FAST — by GETTYLAB Research
Investment Thesis
FAST (by GETTYLAB) is a pre-seed deeptech co-investor that believes breakthrough innovations emerge from engineers tackling frontier problems. The fund provides fast $25K checks alongside operational support, domain expertise spanning AI, robotics, space, and biotech, and credibility within the deeptech ecosystem. Rather than operating as a traditional standalone fund, FAST functions as an in-house capital product of GETTYLAB, giving portfolio companies access to GETTYLAB's research capabilities, operational network, and cross-portfolio learning.
Investment Approach
FAST differentiates itself through:
Speed and Efficiency: The fund writes rapid pre-seed checks without lengthy due diligence, enabling founders to move fast. The $25K standard check size is deliberately chosen to be meaningful but not burdensome, allowing FAST to deploy capital quickly and back many teams.
Frontier Domain Expertise: GETTYLAB operates across cutting-edge technology domains including AI/ML, robotics and automation, aerospace and defense, semiconductors and hardware, biotech and life sciences, climate and clean energy, and developer tools and infrastructure. This breadth allows FAST to understand complex technical problems and provide strategic guidance.
Co-Investment Model: FAST partners alongside top-tier firms rather than leading rounds. This co-investment approach means founders secure capital from FAST while maintaining relationships with tier-one investors, reducing pressure on FAST to conduct exhaustive diligence while building a strong portfolio through association.
Deeptech Credibility: GETTYLAB's operational experience and research capabilities give FAST credibility in the deeptech ecosystem. Portfolio companies benefit from being backed by investors who understand the technical, regulatory, and commercialization challenges of frontier technologies.
Stage Focus
FAST focuses exclusively on pre-seed and seed investments:
- Pre-seed: $25K-$100K for early-stage teams with strong technical founders
- Seed: Occasional participation alongside lead investors
- No follow-on strategy: FAST provides seed capital; other investors lead future rounds
The fund targets engineer-founded teams building in deeptech verticals, particularly those with:
- Strong technical founders (PhDs, industry veterans, proven builders)
- Novel technical approaches to frontier problems
- Clear paths to defensible intellectual property
- Early traction or compelling proof-of-concept
Check Size
Typical investment: $5K - $100K
- Standard check: $25K
- Range driven by company stage, team strength, and use of capital
- Intentionally small to enable rapid deployment and portfolio diversification
- Each check is meaningful enough to provide signal of confidence
Lead Tendency
Co-investor: FAST does not lead rounds. The fund participates alongside tier-one investors, providing capital and strategic support without assuming lead responsibility. This allows rapid deployment without extensive due diligence and keeps portfolio companies connected to marquee investors.
Recent Activity and Fund Status
Based on available data, FAST has made numerous pre-seed investments across its deeptech verticals. Notable portfolio companies include:
- ProGlove (robotics/logistics): Smart work gloves for warehouse automation
- Accion Systems (aerospace): In-space propulsion systems for satellites
- Manifold Bio (biotech): AI-enabled drug discovery platform
- Rosebud Biosciences (biotech): Synthetic biology research
- Modelwise (AI/software): Business intelligence platform
- Electric Era (climate): Electric vehicle infrastructure
- dolaGon (robotics): Automation solutions
- PhaseV (robotics): Quantum vacuum power systems
- Arbor Energy (climate): Advanced energy storage
The fund appears to be continuously deploying capital across frontier domains, with high activity in AI/ML, robotics, space tech, and biotech startups. Recent investments suggest active sourcing and a willingness to back teams in emerging categories like in-space propulsion, synthetic biology, and AI-native software.
Geographic Focus
Primary regions:
- United States: SF Bay Area, NYC, Boston
- Europe: London, Berlin, Paris, Tel Aviv (for deeptech talent clusters)
- Selective International: Open to exceptional teams regardless of geography
The geographic distribution reflects FAST's focus on where deeptech talent concentrates—major tech hubs and engineering centers with strong academic institutions.
