Geoff Ralston, a longtime figure in the startup world and former Y Combinator president, is stepping back into the investing space. On Thursday, he announced the launch of his new venture fund: the Safe Artificial Intelligence Fund, or SAIF.
The name serves two purposes—it highlights the fund’s mission to back startups working on AI safety and security, and it’s also a play on words. Ralston plans to write $100,000 checks in the form of a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity), the popular pre-seed investment instrument that Y Combinator helped pioneer. His SAFE deals will carry a $10 million valuation cap.
Geoff Ralston is Backing Startups That Prioritize AI Safety
Unlike many VCs focused broadly on AI, Ralston is zeroing in on companies developing technologies that make AI safer and more responsible. According to SAIF’s website, he’s looking to fund startups that enhance AI safety, security, and responsible use.
“The vast majority of AI startups today aim to improve productivity or solve complex problems,” Ralston told TechCrunch. “But safety isn’t often their top priority. I want to support the companies that place AI safety front and center.”
His focus includes startups that:
- Clarify how AI makes decisions
- Benchmark AI safety performance
- Protect intellectual property
- Ensure regulatory compliance
- Fight disinformation and detect AI-driven threats
He’s also open to backing functional tools with built-in safety, such as secure AI forecasting systems or negotiation assistants that avoid leaking sensitive business data.
Ralston draws a clear line, though. He won’t fund projects like fully autonomous weapons or bioweapons managed by AI. Instead, he’s interested in technologies that detect or stop such threats.
“There are some use cases where AI would clearly be unsafe,” he said. “I’d rather fund systems that prevent that from happening.”
While the AI startup space is crowded, Ralston believes his long-standing ties to Y Combinator will help set him apart. He served as president of YC until 2022 and spent over a decade mentoring founders. Through SAIF, he’ll continue offering advice and help startups apply to YC. He’s also connecting them to his extensive investor network.
Ralston has not disclosed the total size of the fund, the number of startups he plans to back, or the identities of his limited partners.
