Anthropic · Anduril · Databricks · TechCrunch AI
How Justin Ernest poured in nearly $500 million into hot startups without a traditional VC fund
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Last year, Justin Ernest noticed a massive gap in how venture capital was working: Family offices and smaller institutional investors were eager to invest in the fastest-growing AI companies but couldn’t.
Key facts
- Over the last 12 months, Sabertooth has invested nearly $500 million into 10 companies, including Anthropic, Anduril, Base Power, Databricks, PsiQuantum, and SpaceX
- He’s writing checks ranging from $10 million to $275 million, meaning he’s gaining significant chunks of shares, and always participating in official, company-approved funding rounds
- When Wagner tried to invest directly in PsiQuantum, the quantum computing startup last valued at $7 billion, the company’s CFO suggested that he invest through Sabertooth
- Instead of launching a formal VC fund, a process he says takes new managers anywhere from 12 to 18 months, Ernest used his network to secure allocations of stock in high-profile, later-stage companies
Summary
Having spent over five years at Playground Global investing in deep tech and helping lead fundraising, Ernest was confident his connections to both investors and founders would allow him to bridge that gap. Instead of launching a formal VC fund, a process he says takes new managers anywhere from 12 to 18 months, Ernest used his network to secure allocations of stock in high-profile, later-stage companies. Over the last 12 months, Sabertooth has invested nearly $500 million into 10 companies, including Anthropic, Anduril, Base Power, Databricks, PsiQuantum, and SpaceX. He’s writing checks ranging from $10 million to $275 million, meaning he’s gaining significant chunks of shares, and always participating in official, company-approved funding rounds.