On the TechTO stage ×1
First seen on the TechTO stage in 2020. Every talk is searchable — ask the archive about Jordan ↗
In their words
We honestly believed AI is the most disruptive technology since electricity. It's going to disrupt every business, every industry. It's going to create new giant businesses in the industries.
Our goal was be the leading AI investment firm in the world. But what was really important to us was be able to build giant companies in Canada.
When we first pitched it to Jeff Hinton, it was me and Tommy and Jeff and a guy named Rich Zemel, another professor at U of T, sitting there talking about it, and Jeff saying, yeah, it sounds like a good idea, but I've tried this a hundred times.
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Around the web ×1
Quick answers
What is Jordan Jacobs known for?
Co-founding Radical Ventures, now one of the largest AI-focused venture firms outside the United States, and before that Layer 6 AI, which TD Bank Group bought in January 2018. He is also a co-founder of Toronto's Vector Institute.
How did the Vector Institute start?
As a pitch to Geoffrey Hinton. Jacobs told TechTO the founding conversation was him, Tomi Poutanen, Hinton and Richard Zemel in a room; Hinton said he had tried it a hundred times and would join only if the others did the work. It launched in March 2017 with about $150 million.
Why does Radical invest the way it does?
On the view that AI is the most disruptive technology since electricity, and that the research behind it came out of Canada. Jacobs said the aim was both to be the world's leading AI investor and to have the giant companies built here.