Clifford Harris Jr. (known as rapper T.I.) has launched Tech Cypha, which is an investment syndicate focused on tech deals according to TechCrunch. Tech Cypha’s inaugural investment was in a Los Angeles-based live streaming studio company called Culture Genesis. T.I.’s business partner Jason Geter is also on the founding team of the Tech Cypha investment syndicate.
Tech Cypha is going to invest in a combination of early, growth, and late-stage startups. And it will provide a variety of resources such as capital, marketing expertise, and “brand amplification.”
This is not the first time that Geter and Harris invested in a tech company. About twelve years ago, Geter and Harris invested in a company called Streetcred.com, which was a site where people could share their opinions on street culture. That deal did not work out, but the two of them were still interested in startup investments. And Harris told TechCrunch that the two of them have “learned a lot” since then.
Geter pointed out that they have the advantage of Atlanta quickly becoming a technology hub. Data from PitchBook and the National Venture Capital Association reveal that startups in Atlanta raised about $1.15 billion last year — which is a record for that area based on data from PitchBook.
“Being in the city of Atlanta and with Georgia Tech producing so much talent, and coming from us being within the hip-hop culture, which is always influencing and promoting things, we saw an opportunity,” said Geter via TechCrunch. “In the past, we were always looking through the glass window and looking at ways we can participate earlier. And that’s by coming together to pool our resources so we can invest more.”
