
How Justin Ernest invested nearly $400M into hot startups without a traditional VC fund
Quick Answer
Justin Ernest, founder of Sabertooth VC, strategically invested nearly $400 million in startups like Anthropic, Anduril, and SpaceX by leveraging a captive network of limited partners instead of establishing a traditional venture fund.
Quick Take
This approach allowed him to bypass lengthy fundraising processes and directly support innovative companies in high-growth sectors.
Key Points
- Ernest invested nearly $400 million without a formal VC fund.
- Key investments include startups like Anthropic, Anduril, and SpaceX.
- Utilized a captive network of limited partners for funding.
- Bypassed traditional fundraising processes for quicker investments.
- Focused on high-growth sectors with significant innovation potential.
Source Excerpt
Instead of spending a year raising a formal venture fund, the Sabertooth VC founder used a captive network of LPs to invest in startups like Anthropic, Anduril, and SpaceX.
Want this in your inbox every morning?
Daily brief at your local 8am — bilingual EN/中文, free.
More from TechCrunch
See more →
AI chip startup Etched defies skeptics, hits $10.3B valuation from big-name investors
AI chip startup Etched has achieved a $10.3 billion valuation after a $300 million Series C funding round, led by Sequoia and supported by notable investors like Andreessen Horowitz. The company claims to have developed innovative low-voltage chips for AI inference, significantly enhancing performance and reducing costs, with $1 billion in orders already booked.

