Allen Lau
@notallenlau.bsky.social
Recovering CEO (ex-Wattpad), 3x Entrepreneur, 2x exits (last one at US$660M), Deep Tech VC by Profession (Two Small Fish Ventures), Electrical Engineer by Training, Founders’ Sounding Board.
Always great to see vision turn into reality.
Last week, I visited FUTURi Power’s new factory in Vancouver — where the “sausage” is made.
Incredible progress since our investment through Two Small Fish.
Last week, I visited FUTURi Power’s new factory in Vancouver — where the “sausage” is made.
Incredible progress since our investment through Two Small Fish.
November 11, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Always great to see vision turn into reality.
Last week, I visited FUTURi Power’s new factory in Vancouver — where the “sausage” is made.
Incredible progress since our investment through Two Small Fish.
Last week, I visited FUTURi Power’s new factory in Vancouver — where the “sausage” is made.
Incredible progress since our investment through Two Small Fish.
Eva and I are thrilled to share some exciting news!
We are donating $2M to @utoronto.ca to launch the Eva and Allen Lau Commercialization Catalyst Prize for Computing and Engineering Innovation.
U of Toronto will match our gift, doubling its impact.
We are donating $2M to @utoronto.ca to launch the Eva and Allen Lau Commercialization Catalyst Prize for Computing and Engineering Innovation.
U of Toronto will match our gift, doubling its impact.
September 18, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Eva and I are thrilled to share some exciting news!
We are donating $2M to @utoronto.ca to launch the Eva and Allen Lau Commercialization Catalyst Prize for Computing and Engineering Innovation.
U of Toronto will match our gift, doubling its impact.
We are donating $2M to @utoronto.ca to launch the Eva and Allen Lau Commercialization Catalyst Prize for Computing and Engineering Innovation.
U of Toronto will match our gift, doubling its impact.
The Globe and Mail recently asked my view on quantum investing. My answer: “It’s much more investible now.”
At Two Small Fish, our first principle is simple: we only invest in what we truly understand. For years, quantum wasn’t ready for early-stage ventures. This year, we changed our mind.
At Two Small Fish, our first principle is simple: we only invest in what we truly understand. For years, quantum wasn’t ready for early-stage ventures. This year, we changed our mind.
September 15, 2025 at 1:19 PM
The Globe and Mail recently asked my view on quantum investing. My answer: “It’s much more investible now.”
At Two Small Fish, our first principle is simple: we only invest in what we truly understand. For years, quantum wasn’t ready for early-stage ventures. This year, we changed our mind.
At Two Small Fish, our first principle is simple: we only invest in what we truly understand. For years, quantum wasn’t ready for early-stage ventures. This year, we changed our mind.
Why does making something more efficient often make us use more of it?
That paradox was discovered in 1865 by economist William Stanley Jevons — and it explains coal, electricity, computing, the internet… and now, intelligence. 🧵
That paradox was discovered in 1865 by economist William Stanley Jevons — and it explains coal, electricity, computing, the internet… and now, intelligence. 🧵
September 9, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Why does making something more efficient often make us use more of it?
That paradox was discovered in 1865 by economist William Stanley Jevons — and it explains coal, electricity, computing, the internet… and now, intelligence. 🧵
That paradox was discovered in 1865 by economist William Stanley Jevons — and it explains coal, electricity, computing, the internet… and now, intelligence. 🧵
At some point, what worked yesterday just… stops working. Overnight.
That’s the curse — and the privilege — of scale.
🧵 The Rule of 3 and 10 👇
That’s the curse — and the privilege — of scale.
🧵 The Rule of 3 and 10 👇
September 2, 2025 at 2:59 PM
At some point, what worked yesterday just… stops working. Overnight.
That’s the curse — and the privilege — of scale.
🧵 The Rule of 3 and 10 👇
That’s the curse — and the privilege — of scale.
🧵 The Rule of 3 and 10 👇
FUTURi Power, founded by Dr. Martin Ordonez, is transforming the “last dumb box” into a programmable energy hub that makes electricity truly intelligent.
August 21, 2025 at 12:18 PM
FUTURi Power, founded by Dr. Martin Ordonez, is transforming the “last dumb box” into a programmable energy hub that makes electricity truly intelligent.
Their mission is to bring that same decentralized philosophy to identity and authenticity on the internet, enabling anyone to prove who they are, certify their work, and push back against deepfakes and impersonation. No middlemen. No central gatekeepers.
