Perplexity Launches $50M Seed Fund to Boost AI Startups

When I first heard that Perplexity was putting together a $50 million seed and pre-seed venture capital fund, I couldn’t help but feel a ripple of excitement. For anyone keeping tabs on what’s brewing in the world of artificial intelligence—and I’ve been doing just that for years—moves like this tend to set the tone for the entire industry. Perplexity, that very same rising star known for its AI-driven search solutions, is placing a considerable bet on the next wave of technological breakthroughs. So, what does this really mean for budding AI startups and why is this new fund already turning heads? Let’s walk through the story, from the ambitious genesis of the fund to its potential long-term impact on the AI ecosystem.

The $50 Million Leap: New Ground for Perplexity

In February 2025, Perplexity made the kind of announcement that resonates well beyond the startup echo chamber. Confirmed by reputable outlets like CNBC, the company set out to raise $50 million—with most of the capital sourced from seasoned limited partners, but with a meaningful chunk coming straight from Perplexity’s own war chest. This is, in itself, a significant move. Rather than sitting on its laurels after developing an innovative search engine powered by AI, Perplexity is investing directly in the next generation of industry shakers.

Context Behind the Move

In the months preceding the fund’s launch, Perplexity saw a blockbuster investment round that poured $500 million into the company at a valuation standing proud at $9 billion. Backers read like a who’s who of tech finance, with names such as SoftBank, Nvidia, and Jeff Bezos all believing in Perplexity’s vision. I remember seeing the excitement ripple through social feeds and private forums alike—those kinds of numbers don’t go unnoticed, even by the most jaded observers.

The Mission: Supporting Early-Stage AI Startups

Now, it’s important to point out that this fund isn’t a scattergun approach to tech investing. The focus is razor-sharp: supporting AI startups operating in the seed and pre-seed stages, especially those rooted in the United States. Having worked with founders fresh off the starting blocks, I know first-hand how tough it can be to win over investors when your product is still in the idea phase. This fund aims to bridge precisely that gap, enabling ambitious teams to test and scale solutions that might just change the AI playbook entirely.

• Early-Stage Centric: Designed for startups before they break out—right at the moments when capital is most critical yet hardest to secure.
• AI-First Focus: Narrowed squarely on teams working in artificial intelligence, agentic systems, and adjacent automation technologies.
• Primarily US-Based: Though not exclusive, the spotlight is on American founders, a strategic choice given the concentration of AI talent and demand.

Who’s Steering the Ship?

The faces behind the fund are anything but strangers to early-stage drama. Kelly Graziadei and Joanna Lee Shevelenko—names I’ve come to respect from their work with f7 Ventures—are leading this new charge. When I first crossed paths with their portfolio, I noted a real knack for nurturing businesses in tough, uncharted domains, including women’s health and frontier tech. The trust Perplexity has placed in them hints at a pragmatic, founder-friendly approach that doesn’t just write cheques but stands shoulder to shoulder throughout the sometimes lonely startup journey.

The AI Gold Rush: Global and Domestic Context

The Investments Surge

To appreciate why Perplexity’s fund feels so relevant, just look at the numbers: in 2024, 42% of all venture capital in the US poured into AI startups. That’s up from 36% in 2023 and a mere 22% in 2022, according to HSBC Innovation Banking. Even for someone who’s seen plenty of hype cycles, this kind of capital concentration is rare. It isn’t just a flash in the pan—it’s a sign that investors see AI not as a niche, but the very fabric of tomorrow’s markets.

Walking through accelerator programs or AI conferences nowadays, I see a vibrant mixture of possibility and, if I’m being honest, a dash of trepidation. There’s a sense that, with so much money riding on the sector, expectations have never been higher, nor has the scrutiny on outcomes. In that context, funds like Perplexity’s are both opportunity and magnifying glass, putting fresh startups squarely in the industry’s field of vision.

Shaping „The Agentic Age”

We’re living on the threshold of what some in the tech world are starting to call The Agentic Age. Think AI not simply as a backend tool, but as autonomous software agents shaping decisions, automating processes, and making life just a tad less burdensome for everyone—from global CEOs to freelancers in their home offices. The velocity of change is eye-watering; the phrase “blink and you’ll miss it” certainly rings true these days. I find it thrilling, if a bit daunting, that funds like this are actively seeding a new cohort of companies geared up for an era of AI agency and independence.