Team
Aniq Kassam - Founder/Managing Director
- Founded FAST as an in-house capital product of GETTYLAB
- Founder-turned-investor with deep operational experience
- Board observer at multiple portfolio companies (PhaseV, Arbor Energy, Accion Systems)
- Advisory positions include MIT Sandbox board membership
- Focus on technical mentorship and operational support for early-stage deeptech teams
The team is intentionally lean, with Kassam operating FAST as a highly efficient capital deployment vehicle. Additional operational support comes through GETTYLAB's broader team and research capabilities.
Investment Decision Process
Founder-Friendly: FAST operates with minimal paperwork and bureaucracy. Pre-seed checks are issued quickly after confirmation of team quality and technical approach.
Technical Assessment: Due diligence focuses heavily on technical merit and founder capabilities rather than market validation. Evaluators assess whether the technical approach is novel and defensible.
Portfolio Fit: FAST evaluates whether the company fits within its frontier domain expertise. Teams working on breakthrough hardware, biotech, space, or AI infrastructure are strong fits.
Decision Timeline: Rapid (typically 1-2 weeks for committed teams)
Sector Preferences
Primary sectors (canonical tags):
- aerospace_defense - Space tech, satellite propulsion, aerospace systems
- biotech_life_sciences - Synthetic biology, drug discovery, medical devices
- semiconductors_hardware - Chip design, compute hardware, specialized silicon
- robotics_automation - Industrial robotics, warehouse automation, autonomous systems
- climate_clean_energy - Clean energy infrastructure, carbon tech, sustainability
- developer_tools_infra - AI infrastructure, ML tools, computing platforms
Portfolio Characteristics
The FAST portfolio reflects deeptech diversity:
Hardware & Physical Systems: Heavy concentration in robotics, aerospace, and semiconductor companies where technical innovation creates defensible moats
AI & Software Infrastructure: Growing focus on AI-native companies and development tools, particularly those solving infrastructure problems at the frontier of AI capability
Biotech & Life Sciences: Backing teams using computational biology, synthetic biology, and novel therapeutics discovery approaches
Geographic Diversity: While US-centric, FAST maintains global perspective with investments in European and Israeli deeptech teams
Notable Exits and Returns
While FAST is a relatively young vehicle, GETTYLAB's broader portfolio includes notable exits:
- Multiple acquisitions in robotics and automation
- Biotech acquisitions by major pharma companies
- Hardware company exits to strategic acquirers
Founder Preferences
FAST backs teams with:
- Technical founders: PhDs, industry veterans (Google, Meta, SpaceX), experienced builders
- Problem obsession: Founders deeply committed to solving frontier problems
- Coachability: Willingness to learn from advisors and other founders
- Collaborative spirit: Founders who engage with co-investors and portfolio network
- Execution focus: Ability to move fast and iterate quickly
Warm Introduction Requirements
Helpful but not required: FAST accepts cold outreach from strong teams but warm introductions from known advisors accelerate conversation.
Anti-Thesis
FAST does NOT invest in:
- Me-too consumer apps
- Traditional SaaS without deep technical differentiation
- Teams without technical founders
- Non-frontier domains lacking defensibility
- Geographic markets without technical advantages
Operational Support Model
Beyond capital, FAST provides portfolio companies with:
- Research access: GETTYLAB's deeptech research capabilities
- Network: Introductions to tier-one investors, customers, and strategic partners
- Advisory: Aniq Kassam and other experts providing operational guidance
- Co-investment relationships: Facilitation of follow-on funding with marquee investors
- Cross-portfolio learning: Connection to other FAST portfolio companies facing similar challenges
Fund Size and Status
FAST operates as an in-house capital product rather than a defined fund vehicle. This structure provides flexibility in capital deployment and allows returns to flow back through GETTYLAB. The fund is actively deploying capital and sourcing new investments continuously.