Fifty Years

Make something civilization needs.

Big news out of Idaho from @AaloAtomics!

The Bitter Lesson of Robotics: It's extremely easy to make a video of a robot doing something once under perfect conditions then post it to X. But it often takes a decade to harden systems and design for all the insane edge cases of the real world. Many companies raising $$$$ on cool demos, but all the hard work comes after

An altar of progress. 3 year old @AaloAtomics has already built their first nuclear reactor. Seen here in their now complete Critical Test Reactor facility, where they'll turn it on by July 4.

This is Progress. Conversations about life at the hinge of history with the people building it.

What makes me happiest about @fiftyyears finally launching a podcast is that folks can see how amazing and hilarious and smart @fuelfive is!!!

@glebkuz @ManifoldBio Wow

Behold the power of massively parallel multiplexing @ManifoldBio brought to this study

If you want to work somewhere where introspection is considered a strength, we’re hiring.

Most podcasts talk about GTM strategy or the latest raise. On Progress we talk about space colonization, torturing AI models, and changing anogenital distances. Civilizational questions only. Slightly unhinged.

The conversations I hear in private rooms are WILD: surviving the hinge of history, self-improving AGI, the unraveling world order. But most podcasts hover at the wrong altitude. So, we created Progress – conversations about navigating the change we’re all living through, with the brightest minds and builders. The most important thing we can build during the AGI transition is mutual understanding, and we only get that through conversations like these.

Still time left to apply. fiftyyears.com/5050

Came in to find this prototype @cephlainc fluidics system running on the kitchen table at @fiftyyears. Part of an overnight reliability test. The energy at 50Y HQ is unbeatable.

@sethbannon @cephlainc

In the fall of 2025, I went through the 5050 cohort as part of my startup journey. The people at FiftyYears are incredibly awesome, and it was inspiring seeing them build towards their mission up close. They encourage founders to build civilization-level companies instead of just another company that makes money without a grander purpose. Of course, a company needs to make money, but why settle for anything less than tackling civilizational problems the world actually needs solved? 5050 is opening a new cohort soon (applications due April 4), so if you're a scientist looking to take your research to the next level and aim for higher ambition, I strongly recommend applying! You'll be uplifted by VCs who will give you practical advice on building a venture-scale startup with a strong purpose, and you'll be surrounded by new friends who are all working hard to do the same. (And yes, I was thinking incredibly hard in that top photo. 😅) Link in the comments. Cc @fiftyyears @sethbannon @elamadej @fuelfive

@Tancrededib Great list. Thanks for including us 🙏 FYI we're all of: Talent-first / pre-idea / pre-company Pre-seed / pre-product / first believers Seed-first / early-stage Sector-focused / thesis-driven

A map of SF investors by stage. Curated from recommendations by SF founders, investors, and operators. Talent-first / pre-idea / pre-company >Entrepreneurs First >1517 Fund >Bloomberg Beta >Human Capital Pre-seed / pre-product / first believers >Afore Capital >Abstract Ventures >Amity Ventures >Cambrian Ventures >Caffeinated Capital >Conviction >Cowboy Ventures >Forum Ventures >Hustle Fund >Pear VC >Precursor Ventures >SV Angel >Uncork Capital >Unusual VC Seed-first / early-stage generalists >Accel >Acme Capital >Acrew Capital >Battery Ventures >Benchmark >Bessemer Venture Partners >Blumberg Capital >Bullpen Capital >Costanoa Ventures >Craft Ventures >CRV >Defy VC >Felicis >First Round >Floodgate >Forerunner Ventures >Foundation Capital >Greylock Partners >Headline >Initialized Capital >Kindred Ventures >Menlo Ventures >Redpoint Ventures >Spark Capital >Susa Ventures >True Ventures >Upfront Ventures Multi-stage / large platform firms >8VC >a16z >Bain Capital Ventures >Base10 Partners >Coatue >Francisco Partners >General Catalyst >Google Ventures >Greenoaks >Greycroft >Index Ventures >Khosla Ventures >Kleiner Perkins >Lightspeed >NEA >Norwest Venture Partners >S32 >Sapphire Ventures >Sequoia Sector-focused / thesis-driven >Abad Capital >Atomic VC >Better Tomorrow Ventures >Builders VC >Commerce Ventures >Delphi Ventures >Fifty Years >Gradient Ventures >GSV Ventures >Infinity Ventures >Lux Capital >NFX >Obvious Ventures >Patron >Ribbit Capital Broad early-stage >Draper Associates >Founders Fund >Renegade Partners >SignalFire Platform / accelerator-style >Plug and Play >Y Combinator

Goodies for 5050 gift boxes going out to labs. If you want one for your lab, let us know below!

.@fiftyyears is going to court. We've joined this amicus brief in support of Anthropic. American innovation depends on companies being governed by the laws Congress passes and the Constitution. Proud to stand up for this principle with @JoinFAI and others.

Today @JoinFAI filed an amicus brief in the D.C. Circuit in support of Anthropic's emergency motion for a stay—joined by @FiftyYears, @Fathom_org, China Talk, @ChorzempaMartin, @alexolegimas, @pangramlabs, @IFP, @DeanWBall, @dwarkesh_sp, @rootsofprogress, and @KhanSaifM.

If you're interested in exploring ways to commercialize your research & meet others doing the same, I highly recommend the 5050 program! They will show you what it takes to build a deep tech company. fiftyyears.com/5050 @fiftyyears

At @fiftyyears we gave fast loans and even connected our personal bank accounts to portfolio companies' payroll systems to ensure they could pay their employees.

@sethbannon This is the way.