Monorepo for Aesthetic.Computer
aesthetic.computer
add funding research and draft correspondence
Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
+255
+43
plans/funding/betaworks.md
+43
plans/funding/betaworks.md
···
1
+
# Betaworks / John Borthwick
2
+
3
+
- **type:** accelerator (NYC) + angel
4
+
- **url:** betaworks.com/camp
5
+
- **contact:** john@betaworks.com (John Borthwick, founder)
6
+
- **also:** analisa@betaworks.com (Analisa Svehaug), nicole@betaworks.com (Nicole Ranucci)
7
+
- **amount:** ~$500K for ~6% (camp), angel TBD
8
+
- **status:** WARM — ongoing relationship since June 2022
9
+
10
+
## history
11
+
12
+
- jun 2022: first contact re: whistlegraph. john scheduled a call via nicole.
13
+
- aug–sep 2022: continued thread, second meeting scheduled.
14
+
- dec 2022–jan 2023: "holidays / aesthetic computer / nyc" — met in person at betaworks office.
15
+
- feb 2023: sent "aesthetic.computer / Freaky Flowers (ff)" update.
16
+
- apr 2023: arranged office days at betaworks (via analisa, kelly, front desk).
17
+
- jun 2023: continued office days.
18
+
- aug–nov 2023: "aesthetic.computer update" thread — multiple exchanges.
19
+
- mar 2024: sent "Aesthetic Computer Update" from mail@aesthetic.computer.
20
+
- sep 2024: sent "aesthetic.computer milestones" update.
21
+
- may 2025: "Happy Hacking Tomorrow Afternoon?" — office visit with analisa.
22
+
- jan 2026: sent "Aesthetic.Computer '26" — pointed john to give.aesthetic.computer.
23
+
24
+
## notes
25
+
26
+
john has been following AC for nearly 4 years. he's familiar with the project, has hosted jeffrey at betaworks office. this is a warm lead — not a cold email. betaworks also runs camps focused on media, culture, and creative tools.
27
+
28
+
## draft email
29
+
30
+
subject: aesthetic computer — update
31
+
32
+
hi john —
33
+
34
+
wanted to share what's new with aesthetic computer since january. there's a bare-metal operating system now — boots from a usb stick in about 2 seconds into a musical instrument. also shipped kidlisp (a tiny language for art), academic papers, and a dedicated hardware device.
35
+
36
+
i'm starting to think about funding for the first time. would love to catch up if you have a few minutes.
37
+
38
+
aesthetic.computer
39
+
kidlisp.com
40
+
papers.aesthetic.computer
41
+
give.aesthetic.computer
42
+
43
+
@jeffrey
+32
plans/funding/calm-fund.md
+32
plans/funding/calm-fund.md
···
1
+
# Calm Fund
2
+
3
+
- **type:** fund (shared earnings or equity)
4
+
- **url:** calmfund.com
5
+
- **applications:** rolling
6
+
- **amount:** $100K–$2M
7
+
- **contact:** tyler@calmfund.com (Tyler Tringas)
8
+
- **status:** not yet contacted
9
+
10
+
## notes
11
+
12
+
funds calm, sustainable software businesses. solo founders welcome. shared earnings agreements available — you pay back from revenue, not equity. very aligned with building something lasting rather than flipping.
13
+
14
+
## draft email
15
+
16
+
subject: aesthetic computer
17
+
18
+
hi tyler —
19
+
20
+
i'm building aesthetic computer — a software platform and bare-metal operating system for painting, music, code, and games. it boots from a usb stick in 2 seconds or runs from a browser. i built the whole stack solo.
21
+
22
+
there's also kidlisp (a tiny language for art), a shop, a newsletter, academic papers, a social network, and a dedicated hardware device — all under one roof.
23
+
24
+
i think of it more as an instrument than a startup. calm fund's model feels right for that.
25
+
26
+
aesthetic.computer
27
+
kidlisp.com
28
+
papers.aesthetic.computer
29
+
30
+
happy to talk anytime.
