Successful tech companies follow a typical pattern: from product to platform where other startups build businesses on top of theirs. To spur that, they often launch a fund. Fast-growing social media site Bluesky, which now claims 25 million users, is on that path. On Wednesday it announced a new fund, with an initial $1 million warchest, run by open source and Python big wig Peter Wang. Bluesky, the decentralized social app from Jack Dorsey (though Dorsey left the Bluesky board in May), was launched five years ago and has really taken off as an alternative to Elon Musk’s X. The fund will offer grants to those building on Bluesky’s open source AT Protocol. It’s looking for tech like data privacy controls particularly for AI usage, as well as apps for parents/children and local communities. {Categories} _Category: Takes{/Categories} {URL}https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/18/with-25m-users-bluesky-gets-a-1m-fund-to-take-on-social-media-and-ai/{/URL} {Author}Julie Bort{/Author} {Image}https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/bluesky_media_kit_banner_4.jpg?resize=1200,900{/Image} {Keywords}Venture,Bluesky,data privacy,In Brief,social media startups{/Keywords} {Source}POV{/Source} {Thumb}{/Thumb}