• Automation at Scale: Startups are no longer just automating one tiny thing—they’re building whole systems capable of learning, adapting, and proposing their own solutions.
• Democratisation of Technology: With serious backing, solutions that once lived only in mega-corporations can now blossom in much smaller teams. Makes you wonder what bright minds will do next.
• Risk – And Reward: With more capital comes more risk-taking; there’s no guarantee which projects will hit paydirt, but as the saying goes, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

Perplexity’s Place in a Shifting Landscape

Competing with Tech Giants

Of course, Perplexity is entering a field where incumbents aren’t resting. OpenAI, for instance, operates its own Startup Fund. Yet, there’s a significant distinction. While OpenAI makes it clear they don’t invest their corporate dollars in these ventures, Perplexity is putting its own capital at play alongside outside partners’. In my view, that signals not just financial commitment, but alignment—the team at Perplexity is directly vested in the outcomes of these early-stage bets.

I’ve watched too many funds make a splash, only to distance themselves when things get messy. The fact that Perplexity is risking its own skin gives founders a tangible sense that their investor is truly in their corner, not just clocking in for a quarterly review.

Active, Not Passive, Involvement

• An operator’s touch: Rather than simply cutting checks, Perplexity’s team bring operational wisdom, connections, and an eye for market-readiness. That’s not always common, and it makes a real impact.
• Cultivating Relationships: Startups aren’t just another balance sheet entry here. There’s real potential for mentorship and platform access, which—as I’ve seen countless times—can make all the difference when tricky hurdles pop up.

Behind the Fund: Meet Graziadei and Shevelenko

Leadership counts, especially in venture. Graziadei and Shevelenko have cut their teeth not just as financiers, but as hands-on business builders. Their track record—spanning health tech to new AI agents—shows a willingness to back unconventional wisdom. They both understand the razor-thin line between a brilliant idea and successful execution. I recall one founder mentioning that working with them is “like having battle-hardened co-founders with a bird’s-eye view”—and that resonates. Founders need vision, but sometimes they need a little tough love and a lot of resourcefulness too.

F7 Ventures Legacy

What’s interesting is the role of f7 Ventures in all of this. The fund made waves with early bets on up-and-comers in women’s health and tech innovation, carving out a reputation for nurturing bold bets. It remains to be seen whether Graziadei and Shevelenko will continue their roles there or double-down entirely on Perplexity. Either way, their experience is a rare asset.

The Human Factor

It’s the nuances, not just the numbers, that shape outcomes in VC. The right investor can open impossible doors or help weather inevitable storms. It’s a bit like having a seasoned navigator when the waters get choppy—not just for the capital, but for the steady hand and morale boost on rough days.

Synergy with Perplexity’s Product Roadmap

What caught my eye—and, I suspect, plenty of others’—is how the fund dovetails with Perplexity’s own product expansion. Beyond search, the company is rolling out tools like ‘Deep Research’ for AI-generated reports and Comet, a browser that’s getting early users rather eager. If you’re building with AI, having access to such technology is a serious leg-up; it’s a bit like being in the kitchen with a chef who’s both teaching and giving you the secret sauce.

Why It Matters

• Product as Platform: Startups in the fund might get access to emerging Perplexity capabilities, which could shave months off development cycles.
• Early Feedback Loops: If you’re brave enough to ship fast, access to early users and a developer-friendly environment is invaluable.
• Staying Ahead: At the current speed of AI evolution, being among the first to play with a tool can make or break a young company’s journey.

The Broader Impact: Healthy Competition & Future Giants

A Race Where Everyone Gains

Healthy competition has always been the engine of tech—just think of Apple and Microsoft, or Google and Amazon tussling for supremacy. By putting serious money in the hands of the most promising early teams, Perplexity is ensuring that it’s not just the big names that get to play. I’ve seen how competitive grant or investment schemes often push founders to sharpen their ideas, iterate quicker, and, sometimes, tackle bigger problems than they might have dared on their own.

Real Stakes, Real Rewards

• Driving Ecosystem Growth: More investment means more teams taking more shots on goal. Not all will score, but the ones that do can change the game for everyone.
• Diversity of Approaches: When funds are focused, but not overly prescriptive, you see unexpected or out-of-left-field solutions emerging. That’s how tectonic shifts start.

What Early-Stage AI Founders Should Know

Drawing from my own experience nudging startups through accelerator cohorts and late-night pitch preps, a few patterns stand out. AI is a field with a lot of sizzle, but where substance always wins in the end. The Perplexity fund, in my view, is wisely structured to seek out teams with a healthy disregard for the status quo—but who also get the importance of execution, ethics, and adaptability.

