Geek Ventures
Facts
- HQ
- Seattle
- Sectors
- Venture Capital, Startup Investing
- Founders
- Ihar Mahaniok
Temasek-backed Vertex Ventures says China-linked robotics like Unitree can reach U.S. if they anchor development and chip control in Singapore
Vertex Ventures, backed by Temasek, says Chinese robotics firms blocked from U.S. markets can still sell to American buyers if they establish substantial operations, control of components, and hiring in Singapore. The firm cites its portfolio, including Unitree Robotics, and argues Singapore-based development could meet U.S. origin rules after recent U.S. restrictions on foreign-made humanoid and mobile robots.
Ep6: Ihar Mahaniok - the Immigrant VC
Summary In this episode of The First Bet, Martin Tobias interviews Ihar Mahaniok, a seasoned investor and managing partner at Geek Ventures. Ihar shares his journey from coding in Belarus to investing in over a hundred startups, including notable successes like Instacart and Pandadoc. The conversation delves into Ihar's evolving decision frameworks, the importance of immigrant founders, and the unique challenges and opportunities in early-stage investing. Ihar emphasizes the significance of tenacity, the role of technical expertise, and the value of authentic connections in the startup ecosystem. Takeaways Investing in startups requires a strong decision framework that evolves over time…
Incisive Solo GP Says Founder Fit and Pattern Recognition Drive $250k–$500k Pre‑Seed Bets After 20 Years, 300+ Deals
A solo general partner at Incisive explains that after 20 years and 300+ investments, conviction in pre-seed B2B startups comes from assessing founders and pattern recognition rather than spreadsheets; they write $250k–$500k checks and were named among Business Insider's 100 best early-stage investors.
Wokelo Raises $4M Seed Funding to Expand AI-Powered Due Diligence for M&A and Investments
Seattle-based AI startup Wokelo raised $4 million in seed funding to advance its AI-driven platform that automates detailed due diligence reports for mergers, investments, and consulting. Founded in 2022 by former management consultants Siddhant Masson and Saswat Nanda, Wokelo now serves over 35 customers including private equity and venture capital firms.