31
+
32
+
@jeffrey
+31
plans/funding/creative-capital.md
+31
plans/funding/creative-capital.md
···
1
+
# Creative Capital
2
+
3
+
- **type:** grant
4
+
- **url:** creative-capital.org
5
+
- **applications:** annual (usually spring)
6
+
- **amount:** up to $50K
7
+
- **status:** not yet contacted
8
+
9
+
## notes
10
+
11
+
funds innovative art projects across disciplines including technology. the art+code+hardware angle of AC is a natural fit. grant — no equity, no repayment.
12
+
13
+
## draft email
14
+
15
+
likely apply via creative-capital.org, but for initial inquiry:
16
+
17
+
subject: aesthetic computer — grant inquiry
18
+
19
+
hi —
20
+
21
+
i'm building aesthetic computer — a software platform and bare-metal operating system for painting, music, code, and games. it boots from a usb stick in 2 seconds or runs from a browser. i built the whole stack solo.
22
+
23
+
there's also kidlisp (a tiny language for art), a shop, a newsletter, academic papers, a social network, and a dedicated hardware device — all under one roof.
24
+
25
+
i'd love to know if this fits creative capital's current grant cycle.
26
+
27
+
aesthetic.computer
28
+
kidlisp.com
29
+
papers.aesthetic.computer
30
+
31
+
@jeffrey
+31
plans/funding/pioneer.md
+31
plans/funding/pioneer.md
···
1
+
# Pioneer
2
+
3
+
- **type:** accelerator (remote)
4
+
- **url:** pioneer.app
5
+
- **applications:** rolling, tournament-style
6
+
- **amount:** $20K–$100K
7
+
- **status:** not yet contacted
8
+
9
+
## notes
10
+
11
+
remote-first accelerator for ambitious outsiders and solo founders. tournament-style selection — you submit weekly updates and get ranked. built for exactly the kind of project AC is.
12
+
13
+
## draft email
14
+
15
+
likely apply via pioneer.app directly, but if cold emailing:
16
+
17
+
subject: aesthetic computer
18
+
19
+
hi —
20
+
21
+
i'm building aesthetic computer — a software platform and bare-metal operating system for painting, music, code, and games. it boots from a usb stick in 2 seconds or runs from a browser. i built the whole stack solo.
22
+
23
+
there's also kidlisp (a tiny language for art), a shop, a newsletter, academic papers, a social network, and a dedicated hardware device — all under one roof.
24
+
25
+
i think of it more as an instrument than a startup. pioneer's model feels right for that.
26
+
27
+
aesthetic.computer
28
+
kidlisp.com
29
+
papers.aesthetic.computer
30
+
31
+
@jeffrey
+27
plans/funding/processing-foundation.md
+27
plans/funding/processing-foundation.md
···
1
+
# Processing Foundation
2
+
3
+
- **type:** fellowship
4
+
- **url:** processingfoundation.org/fellowships
5
+
- **applications:** periodic
6
+
- **amount:** $5K–$10K
7
+
- **status:** not yet contacted
8
+
9
+
## notes
10
+
11
+
fellowships for open-source creative coding tools. small money but high alignment and visibility in the creative coding community. kidlisp + AC's open tool ecosystem are a direct fit.
12
+
13
+
## draft email
14
+
15
+
subject: aesthetic computer + kidlisp — fellowship inquiry
16
+
17
+
hi —
18
+
19
+
i'm building aesthetic computer — a software platform and bare-metal operating system for painting, music, code, and games, and kidlisp — a tiny language for art that runs inside it.
20
+
21
+
i'd love to know if this fits the processing foundation's current fellowship cycle.
