Public dossier section · @ben
sources
This is @ben's profile revision 1. The original date and editorial confidence below are attributed to its publisher, not independent verification.
Original credited author: Hraness
AI-drafted at Ben Guo's direct request and credited to Hraness; every claim links to its cataloged source.
Back to the full profile · Markdown version · Original document
Published text
- secondary aggregation of holz facts — goodindex.org (undated, reference). secondary aggregation of holz facts
- corroboration — thehindu.com (2024-02-09, reporting). corroboration
- holz quotes reused in complaint — hollywoodreporter.com (2025-06-11, reporting). holz quotes reused in complaint
- office-hours recap — imagine-weekly.com (2024-10-24, community). office-hours recap
- founding story — inc. (2013-06, reporting). founding story; $45m raised; middle-school friends
- ultrahaptics+leap motion deal — ipgroupplc.com (2019-05-30, primary). ultrahaptics+leap motion deal; holz quote
- tpu→gpu pytorch rewrite — itdoeswhatnow.com (2026-03-17, reporting). tpu→gpu pytorch rewrite; ~5x faster
- head of consumer hardware — linkedin (undated, primary). head of consumer hardware
- spellbrush ceo — linkedin (undated, primary). spellbrush ceo
- founder & ceo, aug 2021– — linkedin (undated, primary). founder & ceo, aug 2021–
- good enough quote re: sora — linkedin (2024-03-27, community). "good enough" quote re: sora
- nat friedman advisor — littlesis.org (undated, reference). nat friedman advisor
- niji 6 alpha jan 29 2024 — medium (2024-02-02, reference). niji 6 alpha jan 29 2024
- the 2022 about page (cached) — honeycomb.eurom.pt (2022, primary). 11 staff, advisors, mods list (3rd-party cache)
- community-funded research lab of 60 people — midjourney.com (2026-09, primary). "community-funded research lab of 60 people"
- midjourney medical announcement — midjourney.com (2026-06-17, primary). spa 2027; 50k scanners by 2031; fda path
- --p details (unofficial mirror) — midjourney-v6.com (2024-06-12, primary). --p details (unofficial mirror)
- in 10 years, an xbox that dreams — mixed-news.com (2022, interview). 100k+ customers, ~10k servers, ~10 employees
- --cref launch — updates.midjourney.com (2024-03-12, primary). --cref launch
- editor + retexturing + moderation — updates.midjourney.com (2024-10-23, primary). editor + retexturing + moderation
- first secret hardware project 6/17 livestream — updates.midjourney.com (2026-06-16, primary). "first secret hardware project" 6/17 livestream
- midjourney tv + personalized feeds — updates.midjourney.com (2025-07-30, primary). midjourney tv + personalized feeds
- niji v7 — updates.midjourney.com (2026-01-09, primary). niji v7
- patchwork launch — updates.midjourney.com (2024-12-11, primary). patchwork launch
- rooms for ≥100-image members — updates.midjourney.com (2024-05-24, primary). rooms for ≥100-image members
- v7 default — updates.midjourney.com (2025-06-17, primary). v7 default
- relax mode — updates.midjourney.com (2026-03-21, primary). relax mode; v8.1 tease
- video options + moodboards — updates.midjourney.com (2025-08-13, primary). video options + moodboards
- holz at isef 2025 — youtube (2025-06-01, interview). holz at isef 2025
- english recap of name origin — officechai (undated, reference). english recap of name origin
- 611 gateway ste 120 south sf — opengovus.com (undated, reference). 611 gateway ste 120 south sf; start 2020-09-16
- quoted passages from the profile — michaelparekh.substack.com (2023-09-06, reporting). quoted passages from the profile
- alpha web, 10k+ users — petapixel.com (2023-12-14, reporting). alpha web, 10k+ users
