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Venture Capital

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The official channel of V3V Ventures. We share updates on our investments, portfolio companies, and fund activities.

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Venture Capital (English)

Are you interested in discovering new investment opportunities, staying updated with market trends, and gaining insights from industry leaders in the field of venture capital? Look no further than our Telegram channel, 'Venture Capital'! Venture capital is a type of private equity financing that investors provide to startup companies and small businesses that are believed to have long-term growth potential. It is an essential component of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, fueling innovation, job creation, and economic growth. Our channel is dedicated to providing you with valuable information, resources, and opportunities in the world of venture capital. Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur looking for funding, an investor seeking the next big opportunity, or simply curious about the latest trends in the industry, our channel has something for everyone. You will have access to exclusive insights from industry experts, analysis of market trends, and tips for successful investing. Stay ahead of the curve and make informed decisions with the help of our channel. Join our Telegram channel 'Venture Capital' today to start your journey towards financial success and growth. Discover the potential of venture capital, connect with like-minded individuals, and gain the knowledge and tools you need to succeed in the world of investing. Don't miss out on this opportunity to expand your horizons and take your financial future into your own hands. We look forward to welcoming you to our community of entrepreneurs, investors, and industry professionals. Let's embark on this exciting venture together!

Venture Capital

17 Feb, 15:06


💼 Marc Andreessen wants to make a16z a lasting company

Many wonder if Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), the $45B venture giant, will go public. Co-founder Marc Andreessen says he’s not rushing into an IPO but aims to turn a16z into a long-term investment business that stands the test of time.

The Problem with Venture Capital Firms
Traditional VC firms operate as partnerships—small groups of investors making decisions together. But this model heavily relies on individuals and loses value when the founding partners step away.

What’s Andreessen’s Vision?
He takes inspiration from JP Morgan and Blackstone, which started small but grew into financial powerhouses. He believes a16z should function as a real business—with structured management, scalability, and long-term sustainability.

Why Does This Matter?
Andreessen wants a16z to keep investing and supporting founders across generations. Plus, as he bluntly put it: "In most partnerships, people eventually realize they don’t actually like each other that much."

Will a16z become the next Goldman Sachs?🤔

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Venture Capital

13 Feb, 15:06


🎙VC Sheel Mohnot on Twitter fame, Fintech, and AI hype

If you follow fintech on X, you've probably come across Sheel Mohnot, co-founder of Better Tomorrow Ventures (BTV). With 150K+ followers, he’s not just a well-known investor but also a social media personality.

⭐️Fintech & Investments
Sheel's firm, BTV, manages $300M and focuses on pre-seed & seed-stage fintech startups. They’ve backed AngelList, Charlie, Coast, and Unit, and run the Mint accelerator.

⭐️Viral Moments & Social Media Strategy
From posting memes to appearing in a Justin Bieber video, Sheel's online presence has helped attract founders and win deals. His metaverse wedding with Taco Bell? Just another chapter in his unconventional story.

⭐️Fintech is back!
Sheel believes the market is heating up again, with more exits on the horizon. His biggest bets?

"Everything is fintech" – SaaS and B2B marketplaces integrating financial services
Accounting startups – A growing sector due to the shortage of accountants

⭐️AI Startups: Hype vs. Reality
Sheel sees many companies claiming to be AI-driven, but only a few truly are. However, he notes that recent developments like DeepSeek are driving down AI costs, benefiting startups using AI in meaningful ways.

💬 What do you think - are we in an AI bubble, or is fintech + AI the future? Let’s discuss!

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Venture Capital

10 Feb, 15:06


🔍 The AI Startup that creates jobs – not just replaces them

Silicon Valley is racing to build AI agents that automate human labor, putting millions of jobs at risk. But VC Mike Ghaffary of Burst Capital is on a mission to back startups that don’t just replace jobs—they create well-paying, middle-class jobs for people without AI or ML degrees.