August 14, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Their mission is to bring that same decentralized philosophy to identity and authenticity on the internet, enabling anyone to prove who they are, certify their work, and push back against deepfakes and impersonation. No middlemen. No central gatekeepers.
Xerxes Wania, another one of my TAs from back in the day, went on to build and exit two semiconductor companies and added his voice to the conversation.
July 31, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Xerxes Wania, another one of my TAs from back in the day, went on to build and exit two semiconductor companies and added his voice to the conversation.
We were equally honoured to host Benny Lau, co-founder of ATI Technologies, whose legacy lives on in AMD’s GPUs to this day. AMD acquired ATI for $5.4 billion nearly 20 years ago, still one of the largest tech acquisitions in Canadian history.
July 31, 2025 at 2:38 AM
We were equally honoured to host Benny Lau, co-founder of ATI Technologies, whose legacy lives on in AMD’s GPUs to this day. AMD acquired ATI for $5.4 billion nearly 20 years ago, still one of the largest tech acquisitions in Canadian history.
I consider myself extraordinarily fortunate, not just to have learned from his book, but to have been his student more than 30 years ago at the University of Toronto. Few have had the privilege of learning directly from a legend.
July 31, 2025 at 2:38 AM
I consider myself extraordinarily fortunate, not just to have learned from his book, but to have been his student more than 30 years ago at the University of Toronto. Few have had the privilege of learning directly from a legend.
At most dinners, introductions start with your name and maybe what you do.
At this one, we began with:
“Second edition.”
“Fourth edition.”
At this one, we began with:
“Second edition.”
“Fourth edition.”
July 31, 2025 at 2:38 AM
At most dinners, introductions start with your name and maybe what you do.
At this one, we began with:
“Second edition.”
“Fourth edition.”
At this one, we began with:
“Second edition.”
“Fourth edition.”
Our sporty robotic guest, the ENVGO NV1, a hydrofoiling all-electric watercraft, zipped across the lake. Its artistic counterpart from Acrylic Robotics wowed us with its ability to create expressive paintings, powered by a robot but championed by award-winning artists.
July 29, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Our sporty robotic guest, the ENVGO NV1, a hydrofoiling all-electric watercraft, zipped across the lake. Its artistic counterpart from Acrylic Robotics wowed us with its ability to create expressive paintings, powered by a robot but championed by award-winning artists.
When you invite a robot to a party… they bring their robot friends. 🤖🎉
That’s exactly what happened at the geekiest gathering in Muskoka this past weekend!
That’s exactly what happened at the geekiest gathering in Muskoka this past weekend!
July 29, 2025 at 10:36 PM
When you invite a robot to a party… they bring their robot friends. 🤖🎉
That’s exactly what happened at the geekiest gathering in Muskoka this past weekend!
That’s exactly what happened at the geekiest gathering in Muskoka this past weekend!
July 28, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Three world champions walked into a triathlon.
A swimmer. A cyclist. A marathoner.
None of them made the podium.
Why?
Each was world class in their specialty but weak in the others.
The winner? A guy who had come second to the swimming champion for years.
A swimmer. A cyclist. A marathoner.
None of them made the podium.
Why?
Each was world class in their specialty but weak in the others.
The winner? A guy who had come second to the swimming champion for years.
July 23, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Three world champions walked into a triathlon.
A swimmer. A cyclist. A marathoner.
None of them made the podium.
Why?
Each was world class in their specialty but weak in the others.
The winner? A guy who had come second to the swimming champion for years.
A swimmer. A cyclist. A marathoner.
None of them made the podium.
Why?
Each was world class in their specialty but weak in the others.
The winner? A guy who had come second to the swimming champion for years.
We don’t invest in boats. We invest in AI-powered autonomous robots that fly over water—and just happen to look like boats.
They are all electric too.
That's why we invested in ENVGO!
They are all electric too.
That's why we invested in ENVGO!
July 15, 2025 at 5:54 PM
We don’t invest in boats. We invest in AI-powered autonomous robots that fly over water—and just happen to look like boats.
They are all electric too.
That's why we invested in ENVGO!
They are all electric too.
That's why we invested in ENVGO!
Computing. Then Connectivity. Then Intelligence.
For half a century, each major platform shift has followed the same pattern:
A collapse in cost leads to mass adoption.
For half a century, each major platform shift has followed the same pattern:
A collapse in cost leads to mass adoption.
July 14, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Computing. Then Connectivity. Then Intelligence.
For half a century, each major platform shift has followed the same pattern:
A collapse in cost leads to mass adoption.
