Patron

The next decade will be defined by founders building new applications that are more intuitive, automated, taste-driven, and deeply personal. We back early-stage startups that have launched, bridging the cultural insight and real operating experience to help them create the next wave of category winners.

Jason Yeh

Co-Founder, General Partner

Brian Cho

Co-Founder, General Partner

Amber Atherton

Partner

Partner Offsite

Ex-Gaming Executives Raise $100 Million for New Consumer VC Fund

Patron Annual Founders Retreat

Generative Art Commission

We’re delighted to present two works commissioned by Patron from Turkey-based artist and AI explorer Gizem Akdağ. Her work explores the intersection of technology, art, and visual storytelling through distinct aesthetics and immersive visual worlds created with generative tools.

Amber: What is your AI design stack today?
Gizem: For my personal explorations, I use Midjourney almost every day. For my professional work, I mainly use AI as a creative companion: for inspiration, style discovery, and creating both images and videos. The key for me is not relying on a single tool, but building flexible workflows.

Amber: Where do you think AI design tools are going?
Gizem: Right now, stronger creativity doesn’t always come with better control or prompt understanding. My hope is for tools that combine Midjourney level creativity with the kind of prompt understanding and control you get from Nano Banana.

Amber: Where do you see the real value accruing long-term: the artist, the tooling, or the platforms aggregating AI-native creators?
Gizem: I think as tools continue to improve, creation will become faster and more accessible for everyone. When that happens, the real differentiation won’t come from speed or output, but from taste, curation, and direction. I believe artists and designers will actually become more important over time, not less. At the same time, there are already so many tools and models available, each with different strengths. Producing across multiple platforms and workflows takes a lot of time. Platforms that bring these capabilities/models together, will remain extremely valuable for designers.

Amber: How does AI change what makes a designer or artist defensible? Is it taste, speed, community, brand, or something else?
Gizem: Taste and curation/decision-making. Technical skill still matters, but more in the sense of building strong workflows, knowing how to combine AI tools with traditional design tools. Building a community, using social media effectively, and developing a strong personal brand are also becoming incredibly important when it comes to standing out long-term.