AI Summary

Justin Ernest identified a gap in venture capital last year: family offices and smaller institutional investors wanted to back the fastest‑growing AI companies but lacked access to their cap tables. After more than five years at Playground Global, where he invested in deep‑tech and led fundraising efforts, Ernest felt his network of investors and founders could bridge that divide. He began channeling capital directly into hot AI startups, bypassing traditional VC structures. This approach enabled him to invest nearly $400 million in emerging companies without forming a conventional venture fund.

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