You’ve made it.
You're now reading The Brief by Introduction.com.
The private digest for entrepreneurs, executives, and investors shaping the future with technology.
In this industry, the ceiling isn't talent, it's access.
Success is defined by the hands you shake and the company you keep.
We exist to streamline that proximity, ensuring the "best of the best" are never more than one connection away.
Join a private network of leaders from a16z, Goldman, NBA, Coinbase, Stripe, and more.
🌴 Privé Malibu 🌴
A Private Reception: Privé Malibu x Introduction.com
Last call. The guest list is closed.
Tomorrow, Thursday, October 15, we’re hosting a private, invitation-only reception in Malibu with Privé Malibu and Arcadia during LA Tech Week.
The list is full. Executives, founders and investors, confirmed.
But a room like this always has room for one more. If you think you belong in it, request anyway and make your case. Charm counts.
Every request is reviewed. Our team reaches out personally to confirm approved guests.
The address is shared only with approved guests.
Space is extremely limited.
Access is earned.
🌟 Member Spotlight 🌟
Meet Michael Heinrich 👋
Huge congrats to Michael and the 0G team on committing S$20 million to Singapore over the next five years and making it 0G’s global headquarters.
→ Co-founder & CEO at 0G Labs
→ Executive Chairman at ZeroStack (Nasdaq: ZSTK)
→ Venture Partner at Pioneer Fund
He got his start at Bridgewater, Bain and Microsoft. Then he founded garten, a Y Combinator company that grew to 650+ people before it was acquired. He has taught at Stanford since 2014.
Here’s what 0G does. Today, a handful of companies own the computers that run AI. 0G is building the open version: a network where anyone can store data and run AI, and anyone can check the work. Michael calls it making AI a public good.
The Singapore money goes to a new headquarters at Stamford Place, a four-year research partnership with NTU, more university research, and even an AI and badminton project. Singapore’s Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How gave the keynote at 0G Dev Day, where close to 3,000 people registered.
Bridgewater. Stanford. Singapore.
Michael keeps building where AI is headed next.
This is what our network is all about. Keep building.
🤝 Member Perk: Introduction.com x Brex
This is what membership looks like.
Brex is the finance platform 35,000+ companies run on:
→ Corporate cards, expense management
→ Travel and bill pay
→ Control spend at the point of purchase
Introduction.com members: 25,000 points after your first $10,000 on the Brex card.
Proud to partner with Brex.
Membership has its privileges.
Three rooms. Two cities. One recap, coming soon.
Seoul and Singapore. October 1, 7 and 10.
Thursday, October 1.
KBW Closing Reception.
With FactBlock and Arcadia.
Wednesday, October 7.
The VIP Penthouse.
With Diamante.
Saturday, October 10.
The Penthouse: Trackside.
With CoinRabbit.
Closing night in Seoul. A penthouse above the F1 circuit. A private brunch over Marina Bay as the Grand Prix built.
Thank you to every founder, investor and executive who walked through the door, and to the partners who built these nights with us.
The guest list stays with the guests. The deal flow and the debrief go to members.
The full download drops soon. Stay tuned.
Tuesday, October 20. New York.
Assets & Access NYC @ Pubkey. 7:00 PM ET.
Coming up in November
Assets & Access NYC @ Pubkey, Tue Nov 10, 6:00 PM ET
Assets & Access Miami @ Better Days, Thu Nov 12, 6:00 PM ET
Assets & Access Tampa @ The Copper Shaker, Thu Nov 12, 7:00 PM ET
Assets & Access SF @ Rickhouse Bar, Thu Nov 12, 5:30 PM PT
Top Raises
Series B
Nous Research raised $90M at a $1.5 billion valuation.
Nous builds Hermes, a free, open-source AI assistant that can run on your own computer and gets better the more you use it. The new money takes Hermes to big companies.
Shout out to our partners at Nvidia!
Strategic Round
Meanwhile raised $37.5M, led by Bain Capital Crypto, with Haun Ventures, Pantera, Apollo and Northwestern Mutual in the round.
Meanwhile sells life insurance paid in Bitcoin. You pay in Bitcoin, and your family gets Bitcoin back. It has raised over $180M in total, with Sam Altman among its backers.
Way to go Lauren Stephanian and the Pantera team! Love to see it!
Seed
Catalyst raised $30M, led by Sequoia, with Jump Trading, Peak XV, Lux, Coinbase and Premji Invest in the round.
You describe a trading idea in plain English, and Catalyst’s AI agents turn it into a strategy. You approve every step before any money moves. Its founders are 25 and 21.
Coinbase stays winning. Congrats Pia Maria Szabo and team!
Series A
iPiD raised $16M, led by Foundation Capital, with Citi and HSBC in the round.
Before you send money, iPiD checks that the account is real and belongs to the person you meant to pay. Banks use it to stop payments from going to the wrong account.
Subtle nod to our guys over at Citi.
Strategic Investment + Acquisition
Anyflo launched with $1M from Mysten Labs and bought the team behind Native.
Anyflo lets big companies send and receive stablecoin payments through one connection, without dealing with each blockchain themselves. Its CEO, Lola Oyelayo-Pearson, previously worked at Mysten, Shopify and Capital One.
Big win for the Mysten Labs team. Good looks Rohan Handa.
