I do stuff for creators, corporates and the curious.
I launched AngelList's fundraising platform (that manages over $15B), Zetta Venture Partners (the first AI fund) and a few of my own companies. I was the first or largest investor in category-defining companies such as Canva, Kaggle and Tractable. I published a book with Penguin Random House, The AI-First Company, about how to develop a competitive advantage with AI.
Creators
I help companies from inception onwards by advising on their data + ML, pricing and fundraising strategy. I then invest anything from $20K to $20MM behind that strategy. You can get in touch via this form.
Corporates
I help some of the largest companies and governments in the world understand the potential applications and impact of AI. This takes the form of board, consulting and speaking engagements. You can book an introductory call here. My rate is $1,100 per hour but it varies depending on the impact of the engagement.
Coaching
I intensively coach a small number of investors, transforming their ability to make good decisions. I do this by increasing their intellectual, behavioral and physical rigor. If you’d like to get in touch, just email ‘coaching’ at this domain.
Focus
I’ve done your job before.
- Interpersonally, I help investors develop more productive relationships with CEOs, fellow partners and board members. I’ve managed hundreds of millions of dollars, sat on dozens of boards and helped build the most scalable startup investing platform in the world.
- Strategically, I help investors use data and machine learning to find investment opportunities. I've been part of many product development initiatives at venture funds, partly thanks to the data we generated at AngelList.
- Energetically, I help investors maintain very high levels of focus using dozens of methods I’ve developed through decades of bio/psycho/socio-logical experimentation. I’m into cycling, weightlifting and ski touring in a big way, intensely training all year around. I bring a lot of what I learn about performance in these sports into our coaching sessions.
Readiness
Start at any stage
- I work with investors at both big and small firms Most of my work is with partners but I also work with Associates and Principals.
- I work with both technology-focused and general investment firms.
- I also work with the CEOs of AI-First companies, if only to balance my practice.
Pricing
The high availabilty model
- I want to be available whenever you’re making an important decision. I limit the number of clients so that I can operate with such high availability. Typically, we’ll meet every week at a set time then talk/text ad-hoc throughout the week. I don’t count hours.
- This means that I work on the basis of being paid a monthly retainer. The current rate is $5,000/month.
- There is no commitment; we work with each other for as long as it serves you.
“Ash Fontana thinks about building companies in a really unique way. His ideas helped companies like ours get started.”— MELANIE PERKINS, cofounder and CEO of Canva
“...whether you’re launching a start-up or integrating emerging technologies into your existing company, Ash Fontana provides not only a comprehensive framework for understanding AI, but also practical advice for developing an ‘AI-First’ mindset.”— ERIC SCHMIDT, former executive chair and CEO of Google and cofounder of Schmidt Futures
“Fontana explains AI with untold pragmatism, and his practical analysis of how to get started with an AI-first mindset has the potential to reshape how we do business.”— CATHERINE LIVINGSTONE, AO, FAA, FTSE, chair of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and chancellor of the University of Technology Sydney