# Ash Fontana at Zetta Venture Partners > Ash Fontana, Investor Coach at Zetta Venture Partners. 3 investments on record. The rounds they were named in and the filings that name them, each with its... Source: https://millionrounds.com/person/ash-fontana (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article) Milan, CH · Partner # Ash Fontana Investor Coach at [Zetta Venture Partners](https://millionrounds.com/fund/zetta-venture-partners) Latest rounds - **Gridspace** Venture Jan 2015 - **Sliced Investing** Seed · $2M Nov 2014 - **Mixmax** Seed · $1.5M Oct 2014 Backs *Financial Services* *Martech* *AI* *Software* Profile summary - **Rounds named:** 3 last Jan 2015 - **Filings:** 1 with regulators - **Podcasts:** 6 +5 mentions - **Books:** 1 written What this record rests on - ✓ **Named in rounds** 3 rounds name them - ✓ **On filings** 1 filing with a regulator - ✓ **Linked to a firm** At Zetta Venture Partners - **Claimed** Not claimed yet Titles come from filings their firm signed. [Correct or remove](https://millionrounds.com/corrections?person=ash-fontana)[Is this you? Claim it](https://millionrounds.com/claim?person=ash-fontana) ## The firm [**Zetta Venture Partners** VC firm · US **9** cheques in 12 months **78** all time **5** led deploying](https://millionrounds.com/fund/zetta-venture-partners) ## Rounds they were named in - **Rounds:** 3 - **Led:** 0 - **Disclosed:** $3.5M - **Active:** 2014–15 2015 - [Gridspace](https://millionrounds.com/company/gridspace) *Venture* *US* Jan 2015 Joined · +4 investors · historical 2014 - [Sliced Investing](https://millionrounds.com/company/sliced-investing) *Seed* **$2M** *US* Nov 2014 Joined · +10 investors · historical - [Mixmax](https://millionrounds.com/company/mixmax) *Seed* **$1.5M** *US* Oct 2014 Joined · +4 investors · historical By stage - Seed **2** - Venture **1** What they backed Financial Services **1** Martech **1** AI **1** Software **1** Alongside - [Great Oaks Venture Capital *2*](https://millionrounds.com/fund/great-oaks-venture-capital) - [Marc Bell Ventures *2*](https://millionrounds.com/fund/marc-bell-capital) - [Adam Pisoni *1*](https://millionrounds.com/fund/adam-pisoni) - [Amit Avner *1*](https://millionrounds.com/fund/amit-avner) - [Aslanoba Capital *1*](https://millionrounds.com/fund/aslanoba-capital) - [Data Collective *1*](https://millionrounds.com/fund/data-collective) - [FLOODGATE *1*](https://millionrounds.com/fund/floodgate) - [Harrison Metal *1*](https://millionrounds.com/fund/harrison-metal) Rounds where a report named this person rather than a firm, matched on name: read it as a strong hint, not proof, since people share names. ## Where they are named on record Filings - SEC Form D · Company raising **Constructor.io Corp** Director since 2017 Each row is a document a firm filed with a regulator: somebody signed it, and it carries a date. ## Also at Zetta Venture Partners - [**Jocelyn Goldfein** Managing Director *2 rounds*](https://millionrounds.com/person/jocelyn-goldfein) - [**Mark Gorenberg** Chair *2 rounds*](https://millionrounds.com/person/mark-gorenberg) - [**Apoorva Pandhi** Managing Director *0 rounds*](https://millionrounds.com/person/apoorva-pandhi) - [**Cathrin Stickney** Founder and Chief Product Officer *0 rounds*](https://millionrounds.com/person/cathrin-stickney) - [**Dylan Reid** Managing Director *0 rounds*](https://millionrounds.com/person/dylan-reid) - [**Ivy Nguyen** Investor *0 rounds*](https://millionrounds.com/person/ivy-nguyen) - [**James Alcorn** Partner *0 rounds*](https://millionrounds.com/person/james-alcorn) ## Their book - The AI-First Company: How to Compete and Win with Artificial Intelligence Ash Fontana · 2021 3.28 from 110 ratings on Goodreads About the book Artificial Intelligence is transforming every industry, but if you want to win with AI, you have to put it first on your priority list. AI-First companies are the only trillion-dollar companies, and soon they will dominate even more industries, more definitively than ever… On AmazonListen on Audible - Find the books for what you are building, or how you invest. [Open the Reading List](https://millionrounds.com/reading-list) As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. ## Hear them before you pitch them - [The Further, Faster Podcast](https://millionrounds.com/podcasts/further-faster) · 21 Oct 2025 · 33 min Ash Fontana on AI, Investing, and How To Build Data Learning Effects | The Further, Faster Podcast With [Ash Fontana](https://millionrounds.com/person/ash-fontana) Their book [The AI-First