Season 3 Episode 6 with Masha Bucher

Giving Back is Dead

In this special episode of Giving Back Is Dead, recorded at OFFSCREEN in Paris during our third year at the fair, we sit down with Masha Bucher, Founder and General Partner at Day One Ventures. Masha is an influential investor and entrepreneur whose vision for the future combines the power of technology with the cultural depth of art. Masha explores how technology can solve some of the most pressing global issues—like cancer, climate change, and inequality—but she also highlights a critical disconnect: as tech accelerates, the gap between innovators and the broader society widens, making it harder for solutions to reach those who need them most.

Through an inspiring conversation, Masha reveals her belief in the transformative power of art in bridging this gap. She explains how involving artists in the development and dissemination of cutting-edge technologies can ensure that these solutions are not only understood but also embraced by the public. She sees museums as key spaces where tech and art can intersect, particularly in smaller, specialized institutions that are more open to experimentation. These museums can align with her vision by providing platforms to explore ideas around humanity’s future. Hosting workshops would bring together diverse thinkers—technologists, artists, and entrepreneurs—to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration. Hackathons could serve as a gateway, opening museum spaces to the tech community and driving organic innovation. By engaging with early-stage founders, museums can build trust and cultivate long-term relationships, supporting them before they achieve widespread success.

Masha is also deeply inspired by history, particularly the Renaissance, and has been contemplating how a similar cultural and intellectual awakening can be sparked today. She believes that, just like in past eras, we have the potential to fuse art, science, and technology to ignite a movement that propels society forward. In her view, creating opportunities for artists and tech entrepreneurs to work together is the key to unlocking this potential.

Masha’s approach to innovation goes beyond funding or philanthropy; it's about creating genuine connections between people from different worlds—artists, tech entrepreneurs, and investors—through shared spaces and open dialogue. She believes that good taste, cultivated through art, is a universal muscle that enhances not just the appreciation of creativity but also the quality of tech products and business ventures. It's this philosophy that has helped her identify promising tech companies and entrepreneurs early on, offering a fresh perspective on how culture can influence the evolution of the tech industry.

Throughout this episode, Masha challenges us to think differently about philanthropy and giving back. Rather than simply donating or backing causes, she advocates for fostering environments where organic, meaningful connections can grow—connections that drive real, lasting change for both society and the industries shaping our future.