MagnetLab
An early-stage AI automation startup that served as the incubator for the SPARC engine.
MagnetLab was an entrepreneurial venture co-founded by Axion's founder, Ethan Cornwill. Although it did not achieve commercial viability, it was a critical step in the journey, providing foundational lessons in team-building, strategy, and technology that directly inform Axion's current model.
Mission & Structure
The venture had two primary goals: to build a sustainable business and to serve as a critical portfolio piece to help its early-career team members break into the technology industry.
As Co-Founder & Lead Engineer, Ethan architected the company's core proprietary asset: the SPARC development engine. The business strategy was to use SPARC as an internal tool to rapidly build software products for clients.
Outcome and Strategic Learnings
The venture eventually stalled due to an irreconcilable misalignment in strategic vision between the co-founders. One path favored pivoting toward building proprietary AI solutions, while the other focused on a digital agency model.
This experience solidified a core principle of Axion Ventures: **a cohesive vision and a defined business plan must exist *before* bringing on partners.** This prevents wasted effort and ensures everyone is rowing in the same direction from day one.
The SPARC framework, having been developed independently, was retained by the founder as a personal asset and became a cornerstone of the Axion Ventures studio model.
The lessons from MagnetLab are not a footnote; they are embedded in the DNA of how we build companies today.
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