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Four Futures
Rebecca Kaden – Dec 18, 2024
We are in a moment where the future is both wildly exciting and highly uncertain. The acceleration of AI has created a new paradigm of possibilities but also fundamental questions we can’t yet answer. Will we continue speeding towards exponentially [...] Read more
Weird
Jared Hecht – Jan 10, 2024
The proliferation of generative AI has opened up a brand new frontier of exploration for consumer internet entrepreneurs, particularly those looking to build new types of networks around social media and communications. When we talk about social media as it [...] Read more
Blackbird Labs
Fred Wilson – Oct 6, 2022
At USV, we are looking for applications that can bring hundreds of millions of users onto web3. As great as the decentralized finance and digital art applications of web3 are, they aren’t likely to get my mom or your mom [...] Read more
A Social Resurgence
Rebecca Kaden – Feb 7, 2020
We have recently gotten excited about several new emerging social networks and platforms. While the competition for prolonged attention only gets fiercer and the network effects in the dominant players remain strong, there is also fresh consumer appetite for creative [...] Read more
Come for an Action, Stay for the Community
Rebecca Kaden – Feb 15, 2019
The next wave of social systems will likely emphasize breadth and depth differently than the last--and may not look much like social networks at all. With the current networks, the horizontal nature of the platform is the product. Users come for the community. But it may be that with the next, the community is what keeps users long term engaged but is formed around another intent. Come for an action, stay for the community. Read more
Shapeways Expands Services for Creators
Albert Wenger – Apr 18, 2018
Shapeways has printed over 10 million different products. This has allowed Shapeways to hone its printing and logistical capabilities. Along the way, the team has also developed great insights into the needs of creators. We are excited that Shapeways is expanding its service offering accordingly. Read more
Kickstarter, PBC
Fred Wilson – Sep 21, 2015
I recall meeting Perry Chen for the first time in the old USV offices on the 14th floor back in 2009 shortly after Kickstarter launched. He and his partners Yancey and Charles were onto something, I was sure of that. [...] Read more
Amino
Andy Weissman – Jul 8, 2014
Communities have long been an integral part of the Internet, online places where people can connect and share their passions and interests. And communities can have great network dynamics, where they increase in value as participants join and share more. [...] Read more
A VC: Sidecar
Fred Wilson – Feb 19, 2014
Announcing the investment in Sidecar that USV made last summer Read more