Hico Ventures

Hico Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm specializing in investments within the artificial intelligence and digital asset sectors. With a global perspective, the firm seeks to be the first institutional investor in promising startups, regardless of their geographic location. This approach reflects their belief that exceptional founders and innovative ideas can emerge from anywhere, not just traditional tech hubs. Their investment philosophy is grounded in two core principles: high conviction and high collaboration. High conviction involves conducting thorough due diligence to make informed investment decisions, ensuring a strong partnership with a select group of companies. High collaboration emphasizes building relationships that extend beyond mere transactions, leveraging a network of values-aligned partners to support portfolio companies throughout their growth journey. Hico Ventures typically invests between $250,000 and $1 million in each startup, reserving additional capital for follow-on rounds. They are open to leading investment rounds, particularly when a business is pioneering a new category. The firm's overarching goal is to advance artificial intelligence to the point of achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI). They believe that AGI will emerge through iterative innovation by a network of venture-scale companies across infrastructure and middleware, rather than from a single technological breakthrough. In the digital asset space, Hico Ventures focuses on companies that are either integrating digital assets into the existing financial system or providing alternatives to it. They aim to invest in ventures that drive the maturation of digital assets into a regulatory-compliant asset class with institutional adoption or empower consumers and organizations in ways that existing financial systems cannot. Hico Ventures is committed to supporting its portfolio companies post-investment by offering resources across key corporate functions, including business development, marketing, fundraising, and talent acquisition. Their collaborative approach allows them to tap into the resources of partners like SK Networks, an anchor limited partner committed to supporting portfolio companies in fundraising, internationalization, and business plan execution, and Bow Capital, a University of California ecosystem fund that provides exclusive access to the university's network, sports and media, and Silicon Valley leaders. This partnership enables Hico Ventures to provide comprehensive support to its portfolio companies, enhancing their chances of success in the competitive startup landscape.

Hico Ventures' investment strategy is characterized by a focus on high-conviction investments and a collaborative approach to supporting portfolio companies. Their commitment to advancing artificial intelligence and digital assets reflects a forward-thinking vision in the venture capital space. By combining thorough due diligence with a strong network of partners, Hico Ventures aims to identify and nurture startups that have the potential to lead in their respective industries. Their global investment approach ensures that they are not limited by geography, allowing them to discover and support exceptional founders and innovative ideas worldwide. This strategy positions Hico Ventures as a dynamic and influential player in the venture capital ecosystem, dedicated to fostering the next generation of groundbreaking technologies and businesses.

Through their investments and partnerships, Hico Ventures demonstrates a deep commitment to innovation and sustainable value creation. Their focus on sectors like artificial intelligence and digital assets aligns with the evolving needs of the global economy, positioning their portfolio companies at the forefront of technological advancement. By providing not only capital but also strategic support and access to a vast network of resources, Hico Ventures plays a pivotal role in the growth and success of its portfolio companies, contributing to the broader advancement of technology and industry standards. Their approach underscores the importance of thoughtful investment strategies and collaborative partnerships in driving meaningful progress and achieving long-term success in the venture capital arena.