I wrote here a while back with this throwaway asking for help: AI researchers from Russia looking for a new home.
We still have a few options, but I wonder if it’s possible in the current climate to find funding for a startup doing fundamental AI research with focus on alignment, or any startup needs to be product-focused to get funding.
What do you think? Do you have any potential contacts I can reach out to?
Yes, definitely possible.
Saying the quiet part out loud: VC for both research and product startups runs on trust. To get funding you will mostly likely need someone trusted to vouch for you, and/or to have legible, hard-to-fake accomplishments in a related field, that obviates the need for trust. (Writing up a high quality AI alignment research agenda could be such an accomplishment!). If you DM me with more details about your situation, I might be able to help route you.