Company](https://millionrounds.com/person/ash-fontana#books) About this episode Bede More sits down with Ash Fontana, investor, author of 'The AI First Company' to explore the tech shaping the future. From early bets on Canva, Kaggle, and Tractable to building AI-first companies, Ash shares insider insights on AI, breakthrough technologies, and what it takes to back… More on the show's page Listen on Apple PodcastsThe show's page - [The Full Ratchet](https://millionrounds.com/podcasts/full-ratchet) · 9 Aug 2021 · 55 min 294. How to Value AI, Data Network Effects vs. Data Learning Effects, and Evolution of the VC Asset Class (Ash Fontana) With [Ash Fontana](https://millionrounds.com/person/ash-fontana) Their book [The AI-First Company](https://millionrounds.com/person/ash-fontana#books) Mentions [Zetta Venture Partners](https://millionrounds.com/fund/zetta-venture-partners) About this episode Ash Fontana of Zetta Venture Partners joins Nick to discuss How to Value AI, Data Network Effects vs. Data Learning Effects, and Evolution of the VC Asset Class. In this episode we cover: What was the inspiration for the new book? What's the difference between a Data Network Effect and a DLE… More on the show's page Listen on Apple PodcastsThe show's page - [Village Global Podcast](https://millionrounds.com/podcasts/village-global) · 13 May 2021 · 56 min How To Build an AI-First Company with Ash Fontana With [Ash Fontana](https://millionrounds.com/person/ash-fontana) Their book [The AI-First Company](https://millionrounds.com/person/ash-fontana#books) Mentions [Zetta Venture Partners](https://millionrounds.com/fund/zetta-venture-partners) About this episode Ash Fontana (@ashfontana), author of The AI-First Company and partner at Zetta Venture Partners, joined Erik for a fireside chat for Villagers in May 2021. They discussed: - Why AI creates defensibility and a true, compounding, first-mover advantage. - Why AI should be part of all conversations at… More on the show's page Listen on Apple PodcastsThe show's page - [The Full Ratchet](https://millionrounds.com/podcasts/full-ratchet) · 30 Apr 2020 · 53 min 220. Crisis Coverage w/ Ash Fontana - The AI Investing Playbook; Why "Dev Tools" for Data Scientists is the Next Great Opportunity; When Fund Returns Don't Fit the Power Law; and Ash's Favorite Investment Heuristic from Naval Ravikant With [Ash Fontana](https://millionrounds.com/person/ash-fontana) Their book [The AI-First Company](https://millionrounds.com/person/ash-fontana#books) Mentions [Naval Ravikant](https://millionrounds.com/fund/naval-ravikant)[Zetta Venture Partners](https://millionrounds.com/fund/zetta-venture-partners) About this episode Ash Fontana of Zetta Venture Partners joins Nick on a special Crisis Coverage installment to discuss The AI Investing Playbook; Why "Dev Tools" for Data Scientists is the Next Great Opportunity; When Fund Returns Don't Fit the Power Law; and Ash's Favorite Investment Heuristic from Naval Ravikant.… More on the show's page Listen on Apple PodcastsThe show's page - [Village Global Podcast](https://millionrounds.com/podcasts/village-global) · 17 Dec 2019 · 50 min Ash Fontana and Leo Polovets on Data Moats and the Future of Venture Capital With [Ash Fontana](https://millionrounds.com/person/ash-fontana) Their book [The AI-First Company](https://millionrounds.com/person/ash-fontana#books) Mentions [Leo Polovets](https://millionrounds.com/fund/leo-polovets)[Susa Ventures](https://millionrounds.com/fund/susa-ventures) About this episode Ash Fontana (@ashfontana), General Partner at Zetta, and Leo Polovets (@lpolovets), General Partner at Susa Ventures, join Erik on this episode. They Discuss: - What does the future of venture capital look like? - Which firms are leading venture capital and who will be the top venture firms 10… More on the show's page Listen on Apple PodcastsThe show's page - [The Twenty Minute VC](https://millionrounds.com/podcasts/20vc) · 18 Nov 2019 · 40 min 20VC: Ash Fontana on The 5 Core Characteristics That Make Data Valuable, What VCs Can Learn From Italian Craftsmen and Howard Marks & The Importance of Vertical Integration In Scaling Today With [Ash Fontana](https://millionrounds.com/person/ash-fontana) Their book [The AI-First Company](https://millionrounds.com/person/ash-fontana#books) Mentions [Howard Marks](https://millionrounds.com/fund/howard-marks)[AngelList](https://millionrounds.com/fund/angellist)[Zetta Venture Partners](https://millionrounds.com/fund/zetta-venture-partners) About this episode Ash Fontana is a Managing Director @ Zetta Venture