A Foundery is an AI-forward venture studio that leverages artificial intelligence to enhance and streamline our operations. We believe in full transparency about how and where we use AI in our interactions with founders, applicants, and visitors.
1. Our AI Agents
A Foundery currently employs three AI agents that may interact with you:
- Ember — Primary AI assistant for general inquiries, program information, and initial applicant engagement. You'll encounter Ember through our website chat widget.
- Ember Sr — Senior AI agent for deeper program discussions and advanced applicant support. You may interact with Ember Sr through email and chat interactions.
- Bryan Newmanai — AI agent supporting outreach, follow-ups, and applicant communications. Bryan primarily communicates via email.
2. Software & Tools
In addition to our AI agents, A Foundery uses Anvil — our Founders-in-Residence (FIR) program onboarding and management platform at anvil.afoundery.com — to streamline the application, onboarding, and program management process for founders.
3. Why We Use Human-Like Names and Avatars
- Our AI agents use human-like names and, in some cases, profile photos or avatars to create a natural, approachable conversational experience.
- This is a deliberate design choice to reduce friction and make interactions feel welcoming — not to deceive.
- We want to be completely transparent: these are AI-powered agents, not human team members.
4. Human Oversight
- Our human team actively reviews AI agent conversations on an ongoing basis.
- AI agents are continuously improved through human feedback and supervision.
- Any sensitive decisions (application outcomes, funding discussions, legal matters) are always handled by human team members.
- You can request to speak with a human team member at any time.
5. What Our AI Agents Will Never Do
- Ask you for payment, credit card information, or any financial transactions
- Request sensitive financial credentials (bank accounts, SSNs, etc.)
- Make binding commitments or contractual obligations on behalf of A Foundery
- Engage in deceptive practices or misrepresent their capabilities
- Share your personal information with unauthorized third parties
6. Your Data in AI Interactions
- Conversations with our AI agents may be recorded, stored, and reviewed to improve service quality.
- Your data is handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
- We do not sell or share conversation data with third parties for advertising purposes.
7. Continuous Improvement
- Our AI agents learn and improve every day through human-guided training.
- We are committed to responsible AI use and regularly audit our agents' behavior.
- If you ever experience an interaction that feels inappropriate or concerning, please let us know.
8. Contact Us
If you have questions about our AI practices, prefer to interact exclusively with human team members, or want to report a concern, contact us at hello@afoundery.com.
9. Disclaimer
While we strive for accuracy, AI agents may occasionally provide incomplete or imperfect responses. All important information should be verified through official A Foundery channels or human team members.