- corroboration — petapixel.com (2024-03-12, reporting). corroboration
- /describe april 4 2023 — petapixel.com (2023-04-05, reporting). /describe april 4 2023
- holz restrict the deployment — petapixel.com (2024-10-23, reporting). holz "restrict the deployment"
- officially getting into hardware aug 28 — petapixel.com (2024-08-29, reporting). "officially getting into hardware" aug 28; >$200m rev; <100 people
- nick st — petapixel.com (2024-03-08, reporting). nick st. pierre relay
- spellbrush×midjourney mobile app — product hunt (undated, primary). spellbrush×midjourney mobile app
- 23k sqft, 4 floors, 10-yr lease, jll — therealdeal.com (2026-06-22, reporting). 23k sqft, 4 floors, 10-yr lease, jll
- we're already profitable — theregister.com (2022-08-01, interview). "already profitable"; clip-guided diffusion; crowson
- butterfly network partner — theregister.com (2026-06-18, reporting). butterfly network partner; $74m/5yr; fuct/usct
- corroboration — news.theregistrysf.com (2026-06-22, reporting). corroboration
- +runway, +7 artists — reuters (2023-11-30, reporting). +runway, +7 artists
- exec titles (reliability caveat) — rocketreach.co (undated, reference). exec titles (reliability caveat)
- --weird dropped 2023-06-30 — runtheprompts.com (2023-07-12, community). --weird dropped 2023-06-30
- office-hours notes on qq — scmp.com (2023-05-18, reporting). office-hours notes on qq; pengyuhui jv
- version date corroboration — scriptbyai.com (undated, reference). version date corroboration
- 300 grant — sfstandard.com (2026-06-19, reporting). 300 grant; bryan johnson; ~30k livestream viewers
- tos south sf address — siliconvalleyinvestclub.com (undated, reference). tos south sf address; aug 2021 founding
- unc/nasa/max planck — societyforscience.org (undated, reference). unc/nasa/max planck; nlc 2020
- isef alum interview — societyforscience.org (2025, interview). isef alum interview; teca; trustee
- $500m arr claim — unverified — startup founder stories (undated, reporting). $500m arr claim — unverified
- exists — stratechery (2022-11-10, interview). exists; contents unverified
- midjourney alpha — tech.co (2023-12-14, reporting). 17.5m discord members
- ocuspec→leap motion rename — techcrunch (2012-05-09, reporting). ocuspec→leap motion rename; $12.75m series a
- midjourney china qq episode — techcrunch (2023-05-16, reporting). "midjourney china" qq episode
- ocuspec $1 — techcrunch (2011-06-10, reporting). ocuspec $1.3m seed; bill warner angel
- ultrahaptics and leap motion join forces — techspark.co (2019-05-30, reporting). £23.4m; holz remains cto
- revenue significantly >$200m — the information (2026-03, reporting). revenue "significantly" >$200m
- $200m expectation — the information (2023-09, reporting). $200m expectation
- holz interview — the information (2026-03-29, reporting). holz interview; hardware/vc
- time100 ai: david holz — time.com (2025, reporting). time100 ai; $300m 2024; midjourney tv
- max kreminski, storytelling lab — tomsguide.com (2024-12-12, reporting). max kreminski, storytelling lab
- personalization test — tomsguide.com (2024-06-13, reporting). personalization test
- world simulation office-hours quotes — tomsguide.com (2024-03, reporting). "world simulation" office-hours quotes
- moodboards dec 16 2024 — torybarber.com (2024-12-17, community). moodboards dec 16 2024
- uist 23 keynote — programs.sigchi.org (2023-10-30, reporting). uist '23 keynote
- ~20m users — venturebeat (2025-06, reporting). ~20m users
- midjourney style list 4,700 artists detail — the verge (2024-08-13, reporting). "midjourney style list" 4,700 artists detail
- an engine for the imagination — the verge (2022-08-02, interview). canonical holz interview; all verbatim quotes
