Nonlinear Network

The Nonlinear Network is a program within Nonlinear, an AI safety meta-charity founded in 2021 by Kat Woods and Emerson Spartz. The Network was created to solve a dual coordination problem in the AI safety funding ecosystem: project-founders struggled to find funders, and funders had difficulty discovering promising projects. The Network addresses this by acting as a clearinghouse — applicants submit a single application that is shared with all funders in the network simultaneously, rather than approaching each funder one by one. The program was announced on the EA Forum in April 2023 by Drew Spartz, Kat Woods, and Emerson Spartz, growing out of the Nonlinear Emergency Fund that launched during the FTX crisis in late 2022. Drew Spartz, who serves as Head of Incubation at Nonlinear, is the primary operator of the Network. As of its most recent rounds, the Network has over 60 funders on the platform. Funders remain anonymous until they decide to fund a project. Most funders give in the five-figure range annually, though some give six to eight figures. Previous funding rounds deployed approximately $1.5 million and $1.2 million respectively. Acceptance rates vary between 2 and 10 percent depending on the round. Eligibility is broad: applicants must be working on something that could feasibly affect AI existential or s-risks, directly or indirectly, and projects can be for-profit or nonprofit. A panel of expert reviewers comments on applications to help funders evaluate opportunities and reduce uncertainty. Applications have historically opened every four to six months.

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