# Innovation Endeavors Innovation Endeavors is a venture capital firm founded by Eric Schmidt, focusing on early-stage deep technology investments, particularly in artificial intelligence, robotics, and life sciences. Innovation Endeavors is a venture capital firm founded by Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, and based in Palo Alto, California. The firm invests in early-stage companies working on transformative technologies, with a strong emphasis on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other deep tech sectors. Since its founding in 2010, Innovation Endeavors has backed notable companies such as [waymo](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/waymo), [intuitive-surgical](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/intuitive-surgical), and [figure-ai](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/figure-ai), and has become a significant player in the AI investment landscape. The firm operates with a thesis that advances in computing power, data availability, and algorithmic breakthroughs are enabling a new wave of innovation across industries. It typically leads or participates in seed and Series A rounds, providing not only capital but also operational support and access to a network of experts. Innovation Endeavors has offices in Palo Alto and New York City, and its team includes former entrepreneurs, engineers, and scientists. ## Founding and Leadership Innovation Endeavors was founded in 2010 by Eric Schmidt, who had recently stepped down as CEO of Google. Schmidt, a computer engineer by training, had previously held leadership roles at Sun Microsystems and Novell, and served as CEO of Google from 2001 to 2011. His vision for the firm was to support entrepreneurs tackling complex, high-impact problems using technology. The firm is led by managing partners including Dror Berman, who joined early and helped shape its investment strategy. Schmidt's background in technology and policy has influenced the firm's focus. He has been a vocal advocate for AI research and has served on government commissions, including as chair of the U.S. National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence from 2018 to 2021. This policy engagement has informed the firm's interest in areas like AI safety, national security applications, and advanced manufacturing. ## Investment Focus and Strategy Innovation Endeavors concentrates on what it calls "deep tech" - startups that require significant scientific or engineering breakthroughs, rather than just business model innovation. Key sectors include artificial intelligence, robotics, life sciences, and advanced materials. The firm looks for companies with strong technical moats and the potential to become category leaders. In AI, the firm has invested in companies like [figure-ai](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/figure-ai), a humanoid robotics company, and [waymo](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/waymo), the autonomous driving subsidiary of Alphabet. It also backed [intuitive-surgical](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/intuitive-surgical), known for its da Vinci surgical systems, though that investment predates the firm's formal AI focus. More recently, the firm has shown interest in [generative-ai](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/generative-ai) and [large-language-model](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/large-language-model) startups, though specific deals are not always public. The firm typically invests at the seed and Series A stages, with checks ranging from $1 million to $20 million. It often takes board seats and works closely with founders on hiring, product strategy, and fundraising. Innovation Endeavors also runs a program called "Foundry" that provides resources and mentorship to its portfolio companies. ## Notable Portfolio Companies Innovation Endeavors has built a portfolio of over 100 companies. Some of the most notable include: - **Waymo**: The self-driving car company, which spun out of Google's self-driving project. Innovation Endeavors participated in early funding rounds. - **Figure AI**: A robotics company developing humanoid robots for labor tasks. The firm invested in its early stages. - **Intuitive Surgical**: A pioneer in robotic-assisted surgery, though the investment was made through an earlier fund. - **Commure**: A healthcare technology company focused on data integration for medical systems. - **BigBear.ai**: A data analytics company serving defense and intelligence agencies. Other investments span areas like [sanctuary-ai](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/sanctuary-ai) (general-purpose robots), [fermata](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/fermata) (agriculture technology), and [omniscient](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/omniscient) (AI for decision-making). The firm has also backed companies in quantum-computing and semiconductor design, though these are less publicized. ## Impact and Recognition Innovation Endeavors is recognized as one of the leading deep tech venture firms in Silicon Valley. Its association with Eric Schmidt gives it unique access to talent and insights, particularly in AI. The firm has been praised for its patient capital approach, allowing startups to develop complex technologies over longer time horizons. In the AI community, the firm is seen as a bridge between academic research and commercial application. It has funded research collaborations and supported open-source initiatives, though specific details are limited. The firm's emphasis on responsible AI development aligns with Schmidt's public advocacy for AI safety and regulation. As of 2026, Innovation Endeavors continues to raise new funds and expand its portfolio. Its investments in [artificial-intelligence](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/artificial-intelligence) and related fields are expected to grow, as the firm seeks to capitalize on advances in [machine-learning](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/machine-learning) and [deep-learning](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/deep-learning). The firm's long-term vision is to support technologies that solve fundamental problems in health, energy, and transportation. ## See Also - [artificial-intelligence](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/artificial-intelligence) - venture-capital - [eric-schmidt](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/eric-schmidt) - deep-tech --- Source: https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/innovation-endeavors License: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Last updated: 2026-09-08T15:33:20.617709+00:00