For half a century, each major platform shift has followed the same pattern:
A collapse in cost leads to mass adoption.
They said “next year is the year of the smartphone” for a decade. Until the iPhone launched. “Next year is the year of the smartphone” finally became true.
Quantum’s had the same joke for 10 years. But now? I can smell it. I can hear it. I can sense it.
Quantum’s had the same joke for 10 years. But now? I can smell it. I can hear it. I can sense it.
June 16, 2025 at 2:07 PM
They said “next year is the year of the smartphone” for a decade. Until the iPhone launched. “Next year is the year of the smartphone” finally became true.
Quantum’s had the same joke for 10 years. But now? I can smell it. I can hear it. I can sense it.
Quantum’s had the same joke for 10 years. But now? I can smell it. I can hear it. I can sense it.
People often ask me:
“Do you like being a VC?”
“Do you miss operating?”
My honest answer is yes and yes
(but I get my fix without being a CEO) 🧵
“Do you like being a VC?”
“Do you miss operating?”
My honest answer is yes and yes
(but I get my fix without being a CEO) 🧵
June 6, 2025 at 2:57 PM
People often ask me:
“Do you like being a VC?”
“Do you miss operating?”
My honest answer is yes and yes
(but I get my fix without being a CEO) 🧵
“Do you like being a VC?”
“Do you miss operating?”
My honest answer is yes and yes
(but I get my fix without being a CEO) 🧵
This year marks a big milestone: Two Small Fish Ventures turns ten!
Over the weekend, we wired funds for our 60th first investment. That’s not including the many follow-on cheques we’ve written along the way—if we counted those, the number would be much higher.
Over the weekend, we wired funds for our 60th first investment. That’s not including the many follow-on cheques we’ve written along the way—if we counted those, the number would be much higher.
June 2, 2025 at 12:12 PM
This year marks a big milestone: Two Small Fish Ventures turns ten!
Over the weekend, we wired funds for our 60th first investment. That’s not including the many follow-on cheques we’ve written along the way—if we counted those, the number would be much higher.
Over the weekend, we wired funds for our 60th first investment. That’s not including the many follow-on cheques we’ve written along the way—if we counted those, the number would be much higher.
“Bamboo is neutral. If it’s used as a ceiling, it becomes a barrier. But if it’s used as a pole for jumping, one can leap incredibly high. Biculturalism is a powerful asset. If you leverage it in the right context, it can become your unfair advantage.”
#AsianHeritageMonth
#AsianHeritageMonth
May 26, 2025 at 2:16 PM
“Bamboo is neutral. If it’s used as a ceiling, it becomes a barrier. But if it’s used as a pole for jumping, one can leap incredibly high. Biculturalism is a powerful asset. If you leverage it in the right context, it can become your unfair advantage.”
#AsianHeritageMonth
#AsianHeritageMonth
The sun shone, the rain stayed, and the sky traced a halo. A subtle rainbow, born from light, ice, and the perfect angle.
Physics, but make it poetry.
Physics, but make it poetry.
May 24, 2025 at 7:14 PM
The sun shone, the rain stayed, and the sky traced a halo. A subtle rainbow, born from light, ice, and the perfect angle.
Physics, but make it poetry.
Physics, but make it poetry.
Upper Bound 2025 brings together a vibrant, global community to explore the latest advancements and applications in AI. I’m looking forward to learning, sharing, and connecting with fellow innovators shaping the future.
See you there!
See you there!
May 18, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Upper Bound 2025 brings together a vibrant, global community to explore the latest advancements and applications in AI. I’m looking forward to learning, sharing, and connecting with fellow innovators shaping the future.
See you there!
See you there!
I’m heading west to speak at Upper Bound 2025, one of the world’s largest AI conferences, organized by Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii). The event takes place May 20–23 in Edmonton, and is now officially sold out, with over 6,000 attendees and 200+ sessions. 👏
May 18, 2025 at 10:00 PM
I’m heading west to speak at Upper Bound 2025, one of the world’s largest AI conferences, organized by Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii). The event takes place May 20–23 in Edmonton, and is now officially sold out, with over 6,000 attendees and 200+ sessions. 👏
What we do at TSF, in one line: We invest in the next frontier of computing and its applications, reshaping large-scale behaviour, driven by the collapsing cost of intelligence and defensible through tech and data moats.
May 15, 2025 at 12:08 PM
What we do at TSF, in one line: We invest in the next frontier of computing and its applications, reshaping large-scale behaviour, driven by the collapsing cost of intelligence and defensible through tech and data moats.