↓ why
↓ how
↓ who
↓ 2AFF
↓ build

venture creation for the experienced

next step ventures

we are building a venture studio for founders with decades of real-world experience.

We partner with 2nd-act founders: operators, executives, and specialists who have spent their careers inside large organizations and industries.

They understand how systems work, where inefficiency lives, and where change creates value. Many have already started exploring solutions to those problems; we help turn that insight into scalable ventures.

why

experience compounds — and the data proves it.

Founders in their 40s are ~2× more likely to build high-growth firms than founders in their 20s. Survival and growth rates rise with age into the late 50s. —NBER

Founders in their 40s and 50s consistently outperform younger peers on growth and longevity, yet they receive little focus or support.

Most of today’s venture ecosystem—funds, accelerators, and studios—is tuned for early-career founders, serial entrepreneurs, or those chasing hype-cycle technologies.

We see an opportunity to redesign how early-stage building happens for experienced founders who think and operate differently.

They understand their markets and customers, know where friction hides, and see opportunities others overlook. What they need beyond capital is a true co-builder—one that embeds the right expertise across product, engineering, brand, design, operations, finance, and talent to bring their hypothesis to market faster and smarter.

how

the fmr venture studio

our process is selective and pragmatic, built for founders who want to turn their experience into durable, investable ventures.

fmr» focuses on pre-seed to seed-stage ventures where founders have already done some validation and are ready to co-build. Our model combines strategic discipline with hands-on build capability through three connected stages.

1. discovery & evaluation

We engage with founders who bring early evidence and a defined point of view. Together, we refine the opportunity, assess the market potential, and determine whether there’s strong founder–studio alignment. Once the concept meets our internal readiness criteria, we move to formal venture formation.

2. formation & capitalization

We help founders establish the company structure, governance, and initial operating foundation. At this stage, we selectively invest capital and bring in specialized operators to accelerate the early build. Our goal is to create companies built on sound fundamentals before scaling design or growth functions.

3. venture design & build

We co-develop the product, brand, and go-to-market engine—grounded in the business model proven through earlier validation. This phase brings together the core team, executes early pilots or customer engagements, and establishes momentum for future funding rounds.

who

operators building with operators

fmr» is being built by people who have spent decades leading growth, transformation, and brand initiatives across global enterprises, investment platforms, and emerging ventures.

we understand complex systems, investor dynamics, and what it takes to turn strategy into execution.

jae hwang

co-founder, strategist & operator

25 years leading strategy, brand, and growth initiatives for Fortune 500 companies, investment firms, and emerging ventures.

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diego kolsky

co-founder, design & experience architect

Designer and educator with three decades building global brands, products, and experiences that connect strategy to execution.

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