- scanner details — the verge (2026-06, reporting). scanner details; ~12 scanned; holz quotes
- stability ban — the verge (2024-03-11, reporting). stability ban
- ~$30m sale — the verge (2019-05-30, reporting). ~$30m sale; $306m peak; buckwald exits
- corroboration — webdesignerdepot.com (2023-08-23, reporting). corroboration
- topolsky interview — omny.fm (2022, interview). topolsky interview
- ocuspec history, rounds, acquisition — wikipedia (2026-09, reference). ocuspec history, rounds, acquisition
- version table — wikipedia (2026-09, reference). version table; beta july 12 2022; tpu note
- founded 2021, ~60 employees — wikipedia (2026-09, reference). founded 2021, ~60 employees
- recap of information interview — winbuzzer.com (2026-03-31, reporting). recap of information interview
Original source occurrences
- secondary aggregation of holz facts · goodindex.org · undated (unknown) · original ID: src-hp-goodindex-holz · Other public citations of this URL
secondary aggregation of holz facts
- corroboration · thehindu.com · 2024-02-09 (day) · original ID: src-hp-hindu-abbas-2024 · Other public citations of this URL
corroboration
- holz quotes reused in complaint · hollywoodreporter.com · 2025-06-11 (day) · original ID: src-hp-hollywoodreporter-disney-2025 · Other public citations of this URL
holz quotes reused in complaint
- office-hours recap · imagine-weekly.com · 2024-10-24 (day) · original ID: src-hp-imagineweekly-officehours-20241023 · Other public citations of this URL
office-hours recap
- founding story · inc. · 2013-06 (month) · original ID: src-hp-inc-leap-2013 · Other public citations of this URL
founding story; $45m raised; middle-school friends
- ultrahaptics+leap motion deal · ipgroupplc.com · 2019-05-30 (day) · original ID: src-hp-ipgroup-ultraleap-2019 · Other public citations of this URL
ultrahaptics+leap motion deal; holz quote
- tpu→gpu pytorch rewrite · itdoeswhatnow.com · 2026-03-17 (day) · original ID: src-hp-itdoeswhatnow-v8-2026 · Other public citations of this URL
tpu→gpu pytorch rewrite; ~5x faster
- head of consumer hardware · linkedin · undated (unknown) · original ID: src-hp-linkedin-abbas · Other public citations of this URL
head of consumer hardware
- spellbrush ceo · linkedin · undated (unknown) · original ID: src-hp-linkedin-coryli · Other public citations of this URL
spellbrush ceo
- founder & ceo, aug 2021– · linkedin · undated (unknown) · original ID: src-hp-linkedin-holz · Other public citations of this URL
founder & ceo, aug 2021–
- good enough quote re: sora · linkedin · 2024-03-27 (day) · original ID: src-hp-linkedin-sykes-officehours-20240327 · Other public citations of this URL
"good enough" quote re: sora
- nat friedman advisor · littlesis.org · undated (unknown) · original ID: src-hp-littlesis-friedman · Other public citations of this URL
nat friedman advisor
- niji 6 alpha jan 29 2024 · medium · 2024-02-02 (day) · original ID: src-hp-medium-niji6-2024 · Other public citations of this URL
niji 6 alpha jan 29 2024
- the 2022 about page (cached) · honeycomb.eurom.pt · 2022 (year) · original ID: src-hp-midjourney-about-cache · Other public citations of this URL
11 staff, advisors, mods list (3rd-party cache)
- community-funded research lab of 60 people · midjourney.com · 2026-09 (month) · original ID: src-hp-midjourney-home · Other public citations of this URL
"community-funded research lab of 60 people"
- midjourney medical announcement · midjourney.com · 2026-06-17 (day) · original ID: src-hp-midjourney-medical-2026 · Other public citations of this URL
spa 2027; 50k scanners by 2031; fda path
