“The Lord of the Rings,” or LotR to those in the know, isn’t just standard reading among those in the tech industry.
It also inspires their ventures.
Billionaire PayPal cofounder Peter Thiel, for instance, has started several companies inspired by the J.R.R. Tolkien series.
The fantasy trilogy, a sequel to 1937’s “The Hobbit,” was first published in the mid-1950s. It follows an unlikely hero, Frodo Baggins, as he and a team of allies adventure across Middle Earth to destroy a powerful ring that could bring darkness to the world if it fell into the hands of Sauron, the dark lord.
On Halloween in 2018, the Salesforce Tower, a hallmark of the San Francisco skyline, was lit to resemble the ever-watchful “Eye of Sauron.”
“‘Lord of the Rings’ represents a group of people going out and doing something extraordinary,” Quinn Reilly, a longtime fan who helped organize the Salesforce tower lighting, previously told BI. “That’s not unlike the mission that most startups set out to go on.”
Here is an ongoing list of Silicon Valley’s top “Lord of the Rings”-inspired companies.
Erebor
Billionaire tech founder Palmer Luckey’s new digital bank for startups and cryptocurrency companies is named after the Lonely Mountain, the wealthy subterranean kingdom and Dwarven stronghold in “The Lord of the Rings.”
The bank is set to be valued at $2 billion, sources told BI, and has funding from Thiel, via his Founders Fund, and Joe Lonsdale, via 8VC.
Anduril
Another Luckey venture, the defense-tech startup Anduril, founded in 2017, is named after the legendary sword used by Aragorn, a hero in “The Lord of the Rings” story. Anduril means “Flame of the West.”
The company has been at the forefront of AI-powered innovations in warfare, from drones to autonomous weapons systems.
Palantir
Palantir — founded in 2003 by Peter Thiel, Joe Lonsdale, Stephen Cohen, and Alex Karp — is a government-focused software giant. It takes its name from the mystical, all-powerful seeing stone in “The Lord of the Rings” series.
Mithril Capital
Thiel launched Mithril Capital in 2012 to invest in late-stage startups. The firm, which counts Vice President JD Vance among its alumni, takes its name from a valuable and rare precious metal used to make armor and jewelry in “The Lord of the Rings.” It’s a symbol of wealth and status.
Durin Mining
The startup, founded by Ted Feldmann last year, builds and automates drill rigs for mineral discovery. Its name is inspired by a lineage of dwarf kings in “The Lord of the Rings.” Dwarves are famous for their mining skills.
Rivendell One LLC
Rivendell, often described in the novels as a hidden sanctuary in Middle Earth, is home to the elven kingdom. It is also a trust that Thiel uses to invest and manage his Facebook shares.
Lembas LLC
Lembas, another investment vehicle Thiel founded, is a special food made by elves in “The Lord of the Rings” series. It’s light and nutritious and a good snack that sustains elves as they travel across Middle Earth.
Valar Ventures
Valar Ventures, a venture capital firm cofounded by Thiel, Andrew McCormack, and James Fitzgerald, is a reference to a group of powerful beings with godlike powers revered in Middle Earth.
There’s also a startup called Valar that is building gigasites for nuclear reactors.
Sauron Systems
This home security system that leverages AI is named after Sauron, the main character of “The Lord of the Rings,” who seeks the powerful ring to rule all of Middle Earth. The Eye of Sauron is ever-watchful and all-seeing.
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