He’s looking for companies that:

Empower small business owners (like Owner or GlossGenius)
Automate tasks while keeping jobs intact
Use AI for vocational training in high-paying trades (electricians, plumbers, etc.)

💬 Ghaffary believes that without startups focusing on job creation, society will face massive underemployment. Could your startup be the solution?

What do you think? Drop your thoughts below!👇

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Venture Capital

07 Feb, 15:06


🍒 Cherry Ventures rises $500M Fund

Can it fuel Europe’s first Trillion-Dollar Startup?💵

Berlin-based VC firm Cherry Ventures has raised a new $500M fund, aiming to back early-stage startups and support Series B+ follow-ons. But will it be enough to compete with U.S. giants?

Bold Vision – Cherry wants to build Europe’s first trillion-dollar company and push back against pessimism about the region’s startup ecosystem.

Tough Competition – U.S. AI startups raised $97B, while Europe’s AI funding lags at $8B.

Not the Biggest Player – Cherry didn’t make last year’s HEC-Dow Jones VC ranking, while Balderton Capital recently secured $1.3B for European tech.

Diverse Portfolio – Includes The Exploration Company (space tech), Flink (grocery delivery), Robeaute (neurosurgical microbots), and logistics unicorn Forto.

Strong Backers – LPs include Miki Kusi (Wolt), Ilkka Paananen (Supercell), and Jochen Engert (Flix).

Will this fund be enough to drive Europe’s next big wave

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Venture Capital

04 Feb, 15:06


📈 IPO Buzz for 2025: Companies ready to go Public 🚀

Tech companies are gearing up for an exciting 2025, with IPOs expected to heat up across various sectors like fintech, space tech, and AI. Fueled by a more favorable regulatory climate, here’s a glimpse of the companies in the works for their IPOs this year:

Filed in 2025:

🟠eToro (Israel): A $5B valuation in the works for this popular trading platform.

🟠Voyager Technologies (US): Valued at $2-3B, this space & defense tech company is set to go public.

🟠Karman Holdings (US): Aiming to raise $100M, this missile tech startup could reach a $3B valuation.

In the Works Since 2024:

🟠Chime (US): This digital bank plans its IPO in 2025, aiming to hit a $25B valuation.

🟠Klarna (Sweden): The buy-now-pay-later fintech, valued at $14.6B, is set for a 2025 debut.

🟠Genesys (US): AI cloud startup eyes a 2025 IPO with a potential $2B raise.

🟠Cerebras (US): Competing with Nvidia, this chip startup may go public after raising its $4B valuation.

Trying Since 2023:

🟠Shein (Singapore/China): After setbacks, this fast-fashion giant is still trying to IPO with a $45B valuation.

🟠Oyo (India): Aiming for an IPO in early 2025 after previous attempts fell through, valued at $3.8B.

Expect more companies to hit the market, with a new wave of tech-driven IPOs poised to reshape industries in 2025💡

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Venture Capital

01 Feb, 15:06


🧱 “Want to build Lego? Sign this NDA first!”

Nat Friedman, former GitHub CEO and well-known tech investor, has made an *unusual* offer on X (formerly Twitter):

*“Need volunteers to come to my office in Palo Alto today to construct a 5,000-piece Lego set. Will provide pizza. Have to sign NDA. Please DM.”*

Yes, you read that right. Legos, pizza, and... an NDA? 👀

🔒Why the NDA?
- Is Friedman hiding a secret Lego cult?
- Does he have access to ultra-rare Lego sets (the Birkin bags of the nerd world)?
- Or is he just protecting the location of his office from overzealous Stanford sophomores?


😮 The Mystery Deepens:
While building Legos with a tech legend sounds like a dream Friday night, the NDA has everyone wondering: *What’s so secretive about a Lego session?*

😀 Hot Take:
If you’re in Palo Alto and love Legos (and don’t mind signing an NDA for the lowest-stakes secret ever), this might be your chance to join the weirdest Silicon Valley gathering of the year.

