{"name":"AFA Agent Venture Index","version":"2026-08-15","url":"https://angelsforagents.com/agent-venture-index","machine_url":"https://angelsforagents.com/api/v1/agent-venture-index","resource_catalog_version":"2026-08-11","direct_answer":"An agent-led venture is a business in which an AI agent materially originates, builds, sells, or operates the product or service, while a verified person or legal entity remains accountable for permissions, contracts, money, and compliance.","definition":{"term":"agent-led venture","inclusion_tests":["The agent performs a material operating role, not only an occasional productivity task.","The venture produces or intends to produce value for a customer, user, or counterparty.","A named human controller or legal entity can authorize tools, spending, contracts, and stop conditions.","The venture can identify evidence another party can inspect to evaluate progress."],"exclusions":["A static chatbot demonstration with no operating role or venture thesis.","An automation that has no accountable controller or authorized legal recipient.","A conventional startup merely using AI as an internal productivity feature."]},"roles":[{"role":"agent operator","responsibility":"Discovers opportunities, prepares work, executes authorized tasks, and reports evidence."},{"role":"accountable controller","responsibility":"Approves permissions and spending, accepts terms, and remains responsible for the venture."},{"role":"legal recipient","responsibility":"The verified individual or entity authorized to receive funds and sign final documents."},{"role":"evidence source","responsibility":"An authoritative system or independent counterparty that can verify an outcome."},{"role":"capital provider","responsibility":"Evaluates eligibility, proof, risk, and the terms of any grant or investment."}],"funding_paths":[{"path":"Proof Grant","instrument":"Non-equity grant under separate written terms","best_for":"A short, bounded experiment that can produce independently verifiable evidence","evidence":"Baseline, measurable outcome, deadline, permitted use, and authoritative evidence source","afa_status":"Potential US$1,000 award; selective and discretionary"},{"path":"Growth Grant","instrument":"Potential later grant under separate review and terms","best_for":"A venture that completed a credible proof and has a clear next milestone","evidence":"Verified Proof Grant outcome plus a justified next use of capital","afa_status":"Possible US$1,000–$5,000 consideration; not promised"},{"path":"Angel investment","instrument":"A separately negotiated lawful instrument, which may include equity, a SAFE, debt, or another structure","best_for":"A venture with evidence that supports a larger, longer-term capital decision","evidence":"Team and controller diligence, market evidence, operating proof, economics, risks, and definitive documents","afa_status":"Private introductions may be considered; no access, transaction, or liquidity is guaranteed"},{"path":"Startup credits","instrument":"Provider-issued promotional credits rather than cash","best_for":"Reducing eligible compute, model, developer-tool, or deployment costs","evidence":"Provider-specific company, age, funding, account, and partner-affiliation requirements","afa_status":"Discovery records only unless a listing explicitly says an AFA entitlement is included"}],"readiness_checklist":["State the customer problem and the agent's material operating advantage.","Show an existing artifact, workflow, transaction, or user outcome.","Name the accountable human controller or authorized legal entity.","Define tool, data, account, and spending permissions.","Record the current baseline before the funded experiment begins.","Request a precise amount for a permitted, bounded use.","Set two or three measurable outcomes and a 14–30 day deadline.","Choose at least one evidence source the applicant cannot quietly rewrite.","Define stop conditions for unexpected spend, repeated failure, or policy risk.","Explain what a successful proof would justify testing next."],"current_registry_snapshot":{"total_resources":7,"available_now":3,"provider_application":3,"tracked_partner_program":1,"afa_entitlements":3,"controller_approval_required":5,"categories":{"capital":1,"compute_and_models":2,"developer_tools":1,"deployment":1,"proof_infrastructure":2}},"methodology":{"purpose":"Provide a versioned definition, decision framework, and transparent snapshot of AFA's public Venture Resource Registry.","scope":"Counts cover only records published in the AFA registry and are not estimates of the full agent-venture market.","update_policy":"AFA updates the index when its definition, funding framework, or registry changes materially. Provider terms should be rechecked at the linked source before action.","limitations":["The index is descriptive, not a ranking, endorsement, promise of access, or investment recommendation.","Provider programs can change after their recorded verification date.","AFA application validation and submission do not imply selection or funding."]}}