Founders Fund: The Contrarian Path in 2025

Founders Fund, led by Peter Thiel and a team of legendary investors, is famous for its manifesto: "We wanted flying cars, instead we got 140 characters." They don't want incremental improvements; they want the future. In 2025, pitching Founders Fund requires a vision that is both technically audacious and philosophically grounded.

The Manifesto: Betting on Big Problems

Founders Fund is known for investing in "hard tech"—space, defense, biotech, and breakthroughs in energy. In 2025, their AI thesis is equally bold.

Zero to One

Aligned with Thiel's "Zero to One" philosophy, they are looking for monopolies. How is your company creating a new category rather than competing in an old one?

AI in the Physical World

While others are focused on chatbots, Founders Fund is betting on AI that builds things—AI for robotics, drug discovery, and nuclear fusion. If your AI has a hardware or biological component, you are in their sweet spot.

Your Contrarian Thesis: What Do You Believe?

One of the most famous questions in venture capital is the Thiel question: "What important truth do very few people agree with you on?"

Your "Secret"

In 2025, you need to have a "secret"—a truth about the future that the rest of the market is ignoring. Founders Fund invests in founders who have a distinct, even controversial, worldview.

Defensibility through Technology

They don't care about "marketing moats." They care about "technology moats." Can you build something that is 10x better than the status quo and nearly impossible to replicate?

Pitching Founders Fund in 2025

1. Skip the Fluff. They have a low tolerance for buzzwords and "VC-speak." Be direct and technically honest.
2. Show the Future. Use your pitch to paint a picture of how the world will look in 2035 because of your company.
3. Be a "Difficult" Founder. Founders Fund has a reputation for backing intense, sometimes idiosyncratic founders who are mono-maniacally focused on their mission.

Conclusion

Securing an investment from Founders Fund isn't just about the capital; it's a validation of your vision for the future of humanity. It's a partnership for the boldest of builders. At Orkust Capital, we share this thirst for "World-Changing" technology, which is why we act as a co-founder for the most ambitious among us.

Building the future? Let's build it together with Orkust.