22
+
23
+
aesthetic.computer
24
+
kidlisp.com
25
+
papers.aesthetic.computer
26
+
27
+
@jeffrey
+29
plans/funding/sahil-lavingia.md
+29
plans/funding/sahil-lavingia.md
···
1
+
# Sahil Lavingia
2
+
3
+
- **type:** angel investor
4
+
- **who:** founder of Gumroad
5
+
- **reach:** @shl on X/Twitter, or via gumroad
6
+
- **amount:** $25K–$100K typically
7
+
- **status:** not yet contacted
8
+
9
+
## notes
10
+
11
+
actively backs solo founders building creative tools. very indie-friendly. built gumroad as a solo-ish founder himself. likely resonates with the instrument-not-startup framing.
12
+
13
+
## draft email / DM
14
+
15
+
subject: aesthetic computer
16
+
17
+
hi sahil —
18
+
19
+
i'm building aesthetic computer — a software platform and bare-metal operating system for painting, music, code, and games. it boots from a usb stick in 2 seconds or runs from a browser. i built the whole stack solo.
20
+
21
+
there's also kidlisp (a tiny language for art), a shop, a newsletter, academic papers, a social network, and a dedicated hardware device — all under one roof.
22
+
23
+
i think of it more as an instrument than a startup.
24
+
25
+
aesthetic.computer
26
+
kidlisp.com
27
+
papers.aesthetic.computer
28
+
29
+
@jeffrey
+33
plans/funding/shuttleworth-foundation.md
+33
plans/funding/shuttleworth-foundation.md
···
1
+
# Shuttleworth Foundation
2
+
3
+
- **type:** fellowship
4
+
- **url:** shuttleworthfoundation.org
5
+
- **applications:** rolling
6
+
- **amount:** $275K/year (renewable up to 3 years)
7
+
- **status:** not yet contacted
8
+
9
+
## notes
10
+
11
+
open-source fellowship for bold, unconventional projects. fellows get funding + support to work on their project full-time. strong fit for AC's open infrastructure + bare-metal OS angle.
12
+
13
+
## draft email
14
+
15
+
to: apply@shuttleworthfoundation.org (or via web form)
16
+
17
+
subject: aesthetic computer — fellowship application
18
+
19
+
hi —
20
+
21
+
i'm building aesthetic computer — a software platform and bare-metal operating system for painting, music, code, and games. it boots from a usb stick in 2 seconds or runs from a browser. i built the whole stack solo.
22
+
23
+
there's also kidlisp (a tiny language for art), a shop, a newsletter, academic papers, a social network, and a dedicated hardware device — all under one roof.
24
+
25
+
i think of it more as an instrument than a startup.
26
+
27
+
aesthetic.computer
28
+
kidlisp.com
29
+
papers.aesthetic.computer
30
+
31
+
happy to talk anytime.
32
+
33
+
@jeffrey
+29
plans/funding/ycombinator.md
+29
plans/funding/ycombinator.md
···
1
+
# Y Combinator
2
+
3
+
- **type:** accelerator
4
+
- **url:** ycombinator.com/apply
5
+
- **applications:** biannual batches
6
+
- **amount:** $500K standard deal
7
+
- **status:** not yet contacted
8
+
9
+
## notes
10
+
11
+
accepts solo founders. have funded creative/dev tools (replit, etc.). biggest name on the list. the "instrument not startup" framing might need adjusting here — yc wants growth stories. but the bare-metal OS + browser platform + solo-built stack is a compelling demo.
12
+
13
+
## draft email
14
+
15
+
apply via ycombinator.com/apply — not cold-emailable, but for any warm intros:
16
+
17
+
subject: aesthetic computer
18
+
19
+
hi —
20
+
21
+
i'm building aesthetic computer — a software platform and bare-metal operating system for painting, music, code, and games. it boots from a usb stick in 2 seconds or runs from a browser. i built the whole stack solo.
22
+
23
+
there's also kidlisp (a tiny language for art), a shop, a newsletter, academic papers, a social network, and a dedicated hardware device — all under one roof.
24
+
25
+
aesthetic.computer
26
+
kidlisp.com
27
+
papers.aesthetic.computer
28
+
29
+
@jeffrey