Playground Global has established itself as a leader in the deep tech industry, with a strong presence in various sectors. The company's growth is a testament to its innovative approach and commitment to advancing technology.
Founded in 2015, Playground Global has been at the forefront of innovation for over a decade, with a focus on developing cutting-edge technologies. This long-term perspective has allowed the company to build a robust foundation for its future success.
Playground Global's success can be attributed to its strategic partnerships and investments in various startups. By providing resources and expertise to these companies, Playground Global has been able to foster growth and drive innovation in the deep tech industry.
Through its efforts, Playground Global has created a network of like-minded individuals and organizations, further solidifying its position as a leader in the industry.
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Playground Global's Rise to Power
Playground Global has infused the venture capital landscape with a fresh $410 million, earmarked for the nurturance of nascent deep tech enterprises.
This move signals a robust confidence in the transformative potential of deep tech to redefine the contours of our technological future.
The firm has raised the bar for early-stage investing, bringing its total assets under management to a substantial $1.2 billion.
Playground Global is rooted deeply in Palo Alto's fertile innovation ground, making it a key player in the region's vibrant startup ecosystem.
With this infusion of capital, Playground Global is well-positioned to support the growth of deep tech startups, potentially leading to groundbreaking innovations and industry disruptions.
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Investments and Deals
Playground Global has raised $1.2 billion across three funds, with the first fund raising $300 million in 2015 from a group of limited partners including Google, HP, and Tencent. This was followed by $500 million raised during Fund II in 2016.
The firm has made significant investments in startups, including a $20.5 million series A funding round for Nervana Systems, an AI software company acquired by Intel in 2016. Playground Global has also backed Owl Labs, a conferencing devices company, with $1.3 million in seed money.
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Playground's investments have resulted in some notable exits, with the firm's portfolio companies including Relativity Space, a startup that develops small launch vehicles with the use of 3-D printing technologies. The firm has also invested in RapidSOS, an emergency response data provider, and FarmWise, a company that commercializes its automated weeding robot.
Playground Global has a typical investment size of $50-100 million, with the firm often participating in rounds with 4-5 investors. The firm's portfolio includes companies such as PsiQuantum, which develops quantum computers, and Ayar Labs, which develops light-based data transmission technology.
Here are some notable deals made by Playground Global:
Playground Global's investments have been focused on areas such as software, robotics, artificial intelligence, healthcare, and hardware. The firm has a typical investment size of $50-100 million, with the firm often participating in rounds with 4-5 investors.
Areas of Focus
Playground Global focuses its investments on areas that have the potential for significant technological impact and robust financial returns. The firm has a keen eye for startups that can establish and maintain substantial technical moats.
The firm is actively investing in sectors like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, life sciences, and new materials, which promise monumental advancements. These areas have the potential to disrupt markets and bring about substantial changes.
Playground Global's investment strategy is versatile, with initial investments ranging from $1 million to $20 million. This approach has already borne fruit, with notable exits including MosaicML's acquisition by Databricks and Velo3D's public market debut.
Some of the specific areas where Playground Global focuses its investments include:
- Software
- Robotics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Health Care
- Hardware
These areas have shown significant potential for growth and innovation, and the firm is committed to investing in startups that have a compelling hypothesis, a problem of considerable scale, and a credible path to commercial success.
Partnerships and Connections
Playground Global has a long-standing commitment to supporting visionary entrepreneurship, which is evident in their early backing of Elon Musk's ventures.
Peter Barrett's support for Elon Musk's endeavors has become a notable part of tech history.
Musk's current pursuits in space travel and renewable energy closely align with the types of ambitious projects that Playground Global aims to support.
The firm's dedication to backing entrepreneurs and companies that redefine technological possibilities is a testament to their forward-thinking approach.
Background and Performance
Playground Global is an early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2015 by Andy Rubin, Bruce Leak, Matt Hershenson, and Peter Barrett.
The firm invests exclusively in technical founders taking large technology risks.
Playground's portfolio consists of innovative companies like PsiQuantum, Relativity Space, Ultima Genomics, and MosaicML.
MosaicML was acquired by Databricks, demonstrating the firm's ability to identify and support high-growth startups.
Playground Global's focus on next gen compute, automation, energy transition, decarbonization, and engineered biology has led to a diverse portfolio of companies.
The firm's investments in companies like Velo3D, which is listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol SPFR, highlight its commitment to supporting companies with significant growth potential.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How big is the playground global fund?
Playground Global has raised a total of $1.2 billion across three funds, with the initial $300 million in 2015 and an additional $500 million in 2016. This significant funding demonstrates the trust and confidence of its investors in the company's vision.
Sources
- infused the venture capital landscape with a fresh $410 million (businesswire.com)
- Playground Global (playground.vc)
- Official website (playground.global)
- "Ayar Labs raises $24M series a led by Playground Global, with Participation from Founders Fund, GlobalFoundries, and Intel Capital" (yolegroup.com)
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- "Disgraced Google Exec Andy Rubin Quietly Left His Venture Firm Earlier This Year" (buzzfeednews.com)
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- "Jory Bell - Playground Global | RNA Leaders USA Speaker" (informaconnect.com)
- "Jory Bell" (playground.vc)
- "Matt Hershenson" (playground.vc)
- "Playground co-founder Matt Hershenson highlights the importance of finding good people to work with before worrying about a good idea" (berkeley.edu)
- "Bruce Leak (Playground Global) / VC Breakdown & Contact" (vcsheet.com)
- "Bruce Leak" (ideon.ai)
- "Bruce Leak" (playground.vc)
- "'We don't guess': Peter Barrett has 10 unicorns corralled in his Playground and he's hunting more" (forbes.com.au)
- "In conversation with Peter Barrett on toughest challenges at the boundaries of deep tech and hard science" (cam.ac.uk)
- "Peter Barrett" (playground.vc)
- "Playground" (playground.global)
- "Playground's Barrett on avoiding 'stupid' sectors to find success in deep tech" (venturecapitaljournal.com)
- "Relativity Space Raises $35M Series B Funding Led by Playground Global as It Extends Full-Stack Rocket Production Leadership and Reinvents Satellite Launch and Deployment" (relativityspace.com)
- "PsiQuantum backer Playground Global back in town looking for cash" (afr.com)
- "Android Creator Andy Rubin Launching Playground Global" (wsj.com)
- Playground Global (playground.vc)
- giving Elon Musk his first job (afr.com)
- Playground Global — 108 Deals, 66 Portfolio startups, ... (unicorn-nest.com)
- Playground Global: $410 Million Raised, Bringing AUM To ... (pulse2.com)
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