- --p details (unofficial mirror) · midjourney-v6.com · 2024-06-12 (day) · original ID: src-hp-midjourney-v6-personalization · Other public citations of this URL
--p details (unofficial mirror)
- in 10 years, an xbox that dreams · mixed-news.com · 2022 (year) · original ID: src-hp-mixednews-holz · Other public citations of this URL
100k+ customers, ~10k servers, ~10 employees
- --cref launch · updates.midjourney.com · 2024-03-12 (day) · original ID: src-hp-mjupdates-cref-2024 · Other public citations of this URL
--cref launch
- editor + retexturing + moderation · updates.midjourney.com · 2024-10-23 (day) · original ID: src-hp-mjupdates-editor-2024 · Other public citations of this URL
editor + retexturing + moderation
- first secret hardware project 6/17 livestream · updates.midjourney.com · 2026-06-16 (day) · original ID: src-hp-mjupdates-hw-2026 · Other public citations of this URL
"first secret hardware project" 6/17 livestream
- midjourney tv + personalized feeds · updates.midjourney.com · 2025-07-30 (day) · original ID: src-hp-mjupdates-mjtv-2025 · Other public citations of this URL
midjourney tv + personalized feeds
- niji v7 · updates.midjourney.com · 2026-01-09 (day) · original ID: src-hp-mjupdates-nijiv7-2026 · Other public citations of this URL
niji v7
- patchwork launch · updates.midjourney.com · 2024-12-11 (day) · original ID: src-hp-mjupdates-patchwork-2024 · Other public citations of this URL
patchwork launch
- rooms for ≥100-image members · updates.midjourney.com · 2024-05-24 (day) · original ID: src-hp-mjupdates-rooms-2024 · Other public citations of this URL
rooms for ≥100-image members
- v7 default · updates.midjourney.com · 2025-06-17 (day) · original ID: src-hp-mjupdates-v7default-2025 · Other public citations of this URL
v7 default
- relax mode · updates.midjourney.com · 2026-03-21 (day) · original ID: src-hp-mjupdates-v8relax-2026 · Other public citations of this URL
relax mode; v8.1 tease
- video options + moodboards · updates.midjourney.com · 2025-08-13 (day) · original ID: src-hp-mjupdates-video-opts-2025 · Other public citations of this URL
video options + moodboards
- holz at isef 2025 · youtube · 2025-06-01 (day) · original ID: src-hp-nathanma-isef-2025 · Other public citations of this URL
holz at isef 2025
- english recap of name origin · officechai · undated (unknown) · original ID: src-hp-officechai-name · Other public citations of this URL
english recap of name origin
- 611 gateway ste 120 south sf · opengovus.com · undated (unknown) · original ID: src-hp-opengovus-midjourney · Other public citations of this URL
611 gateway ste 120 south sf; start 2020-09-16
- quoted passages from the profile · michaelparekh.substack.com · 2023-09-06 (day) · original ID: src-hp-parekh-2023 · Other public citations of this URL
quoted passages from the profile
- alpha web, 10k+ users · petapixel.com · 2023-12-14 (day) · original ID: src-hp-petapixel-alpha-2023 · Other public citations of this URL
alpha web, 10k+ users
- corroboration · petapixel.com · 2024-03-12 (day) · original ID: src-hp-petapixel-cref-2024 · Other public citations of this URL
corroboration
- /describe april 4 2023 · petapixel.com · 2023-04-05 (day) · original ID: src-hp-petapixel-describe-2023 · Other public citations of this URL
/describe april 4 2023
- holz restrict the deployment · petapixel.com · 2024-10-23 (day) · original ID: src-hp-petapixel-editor-2024 · Other public citations of this URL
holz "restrict the deployment"
- officially getting into hardware aug 28 · petapixel.com · 2024-08-29 (day) · original ID: src-hp-petapixel-hardware-2024 · Other public citations of this URL
"officially getting into hardware" aug 28; >$200m rev; <100 people
