From Vision to the Oscars Shortlist: Our Journey With Justin “Rei” Ching and Shutterbird
Shutterbird, the moving short film by Justin “Rei” Ching, has reached the Oscars shortlist consideration stage—and we’re honored to have journeyed with him as executive producers. At Hickory Falls Ventures, supporting Rei has been a window into the creative process, the power of authentic Asian American storytelling, and the profound privilege of helping a deeply human story take flight.
Celebrating Limitless: A Vision Realized
Meta’s acquisition of Limitless marks a meaningful milestone for one of Hickory Falls Ventures’ early Series A investments. Formerly known as Rewind, the company evolved from personal AI recall software into a pioneering AI-wearable platform—embodying the bold, human-centric computing thesis we believed in from the start. This exit not only validates the team’s vision and execution but also underscores the accelerating shift toward ambient, AI-native devices.
Asia AI Frontiers: Scaling Asia’s AI Startups for Global Impact
When I moved to Taiwan, I wanted to stay connected to the global startup community and help build the ecosystem here. Recently, I had the privilege of moderating Asia AI Frontiers: Japan × Korea × Taiwan — Scaling Asia’s AI Startups for Global Impact, co-hosted by SparkLabs Taiwan, Z Venture Capital, and LINE Protostar.
It was an inspiring first step into Asia’s tech scene — filled with energy, collaboration, and a shared vision for scaling AI innovation across the region.
Hickory Falls Ventures Invests in Starlab — Securing the Future of Low Earth Orbit
At Hickory Falls Ventures, our space investment thesis has been clear from the beginning: the next decade will define humanity’s foothold in orbit, and the players who build the infrastructure, logistics, and intelligence layer of space will shape the future of both exploration and security. Today, we’re excited to announce our investment in Starlab, a next-generation commercial space station that we believe is uniquely positioned to lead in this new era.
Charting the Frontier: Voyager Technologies Goes Public, Reinforcing the New Space Economy
At Hickory Falls Ventures, we invest with conviction where bold vision meets accelerating momentum. Today, we celebrate a milestone that encapsulates that philosophy: the IPO of Voyager Technologies, a foundational player in the rapidly expanding space economy.
Decoding the Future: Andrew Chen Talks AI, Venture, and Space with Alfa AI's Alfie Whattam
We’re excited to share that our Managing Partner, Andrew Chen, recently joined Alfie Whattam—founder of Alfa AI and podcast host of Decoded —for a wide-ranging conversation exploring the future of artificial intelligence, early-stage venture capital, and how to prioritize boldly across multiple companies and categories.
Investing in the Future of Space Exploration
The space economy is no longer a distant dream—it is a rapidly expanding reality, poised to reshape the future of humanity. At Hickory Falls Ventures, we are investing in the critical technologies that will drive sustainable space exploration, resource utilization, and infrastructure development. As Earth's natural resources become increasingly strained, the need to look beyond our planet has never been more urgent.
From asteroid mining with Karman+ to inflatable space habitats with Max Space, we are backing pioneers solving the biggest challenges in space commercialization. Our investments in in-orbit refueling with Spacium and modular space construction with Voyager Technologies are setting the foundation for a thriving in-space economy.
With the space industry projected to grow from $630 billion today to over $3 trillion by 2040, we believe that the next frontier of economic expansion is beyond Earth's atmosphere. Join us as we help build a future where space is not just a destination, but an ecosystem for sustainable growth, innovation, and exploration.
Building a Better Future with Hickory Falls Ventures
At Hickory Falls Ventures, we are investing in more than just companies—we are investing in a better future. Through venture investing, strategic advisory, non-profit support, and mentorship, we are committed to tackling the world’s most pressing challenges and achieving outcomes that matter for generations to come. From AI and health tech to space exploration and people-focused solutions, our investments are directed at enhancing human productivity, fostering global equity, improving health, and creating safer, more connected communities. The challenges are vast, but so are the opportunities. Join us in shaping a more sustainable, innovative, and resilient world for the future.