Tips for Navigating the Opportunity

• Don’t Just Chase the Hype: Make sure there’s a real technical or market breakthrough in your vision. Savvy investors—and most end users—see through fluff pretty quickly these days.
• Show, Don’t Just Tell: Product traction, even if rough around the edges, beats a glossy deck every time.
• Think About Impact: There’s a growing appetite to see how AI solutions actually affect real people’s lives. Bring data, case studies, or testimonials if you can.
• Cultivate Resilience: Odds are, you’ll encounter setbacks. The ability to pivot—or rethink—can make all the difference between fizzling out and finding your groove.

And just speaking from the gut: take the risk. Investors are betting on the brave. In my professional journey, I’ve found that those who dare to dream—and act—tend to move the needle, even if things get a bit messy along the way.

Market Ripples: What This Means for the Wider AI Sector

Beyond Dollars: Catalysing a Mindset Shift

Money is just one part of the equation. This fund also signals a broader shift—one towards deeper collaboration between builders and backers. If you’re running a startup, it’s good to be reminded that you’re not pitching into a void; serious partners want to actively participate in your win.

The “Agentic Age” I mentioned earlier isn’t just about smarter algorithms; it’s about smarter partnerships, too. We’re seeing the walls between larger companies and fresh entrants coming down, often for mutual benefit. In that sense, Perplexity’s move is both pragmatic and a little bit symbolic.

Risks on the Horizon

I’d be remiss if I left out the potential downsides. Such a focus of capital on AI will certainly inflate expectations, and we may see some companies over-promising and under-delivering. There’s also the delicate matter of ethical oversight, given how AI can occasionally outpace our ability to control for bias or harmful side effects. I’ve seen boards scramble to get ahead of these issues, and the best founders build guardrails into their product DNA from day one.

• Emphasis on Ethics: Early-stage founders need to build trust—not just cool tech. That’s a drum I keep beating in workshops and on calls alike.
• Long Game, Not a Quick Flip: Short-term exits are flashy, but the biggest wins (and the real value) often come from resilience and consistent iteration.

Sneak Peek: Perplexity’s Evolving Suite of AI Tools

Products Making Waves

While the investment arm is gathering pace, Perplexity isn’t stopping there. Its platform is expanding with features that already have my colleagues and me keeping close watch. ‘Deep Research’ stands out for its promise to generate comprehensive AI-powered reports—timely, considering how information overload is becoming nearly unmanageable. There’s also Comet, the upcoming browser, which from initial whispers, looks like it could shake up not just AI use, but how people seek, synthesize, and interact with information more broadly.

Potential for Synergy

• Testbed for Startups: Startups selected for the fund may have privileged access to these new features—letting them experiment faster than the rest of the market.
• Feedback-Driven Development: There’s great value in letting real, hungry users stress-test products during their infancy. This creates feedback loops that make both the startup and the parent company stronger.

The Long View: Where Could This Take Us?

Looking ahead, I don’t think it’s overstating things to say that funds like this could set the stage for new technology giants. Silicon Valley, after all, was built on early bets, sympathetic mentors, and plenty of second (or even third) chances. I can’t help but wonder what diamonds in the rough will emerge from this new cohort of Perplexity-backed startups. The tech community has always thrived on surprising outcomes; I wouldn’t rule out a future household name emerging from a garage or a tiny co-working space, thanks to this capital injection.

Final Reflections: “Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained”

Frankly, there’s something energising about watching organisations like Perplexity double down on both product and people. They’re not content just to launch tools and hope for the best—the plan is to nurture, invest, and walk alongside the next generation of AI innovators. In a world where so many are content to play it safe, this kind of boldness stands out.

If you’re an early-stage founder or someone passionate about AI, now’s the time to step into the ring. As the old saying goes, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” I’ve seen friends, clients, and even a few spirited ‘frenemies’ take leaps of faith with support from funds like this—and more often than not, they find themselves moving quicker and going further than they ever imagined. As for me, I’ll be watching closely—scribbling notes, comparing pitches, and, most likely, raising a glass to those plucky enough to give it a go. You never know when the next big thing is just around the corner.

For those interested in following the Perplexity Fund or its budding portfolio, I’d recommend keeping a close eye on their official updates and any news coming from Graziadei and Shevelenko’s circles. The early bird, after all, tends to get the worm—or, in our modern twist, the next AI unicorn.