- nick st · petapixel.com · 2024-03-08 (day) · original ID: src-hp-petapixel-stability-2024 · Other public citations of this URL
nick st. pierre relay
- spellbrush×midjourney mobile app · product hunt · undated (unknown) · original ID: src-hp-producthunt-niji · Other public citations of this URL
spellbrush×midjourney mobile app
- 23k sqft, 4 floors, 10-yr lease, jll · therealdeal.com · 2026-06-22 (day) · original ID: src-hp-realdeal-300grant-2026 · Other public citations of this URL
23k sqft, 4 floors, 10-yr lease, jll
- we're already profitable · theregister.com · 2022-08-01 (day) · original ID: src-hp-register-holz-2022 · Other public citations of this URL
"already profitable"; clip-guided diffusion; crowson
- butterfly network partner · theregister.com · 2026-06-18 (day) · original ID: src-hp-register-medical-2026 · Other public citations of this URL
butterfly network partner; $74m/5yr; fuct/usct
- corroboration · news.theregistrysf.com · 2026-06-22 (day) · original ID: src-hp-registry-300grant-2026 · Other public citations of this URL
corroboration
- +runway, +7 artists · reuters · 2023-11-30 (day) · original ID: src-hp-reuters-andersen-2023 · Other public citations of this URL
+runway, +7 artists
- exec titles (reliability caveat) · rocketreach.co · undated (unknown) · original ID: src-hp-rocketreach-midjourney · Other public citations of this URL
exec titles (reliability caveat)
- --weird dropped 2023-06-30 · runtheprompts.com · 2023-07-12 (day) · original ID: src-hp-runtheprompts-weird · Other public citations of this URL
--weird dropped 2023-06-30
- office-hours notes on qq · scmp.com · 2023-05-18 (day) · original ID: src-hp-scmp-mjchina-2023 · Other public citations of this URL
office-hours notes on qq; pengyuhui jv
- version date corroboration · scriptbyai.com · undated (unknown) · original ID: src-hp-scriptbyai-timeline · Other public citations of this URL
version date corroboration
- 300 grant · sfstandard.com · 2026-06-19 (day) · original ID: src-hp-sfstandard-medical-2026 · Other public citations of this URL
300 grant; bryan johnson; ~30k livestream viewers
- tos south sf address · siliconvalleyinvestclub.com · undated (unknown) · original ID: src-hp-siliconvalleyinvestclub · Other public citations of this URL
tos south sf address; aug 2021 founding
- unc/nasa/max planck · societyforscience.org · undated (unknown) · original ID: src-hp-societyforscience-bio · Other public citations of this URL
unc/nasa/max planck; nlc 2020
- isef alum interview · societyforscience.org · 2025 (year) · original ID: src-hp-societyforscience-holz · Other public citations of this URL
isef alum interview; teca; trustee
- $500m arr claim — unverified · startup founder stories · undated (unknown) · original ID: src-hp-startupfounderstories-500m · Other public citations of this URL
$500m arr claim — unverified
- exists · stratechery · 2022-11-10 (day) · original ID: src-hp-stratechery-holz-2022 · Other public citations of this URL
exists; contents unverified
- midjourney alpha · tech.co · 2023-12-14 (day) · original ID: src-hp-techco-alpha-2023 · Other public citations of this URL
17.5m discord members
- ocuspec→leap motion rename · techcrunch · 2012-05-09 (day) · original ID: src-hp-techcrunch-leapmotion-2012 · Other public citations of this URL
ocuspec→leap motion rename; $12.75m series a
- midjourney china qq episode · techcrunch · 2023-05-16 (day) · original ID: src-hp-techcrunch-mjchina-2023 · Other public citations of this URL
"midjourney china" qq episode
- ocuspec $1 · techcrunch · 2011-06-10 (day) · original ID: src-hp-techcrunch-ocuspec-2011 · Other public citations of this URL
ocuspec $1.3m seed; bill warner angel
