Ashley Smith closes second $25M fund

Solo general partner Ashley Smith has launched a new $25 million investment fund through Vermilion Cliffs Ventures. The capital is designated to support early-stage startups specifically focused on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. This marks the second fund raised by the firm to capitalize on the growing demand for secure AI technologies.

First reported by techcrunch.com · developing for 12 hours · techcrunch.com

Why it matters

Increased venture funding in AI security signals sustained investor confidence in the critical need for safer machine learning tools.

Context

The fund focuses on the intersection of AI development and cybersecurity infrastructure.