Introduction

From Silicon Valley to Sao Paulo, entrepreneurs, investors, operators, and optimists utter common laments.

Though these sentiments take many different forms—they span many languages and dialects—two quotes in particular are representative:

Thiel and Hammerbacher’s points are well-taken. For all of Silicon Valley’s grandiose talk about the future of humanity, it has mostly delivered spectacularly useless, lifeless, even anti-human technologies. The “app store” and its myriad digital cousins teem more with so-so technologies than technological leaps forward.

In a way, this status quo reflects its owners perfectly. The same people lend one another money, back and forth, in repackaged pursuit of their utmost whims—namely, to be served by strangers promptly, to have their cake and eat it too, and to amass more wealth even as they sleep.

rpv rejects such an insular, pessimistic-driven approach and instead pursues that which is propelled by genius, innovation, and exploration. As a deep tech venture fund focused on early-stage, scientifically-intensive ventures, rpv seeks to advance humanity’s well-being in a broad, tangible manner. Guided by the dual pillars of rigorous scientific method and strong ethical standards, rpv rejects a future dictated by incrementalism. Instead, it strives to usher in a golden era of, by, and for deep tech by applying the scientific method to startup investing/seed stage.

Its diligence process is as scientific (if not more so) as the technology in which it invests. Both regimented and scientific, it stands apart—a far cry from freewheeling VCs that ready-fire-aim rather than ready-aim-fire.

Its methodological weapon of choice is a sniper rifle, not a bazooka.

rpv funds and furthers breakthrough innovation across five specific physics-enabled areas:

1. Neuroscience

2. Lasers and photonics

3. Alternative energy

4. Advanced materials

5. Additive manufacturing, such as CAD/3D printing

The firm shoots not just for the moon, but also other distant, unfamiliar terrain—the subconscious, the depths of meaning, and the boundaries of physics and chemistry.

In place of facile, unseemly invocations of disruption and futurism, rpv’s team grits their teeth, rolls up their sleeves, and does the damn work. They reject sophistry and believe in science.

Ironically, this is rare. Scientific expertise is severely lacking in the world of Deep Tech VC: only 19% of the funds can evaluate a venture's scientific potential and the associated risks.

rpv works closely with CERN researchers and renowned scientists to diligence frontier deep tech deals in neuroscience, photonics, and new energy. It aims to write the first check into truly scientific startups and help them attract more VCs.

Because the team is more at home in the laboratory/classroom than the boardroom, they have an unfair advantage that biases them toward victory.

The team

rpv is led by Arkady Kulik and Tamaz Khunjua. Previously, Arkady served as COO of VK.com (2019-2021) and founded Thankyou, the largest digital music label in Russia. Tamaz is a CERN affiliate and drove the relationship between CERN and the University of Georgia (Tbilisi), where he is a tenured professor.

Together, they make a formidable duo united by complementary talents and unmatched intensity. History shows that such duos can combine to create leaping emergent effects—think Bill Gates and Paul Allen, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.

Though there exist lots of naysayers, neither incredulity nor pessimism halts technological advancement. There are some who duel in the arena and others who jeer from the peanut gallery. Far from shelling nuts, Arkady and Tamaz realize that “there is no effort without error and shortcoming” and “strive to do the deeds…know great enthusiasms…spend [themselves] in a worthy cause.”

Showing beats telling. As an example, take one of the few rpv portfolio companies out of stealth: Strong by Form.

Strong by Form strives to rid the construction industry of concrete, steel, and aluminum. Inspired by nature, the company creates lightweight structural solutions that fuse the sustainability of wood with the performance and productivity of advanced composites. The resulting material weighs 12x less than concrete and is just as durable.

As I said, the stuff of science fiction.

Synopsis

rpv is putting its money where its mouth is and working tirelessly to turn science fiction into science fact.

All this might sound a bit absurd. That’s because it is.

Andreessen Horowitz’s Katherine Boyle said it best:

If rpv achieves half of what I think it can, I don’t mind feeling absurd for years to come. Explore rpv’s vision here!

- Tom