FOV Ventures: investing in 100x better computers

Data volumes have grown substantially with the rapid rise of generative AI, increasing demands on mobile data networks, and crypto mining. In fact, by the end of 2025, the data industry is expected to consume 20% of the world’s entire energy supply, as emerging technologies continue to push the boundaries of what we need from computers.

The main performance bottleneck today is the central processing unit, the CPU, or the brain of a computer. CPUs are responsible for processing data, and as data volumes increase, the demand for more powerful and efficient CPUs grows to handle larger datasets. Current solutions, such as adding more ‘brains’ (cores) to the CPU or using graphics processing units (GPUs) to help out, only go so far and come with high costs and increased energy use.

So what if we could enhance CPU performance 100x?

Enter the era of next generation SuperCPUs, and FOV Ventures latest investment Flow Computing, who emerge from stealth with a world leading CPU design. Flow’s innovation, called Thick-control-flow, enables CPUs to run up to 100 times faster. This is achieved by processing many tasks at the same time in an efficient way, without needing extra control systems or hardware.

By being built directly into the CPU chip, Flow’s parallel processing unit (PPU) allows CPUs to process many tasks simultaneously without requiring changes to existing software or hardware designs. Essentially, it supercharges the CPU without the need for expensive and energy-intensive add-ons.

Key Benefits of Flow’s Technology

1. Incredible Speed: By enabling CPUs to work up to 100 times faster, Flow Computing meets the urgent need for speed in modern computing.

2. Seamless Compatibility: Flow’s technology is fully backward compatible, meaning it works with all existing software and applications without requiring any modifications.

3. Cost Efficiency: Flow’s solution reduces the need for additional cores or GPUs, cutting down on both costs and energy consumption.

The Strategic Fit for FOV Ventures

FOV Ventures invests in the future of compute, focusing on cutting-edge fields such as spatial computing, 3D, AI, and computer vision. Recognising the essential demand for more processing power, they are excited to support Flow as they develop their next-generation Super CPUs.

Within this framework, there are also deep tech challenges that intersect the progress of this future. Flow and their CPU improvements address another key challenge across the whole Spatial technology stack where CPU performance has become a necessity in order to meet the increasing demand for spatial algorithms, handling real-time sensor data fusion, or AR input/outputs.

General purpose computing, unless bolstered by advancements in CPU technology, will also continue to dominate the costs and limit the capabilities of AI applications. Flow has made significant strides in this area, demonstrating that PPU-powered CPUs can greatly reduce the time spent on pre and post-processing data, crucial in advancing LLMs.

What’s more, Flow’s PPU architecture will finally make locally-hosted AI a reality, which has huge implications for AI enabled VR and AI wearables.

This is a really exciting investment for the future of computing, with the era of Super CPUs dawning. We were joined on the €4M pre-seed round by Butterfly Ventures, Sarsia, Stephen Industries, Superhero Capital and Business Finland.