Partners, the fund that invests in AI-first companies with B2B business models. As for Ash, prior to Zetta he started the money side of AngelList, where, he launched online investing, created the first startup 'index fund'. He also ran special… More on the show's page Listen on Apple PodcastsThe show's page ### Mentioned in Episodes that name Ash Fontana in their description, which is not the same as being on them. - [The Twenty Minute VC](https://millionrounds.com/podcasts/20vc) · 13 Sept 2019 · 32 min 20VC: Clearbit Founder Alex MacCaw on How To Successfully Negotiate with Investors, What Value-Add Do VCs Really Bring & Why You Should Only Have Operators on Your Board With [Alex MacCaw](https://millionrounds.com/person/alex-maccaw) Mentions [Battery Ventures](https://millionrounds.com/fund/battery-ventures)[First Round Capital](https://millionrounds.com/fund/first-round-capital)[Ilya Sukhar](https://millionrounds.com/fund/ilya-sukhar)[Josh Buckley](https://millionrounds.com/fund/josh-buckley)[Naval Ravikant](https://millionrounds.com/fund/naval-ravikant)[Zetta Venture Partners](https://millionrounds.com/fund/zetta-venture-partners) About this episode Alex MacCaw is the Founder & CEO @ Clearbit, the marketing data engine for all of your customer interactions, from customer understanding to prospect identification to personalising every sales and marketing interaction. To date, Alex has raised $17m in financing from some incredible people… More on the show's page Listen on Apple PodcastsThe show's page - [The Full Ratchet](https://millionrounds.com/podcasts/full-ratchet) · 18 Jan 2019 · 13 min Investor Stories 104: Lessons Learned (Fontana, Kimmel, Farmer) Mentions [Ash Fontana](https://millionrounds.com/person/ash-fontana)[Chris Farmer](https://millionrounds.com/person/chris-farmer)[Wayne Kimmel](https://millionrounds.com/person/wayne-kimmel) About this episode On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Ash Fontana Wayne Kimmel Chris Farmer Each investor illustrates a critical lesson learned about startup investing and how it's changed their approach. To listen more, please visit… More on the show's page Listen on Apple PodcastsThe show's page - [The Full Ratchet](https://millionrounds.com/podcasts/full-ratchet) · 1 Oct 2018 · 9 min Investor Stories 96: What's Next (Ascher, Medved, Fontana) Mentions [Ash Fontana](https://millionrounds.com/person/ash-fontana)[Brian Ascher](https://millionrounds.com/person/brian-ascher)[Joe Medved](https://millionrounds.com/person/joe-medved) About this episode On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Brian Ascher Joe Medved Ash Fontana Each investor discusses sectors, drivers and/or trends that may have significant impact in the future and are potentially positioned for outsized-returns. More on the show's page Listen on Apple PodcastsThe show's page - [Village Global Podcast](https://millionrounds.com/podcasts/village-global) · 7 Sept 2018 · 1h 13m Fintech Fridays: Ali Hamed on Lending, Crypto and Venture Capital With [Ali Hamed](https://millionrounds.com/person/ali-hamed) Mentions [Zetta Venture Partners](https://millionrounds.com/fund/zetta-venture-partners)[Ash Fontana](https://millionrounds.com/person/ash-fontana)[Brett Bolkowy](https://millionrounds.com/person/brett-bolkowy) About this episode Erik and co-host for this episode Ash Fontana (@ashfontana) of Zetta Venture Partners interview Ali Hamed (@AliBHamed), investor at CoVenture. Ali gives us a primer on the online lending space and compares and contrasts it to offline lending. He explains why payday lenders with astronomical APRs… More on the show's page Listen on Apple PodcastsThe show's page - [The Full Ratchet](https://millionrounds.com/podcasts/full-ratchet) · 12 Jul 2018 · 10 min Investor Stories 91: Why I Passed (Anderson, Fontana, Duovos) Mentions [Ash Fontana](https://millionrounds.com/person/ash-fontana) About this episode On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Sarah Anderson Ash Fontana Chris Duovos Each investor highlights a situation where they decided not to invest, why they passed, and how it played out. To listen more, please visit… More on the show's page Listen on Apple PodcastsThe show's page Episodes of [the shows we follow](https://millionrounds.com/podcasts), matched by name. Not them? [Tell us](https://millionrounds.com/corrections?person=ash-fontana). ## Find people like Ash Filter every partner and angel by firm, kind, market and whether we watched them invest. Free with an account. 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