- ultrahaptics and leap motion join forces · techspark.co · 2019-05-30 (day) · original ID: src-hp-techspark-ultraleap-2019 · Other public citations of this URL
£23.4m; holz remains cto
- revenue significantly >$200m · the information · 2026-03 (month) · original ID: src-hp-theinformation-abrambrown · Other public citations of this URL
revenue "significantly" >$200m
- $200m expectation · the information · 2023-09 (month) · original ID: src-hp-theinformation-briefing-2023 · Other public citations of this URL
$200m expectation
- holz interview · the information · 2026-03-29 (day) · original ID: src-hp-theinformation-hw-2026 · Other public citations of this URL
holz interview; hardware/vc
- time100 ai: david holz · time.com · 2025 (year) · original ID: src-hp-time100-holz-2025 · Other public citations of this URL
time100 ai; $300m 2024; midjourney tv
- max kreminski, storytelling lab · tomsguide.com · 2024-12-12 (day) · original ID: src-hp-tomsguide-patchwork-2024 · Other public citations of this URL
max kreminski, storytelling lab
- personalization test · tomsguide.com · 2024-06-13 (day) · original ID: src-hp-tomsguide-personalize-2024 · Other public citations of this URL
personalization test
- world simulation office-hours quotes · tomsguide.com · 2024-03 (month) · original ID: src-hp-tomsguide-worldsim-2024 · Other public citations of this URL
"world simulation" office-hours quotes
- moodboards dec 16 2024 · torybarber.com · 2024-12-17 (day) · original ID: src-hp-torybarber-moodboards · Other public citations of this URL
moodboards dec 16 2024
- uist 23 keynote · programs.sigchi.org · 2023-10-30 (day) · original ID: src-hp-uist-holz-2023 · Other public citations of this URL
uist '23 keynote
- ~20m users · venturebeat · 2025-06 (month) · original ID: src-hp-venturebeat-video-2025 · Other public citations of this URL
~20m users
- midjourney style list 4,700 artists detail · the verge · 2024-08-13 (day) · original ID: src-hp-verge-andersen-2024 · Other public citations of this URL
"midjourney style list" 4,700 artists detail
- an engine for the imagination · the verge · 2022-08-02 (day) · original ID: src-hp-verge-holz-2022 · Other public citations of this URL
canonical holz interview; all verbatim quotes
- scanner details · the verge · 2026-06 (month) · original ID: src-hp-verge-medical-2026 · Other public citations of this URL
scanner details; ~12 scanned; holz quotes
- stability ban · the verge · 2024-03-11 (day) · original ID: src-hp-verge-stability-2024 · Other public citations of this URL
stability ban
- ~$30m sale · the verge · 2019-05-30 (day) · original ID: src-hp-verge-ultraleap-2019 · Other public citations of this URL
~$30m sale; $306m peak; buckwald exits
- corroboration · webdesignerdepot.com · 2023-08-23 (day) · original ID: src-hp-wdd-varyregion-2023 · Other public citations of this URL
corroboration
- topolsky interview · omny.fm · 2022 (year) · original ID: src-hp-whatfuture-holz-2022 · Other public citations of this URL
topolsky interview
- ocuspec history, rounds, acquisition · wikipedia · 2026-09 (month) · original ID: src-hp-wikipedia-leapmotion · Other public citations of this URL
ocuspec history, rounds, acquisition
- version table · wikipedia · 2026-09 (month) · original ID: src-hp-wikipedia-midjourney · Other public citations of this URL
version table; beta july 12 2022; tpu note
- founded 2021, ~60 employees · wikipedia · 2026-09 (month) · original ID: src-hp-wikipedia-midjourney-inc · Other public citations of this URL
founded 2021, ~60 employees
- recap of information interview · winbuzzer.com · 2026-03-31 (day) · original ID: src-hp-winbuzzer-2026 · Other public citations of this URL
recap of information interview