She became a VC for a green card. Now she's backing billion-dollar AI bets. (www.businessinsider.com)

Oana Olteanu, a former partner at SignalFire, has launched her own seed venture capital firm, Motive Force, aimed at backing early-stage startups in AI, enterprise software, and robotics. Despite the challenging market environment where funding is increasingly concentrated among larger firms, Olteanu's unique approach focuses on identifying overlooked founders and technical outsiders before they formally seek investment. This strategy is underscored by her successful bets on unicorn startups such as Poolside and MaintainX, showcasing her ability to recognize potential early on. Olteanu's journey into venture capital is marked by her inspiring background, having overcome significant barriers to enter the tech scene. Her firm, named Motive Force, signifies her mission to empower founders who embody determination and innovation, regardless of their traditional credentials. By targeting startups led by individuals driven by necessity and creativity, Olteanu aims to disrupt the current venture landscape, which she believes often overlooks these outliers. This not only highlights the need for diversity in founder backgrounds but also emphasizes the potential for growth in unexploited niches within the AI/ML ecosystem.