Who is Adeo Ressi?

Adeo Ressi is an American entrepreneur, investor, and visionary who has played a pivotal role in reshaping the landscape of venture capital, startup acceleration, and ethical investment. Known for his bold approach to societal engineering and his commitment to empowering entrepreneurs worldwide, Ressi has founded numerous organizations that contribute to both technological progress and social good. He is the co-founder and Chairman of the Founder Institute and CEo of Decile Group, and he has a deep passion for mentorship, sustainability, and global innovation.

Early Industry Involvement

Ressi's career began with a strong focus on sustainability and digital innovation. During his college years, he founded the Green Times, an environmental newspaper advocating for sustainability issues. He later co-founded Total New York, one of the first advertiser-supported websites, which was later sold to AOL as part of its Digital Cities project. This early involvement in internet media placed him at the forefront of the first wave of online business development.

Ressi's interest in private space exploration emerged through his collaboration with Elon Musk on the Life to Mars project, which aimed to inspire humanity to colonize Mars. He later joined the board of the X PRIZE Foundation, helping fund initiatives that pushed the boundaries of private space exploration.

Adeo Pioneer

• Sustainability (Arcosanti, Green Times): As a teenager, Adeo spent summers at Arcosanti, a sustainable urban project in Arizona. Later, at the University of Pennsylvania, he founded Green Times, an environmental newspaper with a circulation of 30,000, showing his early interest in sustainability and societal engineering​.

• Internet (Total New York, AOL Digital Cities): In 1994, Adeo co-founded Total New York, one of the first advertiser-supported online media platforms, which was sold to AOL and became part of AOL Digital Cities, a pioneer in digital media.

• Private Space Exploration (Life to Mars, X PRIZE): Adeo co-founded Life to Mars, a project aimed at inspiring humanity to inhabit Mars. He also served on the board of the X PRIZE Foundation, which promoted private space exploration, helping to fund initial prizes that eventually led to ventures like SpaceX​.

• Online Gaming (Game Trust): In 2002, he founded Game Trust, an online gaming infrastructure company, which was later sold to RealNetworks. Game Trust developed early gamification concepts, which influenced the casual gaming industry.

• Online Rating Systems (TheFunded): In 2007, Adeo launched TheFunded, a platform that allowed entrepreneurs to anonymously review venture capital firms, greatly increasing transparency in the venture capital world​.

• Global Acceleration (Founder Institute): In 2009, Adeo launched the Founder Institute, a global startup accelerator that operates in over 200 cities, helping thousands of entrepreneurs launch their companies and raise over $1.75 billion.

• Ethical Venture Capital (Decile Group): More recently, Adeo founded the Decile Group, which includes VC Lab. The firm promotes ethical venture capital practices and created the Mensarius Oath, a code of conduct for VCs​.

• AI (Decile Group, Founder Institute): Adeo Ressi was an early adopter of AI, incorporating it into the operations of Decile Group and Founder Institute. He spearheaded the development of vertical AI tools specifically for venture capital, creating AI-enabled SaaS platforms, and empowering startups with cutting-edge AI solutions. 

Innovations

Over his career, Adeo Ressi has pioneered several key innovations that have transformed entrepreneurship and venture capital:

• SAFE Note: A widely adopted financing tool that allows startups to raise capital without the constraints of traditional debt.

• Cornerstone LPA: A legal partnership agreement developed to simplify and standardize fund formation, ensuring transparency and ease for investors.

• Class F Shares: Designed to protect founder control, Class F shares give founders super-voting rights, allowing them to maintain influence over their companies even after external investments.

• For Purpose Framework: This framework aligns startups with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting socially responsible entrepreneurship.

• Litigation Protection: Adeo developed a "mediation-first" approach incorporated into many legal templates used globally, thereby reducing costly legal battles for startups and venture capital firms..

• Mentorship Framework: At the Founder Institute, Ressi developed a robust mentorship model that pairs entrepreneurs with experienced mentors to guide them through the startup journey.

Passions

Ressi is driven by a diverse set of passions that shape his work:

• Societal Engineering: Ressi sees himself as a "societal engineer," committed to designing systems that improve human life, whether through entrepreneurship or sustainable communities.

• Entrepreneurship: Ressi is deeply passionate about empowering founders and has mentored thousands of entrepreneurs through the Founder Institute.

• Private Space Exploration: He continues to advocate for humanity’s expansion into space, helping to fund initiatives that push private space exploration forward.

• Societal Ethics: Through the Decile Group and VC Lab, Ressi promotes ethical practices in venture capital with tools like the Mensarius Oath, advocating for responsible investment.

• Sustainability: Ressi has maintained a lifelong commitment to environmental sustainability, from his early involvement in Green Times to aligning businesses with global sustainability goals.

• Conscious Living and Spirituality: Having spent time at Arcosanti, Ressi is dedicated to exploring and promoting conscious living practices that focus on community and spiritual growth.

• Writing: Ressi is also a writer, using his platform to share his thoughts on entrepreneurship, ethics, and societal progress.

Current Work

Today, Adeo Ressi is the CEO of Decile Group, where he continues to innovate in venture capital, combining AI technology with a focus on firm success. The Decile Group platform integrates investment practices with long-term, purpose-driven goals, especially for new and emerging fund managers. Ressi is also expanding VC Lab, a venture capital accelerator program that helps new fund managers establish ethical and sustainable VC firms.

Through Decile Group and the Founder Institute, Ressi is committed to aligning venture capital with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, fostering businesses that drive positive change in the world.

Conclusion

Adeo Ressi is an influential figure in the world of entrepreneurship and venture capital. His innovations, such as the SAFE Note, Class F shares, and the Cornerstone LPA, have redefined startup funding and governance, while his leadership in promoting ethical investment continues to inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs. Ressi’s passion for societal improvement—whether through private space exploration, sustainability, or conscious living—underscores his vision for a better future. As he leads the Decile Group and Founder Institute, Ressi remains focused on empowering entrepreneurs to create businesses that are not only successful but also purpose-driven.