What should people be building right now?
Hey folks —
We’re putting out a call.
Every week, Open Scout features early-stage startups that feel like a signal. Sometimes it’s a product with an edge. Other times it’s a team with a point of view that hits the right moment.
Now we want to hear from you.
If you're building something interesting—or know someone who is—fill this out: https://tally.so/r/waO0Q9
Here are a few areas we’re especially curious about:
Post-LLM infra: inference optimization, fine-tuning at scale, eval stacks
Data infra for edge environments: constrained compute, intermittent networks
Interfaces for agent orchestration (not just wrappers)
Vertical devtools for hardware–software co-design
Energy + compute primitives, especially outside the U.S.
Bio x ML where the model isn’t the moat
Global infra: identity, risk, onboarding, payments at the edges
We’re not looking for press releases or pitch decks. Just the kinds of companies we’d want to write about before anyone else is paying attention.
We’ll pick a handful to feature over the next few weeks. Our audience includes founders, operators, and investors across tech.
Again, it’s just one question: What are you building?
A Message from Ignition
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If you’re keeping an eye on what investors are leaning into lately, here’s a snapshot:
YC’s Spring 2025 Request for Startups is full of signals—lots of infrastructure and AI-first ideas, including:
A secure AI app store
New datacenter infrastructure
Compliance and audit tools for regulated markets
A “DocuSign 2.0” for modern agreements
Browser and desktop automation
AI personal staff—agents for everyday tasks
Devtools for AI agents
Infra for test-time inference
Open source AI with commercial upside
Tools that treat AI agents as the primary users (not humans)
And a call for founders with systems-level programming experience
Over at a16z, the Speedrun and Big Ideas lists include:
Vibe creation platforms (AI tools to make games, stories, music)
Next-gen entertainment—XR, gaming, immersive content
Creative AI tools for builders and storytellers
Infra for AI-native software
Bio meets software
And the ongoing theme of American Dynamism
The themes change every season. But one thing stays the same: there’s always room for a sharp team with a clear idea of where the world is going.
We’re looking for those.
A Message from Masterworks
Is a “Trumpcession” on the Horizon? Here’s What Many Investors Have Used to Diversify
Data suggests market uncertainty may be back, with analysts debating if a recession—or “Trumpcession”—could be looming. When sticky inflation, high interest rates, and global trade tensions rise, many investors often diversify their portfolios accordingly.
So, what have the world’s top investors bought in times like these? Surprisingly, they devote part of their exposure to alternative assets—including blue-chip contemporary art. Unlike stocks, which can swing wildly in either direction one day to the next, art has historically been uncorrelated to popular assets. In fact, even as tariff news began to rock markets, Sotheby’s and Christie’s recently hosted two headline art auctions.
Masterworks, the leading art investing platform, has made it possible for everyday investors to invest in multimillion-dollar artwork offerings featuring legends like Picasso and Banksy across their 450+ offerings. Each of Masterworks’ 23 exits to date has returned a profit.
Want in? Skip the waitlist here.1
Investing involves risk. Past performance is not indicative of future returns. See important disclosures at Masterworks.com/cd.