Core Insights - The new fund, Creekstone Ventures, is focusing on AI investments and aims to connect closely with founders [1][2] - The fund plans to raise several tens of millions of dollars and has already identified two projects in the AI sector [2][3] - The investment strategy emphasizes vertical intelligence (ASI) and aims to support innovative projects in the AI space [9][15] Investment Focus - The fund will allocate approximately 60-70% of its capital to AI applications, particularly in consumer-oriented (ToC) sectors, and 15-20% to AI hardware [4][5] - The fund is particularly interested in projects that focus on vertical intelligence, aiming to develop super intelligence in specific fields [15][16] - There is a strong belief in the potential of Chinese AI applications to lead globally, as evidenced by the rapid growth of companies like DeepSeek [5][9] Project Examples - The fund has already committed to an AI coding company and an AI glasses company, with a focus on projects that simplify functionality rather than adding unnecessary features [2][3] - The investment in the AI coding project is seen as timely, given the founder's recent transition from a large tech company [2][3] Market Dynamics - The current market is experiencing rising valuations for projects, influenced by supply and demand dynamics and a reduction in the total capital available from traditional dollar funds [22][23] - The fund aims to differentiate itself by engaging deeply with founders and providing support that goes beyond traditional investment approaches [24][28] Entrepreneurial Support - Creekstone Ventures intends to offer emotional and strategic support to founders, leveraging their own experiences as entrepreneurs [6][7] - The fund emphasizes the importance of maintaining close relationships with portfolio companies, facilitating daily communication and collaboration [8][19] Future Outlook - The fund is optimistic about the potential for coding AI and believes that the Chinese market has significant opportunities in this area [16][17] - The focus will also be on identifying and investing in key components that support the development of future AI agents [15][16] Conclusion - Creekstone Ventures positions itself as a partner to entrepreneurs, aiming to foster innovation in the AI sector while navigating the evolving market landscape [28][30]

Core Insights - The article discusses the evolution of AI models, emphasizing that the narrative around Chinese models has shifted positively, with increasing recognition of their capabilities [2][5] - The success of Manus is highlighted as a reference for other entrepreneurs, showcasing effective global marketing and the ability to secure overseas funding [14][16] - DeepSeek is identified as a significant event that has transformed the standards for research-oriented companies in China, impacting commercialization and influence [33][34] Group 1: Manus's Success and Its Implications - Manus has gained global attention as an AI application startup, successfully securing investments from Silicon Valley VCs, which serves as a reference for other Chinese startups [14][16] - The team at Manus demonstrated effective growth through a Product-Led Growth (PLG) strategy, which is crucial for gaining recognition from Silicon Valley institutions [15] - The ability of Manus to integrate various AI capabilities into a seamless user experience has set a new standard for handling complex tasks [16] Group 2: Impact of DeepSeek - DeepSeek has lowered the barriers and costs associated with using large models, significantly impacting the AI ecosystem in China [36] - The emergence of DeepSeek has stimulated the development of smaller models, allowing developers to create more efficient and effective AI solutions [37] - DeepSeek's influence has accelerated the commercialization of AI, making it easier for companies to adopt AI technologies [38] Group 3: Future of AI Models and Companies - The article discusses the future of existing model companies, emphasizing the need for continuous improvement in model capabilities to remain competitive [46][47] - Companies must recognize that the competition at the L1 level is no longer meaningful, and they must upgrade to L2 and L3 capabilities to stay relevant [39][41] - The investment focus is shifting from model companies to application-layer startups, as the market is now more favorable for those who can identify and address user needs effectively [58][59] Group 4: The Role of Agents and Product Development - The concept of "model as product" is challenged, suggesting that while foundational models are evolving, the real product innovation is just beginning [60][61] - Companies developing workflow tools must adapt to the rapid advancements in foundational models and redefine their product strategies accordingly [62][63] - The importance of community-driven products, like ComfyUI, is highlighted, as they can maintain relevance even amidst technological disruptions [66] Group 5: Market Dynamics and Investment Strategies - The article notes that the market for good projects is becoming more competitive, requiring VCs to be more proactive and decisive in their investment strategies [55][56] - The discussion emphasizes the need for entrepreneurs to leverage current information channels effectively to solve user problems and enhance decision-making [71][72] - The success of Plaud is attributed to its unique product positioning and the lack of direct competition in the AI hardware space, demonstrating the potential for niche products [76][81]