and Astera Institute.

Cosmos Ventures believes that AI is breaking the traditional assumption that "intelligence is bound to humans." In the past, analysis, creativity, and key decisions typically needed to be performed by humans, with specific individuals held accountable. The development of AI is changing this model. Existing institutions such as schools, media, and insurance may also face the need for redesign as a result.

Cosmos Ventures stated that the founders it focuses on need to answer normative questions such as "What kind of society do we want to build?" and "Which decisions should be handed over to AI, and which must remain in human hands?" — rather than merely iterating products continuously through user feedback. The institution summarizes this philosophy as "Condere aude," meaning "dare to found."