Rajko Radovanović

Uncharted Labs is a generative AI startup founded by three former Google DeepMind researchers: David Ding, Charlie Nash, and Yaroslav Ganin. The company, based in New York, focuses on advancing AI technology, particularly in areas like AI-generated images and music, building on the expertise the founders developed while working on projects like Googles Imagen and Lyria. The founders left Google due to frustrations with the slow pace of translating AI research into practical products and the bureaucratic challenges following the merger of Google and DeepMind. Uncharted Labs has already raised $8.5 million of a $10 million funding goal, with backing from notable investors such as Andreessen Horowitz. The startup is part of a broader trend of AI researchers leaving large tech firms to establish their own ventures, aiming to push the boundaries of AI innovation without the constraints of corporate bureaucracy. Uncharted Labs, an AI startup founded by three Google Deepmind researchers, raises $8.5 million in funding - Tech Startups](https://techstartups.com/2024/01/31/uncharted-labs-an-ai-startup-founded-by-three-google-deepmind-researchers-raises-8-5-million-in-funding/) Ex-DeepMind researchers ditch Google to speed up AI innovation with Uncharted Labs](https://the-decoder.com/ex-deepmind-researchers-ditch-google-to-speed-up-ai-innovation-with-uncharted-labs/).

The most powerful answer engine. Powering curiosity with answers backed by up-to-date sources. This is where knowledge begins.

Uncharted Labs is a generative AI startup founded by three former Google DeepMind researchers: David Ding, Charlie Nash, and Yaroslav Ganin. The company, based in New York, focuses on advancing AI technology, particularly in areas like AI-generated images and music, building on the expertise the founders developed while working on projects like Googles Imagen and Lyria. The founders left Google due to frustrations with the slow pace of translating AI research into practical products and the bureaucratic challenges following the merger of Google and DeepMind. Uncharted Labs has already raised $8.5 million of a $10 million funding goal, with backing from notable investors such as Andreessen Horowitz. The startup is part of a broader trend of AI researchers leaving large tech firms to establish their own ventures, aiming to push the boundaries of AI innovation without the constraints of corporate bureaucracy. Uncharted Labs, an AI startup founded by three Google Deepmind researchers, raises $8.5 million in funding - Tech Startups](https://techstartups.com/2024/01/31/uncharted-labs-an-ai-startup-founded-by-three-google-deepmind-researchers-raises-8-5-million-in-funding/) Ex-DeepMind researchers ditch Google to speed up AI innovation with Uncharted Labs](https://the-decoder.com/ex-deepmind-researchers-ditch-google-to-speed-up-ai-innovation-with-uncharted-labs/).

The most powerful answer engine. Powering curiosity with answers backed by up-to-date sources. This is where knowledge begins.

Founded in 2009 by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, Andreessen Horowitz (known as "a16z") is a venture capital firm that backs bold entrepreneurs building the future through technology. We are stage agnostic: We invest in seed to late-stage technology companies, across the consumer, enterprise, bio/healthcare, crypto, fintech and games spaces. a16z is defined by respect for the entrepreneur and the entrepreneurial company building process; we know what it’s like to be in the founder’s shoes. The firm is led by general partners, many of whom are former founders/operators, CEOs, or CTOs of successful technology companies, and who have domain expertise ranging from biology to crypto to distributed systems to security to marketplaces to financial services. We aim to connect entrepreneurs, investors, executives, engineers, academics, industry experts, and others in the technology ecosystem. We have built a network of experts including technical and executive talent; top media and marketing resources; Fortune 500/Global 2000 companies; as well as other technology decision makers, influencers, and key opinion leaders. a16z uses this network as part of our commitment to help our portfolio companies grow their business, so our operating teams provide entrepreneurs with access to expertise and insights across the entire spectrum of company building. https://a16z.com/portfolio/ https://a16z.com/podcasts/ https://a16z.com/videos/ http://a16z.com/subscribe See Disclosures: https://a16z.com/disclosures/

New Enterprise Associates, Inc. (NEA) is a global venture capital firm focused on helping entrepreneurs build transformational businesses across multiple stages, sectors and geographies. Founded in 1977, NEA has more than $28 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2025 and invests in technology and healthcare companies at all stages in a company’s lifecycle, from seed stage through IPO. The firms long track record of investing includes 284 portfolio company IPOs and more than 500 mergers and acquisitions. For more information, please visit www.nea.com.