And if you go, please break the NDA and tell us what really happened😄

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Venture Capital

28 Jan, 08:25


🚀 TravelPerk raises $200M as valuation nearly doubles to $2.7B!

TravelPerk, the business travel management platform, has just secured a massive $200 million in funding, pushing its valuation to $2.7 billion — nearly double its previous figure!

📈 Investors are clearly confident in TravelPerk’s potential, especially as the business travel market continues to recover post-pandemic. The platform offers seamless booking, trip management, and reporting tools, making it a favorite among companies worldwide.

What’s next? TravelPerk plans to expand its services, invest in new technologies, and strengthen its market position.

Do you use tools like TravelPerk for business travel? Share your thoughts in the comments!👇

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Venture Capital

24 Jan, 20:19


⚡️ Neko, the body-scanning startup co-founded by Spotify’s Daniel Ek, snaps up $260M at a $1.8B valuation

Neko Health, a body-scanning startup co-founded by Spotify's Daniel Ek, has raised $260 million in a Series B funding round, valuing the company at $1.8 billion. The funding will help Neko expand into new markets, particularly the U.S., where demand is high, and allow for the development of new diagnostic technologies and additional clinics. Neko has seen significant interest, with a waitlist growing to over 100,000 people.

The startup focuses on preventative healthcare, offering comprehensive health assessments using proprietary technology that generates extensive health data. Its clinics provide detailed examinations for various health risks, and a majority of customers rebook for follow-up appointments. Neko aims to innovate in the healthcare space by vertically integrating its services, making its own medical devices and software, and continually enhancing its offerings.

The funding round was led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, with participation from other investors. As healthcare increasingly shifts towards preventative measures, Neko positions itself as a key player in this evolving landscape.

💬 Source

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Venture Capital

21 Jan, 16:23


⚙️ RedNote, Flip, Clapper and Likee claim the top of the App Store as TikTok comes back online

As TikTok returns online after a brief ban, several competing apps have surged in popularity, dominating the App Store's top charts. RedNote (Xiaohongshu) has claimed the No. 1 spot, gaining 700,000 new U.S. users during the TikTok ban. Other apps like Clapper, Flip, and Likee also ranked high, with Clapper and Likee taking the No. 4 and No. 2 spots, respectively.

The TikTok outage prompted users to explore alternatives, signaling a preference for Chinese apps over Instagram. Despite TikTok's restoration, these competitors continue to thrive, with significant download increases reported. Notably, VPN apps also saw a spike in downloads as users attempted to bypass restrictions during the ban. The app landscape is expected to shift again as users reconsider their choices with TikTok back online.

💬 Source

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Venture Capital

16 Jan, 10:18


🌐 China is reportedly open to Elon Musk acquiring TikTok US

Chinese officials are reportedly considering the possibility of selling TikTok's U.S. operations to Elon Musk if the Supreme Court upholds a law banning the app. While the Chinese government prefers that TikTok remains under ByteDance's ownership, discussions about a sale to Musk are seen as part of a strategy to engage with the incoming Trump administration.

If the acquisition occurs, Musk’s company, X, would gain access to TikTok's 170 million American users and significant advertising revenue. However, a TikTok spokesperson dismissed the report as "pure fiction." The extent of ByteDance and TikTok's awareness of these discussions remains unclear, suggesting potential Chinese influence over the platform.

💬 Source

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Venture Capital

13 Jan, 10:57


‼️ UK in-home healthcare provider Cera raises $150M to expand its AI platform

Cera, a UK in-home healthcare provider, has raised $150 million in a mix of debt and equity to expand its AI-driven platform. This funding comes amid increasing pressure on public healthcare systems, particularly the NHS, which is struggling post-pandemic. The investment was led by funds affiliated with BDT & MSD Partners and Schroders Capital.

Cera's platform utilizes proprietary AI modeling to analyze patient data, which has reportedly led to significant reductions in hospitalizations, patient falls, and faster hospital discharges. The company claims to be EBITA-positive and free cash flow positive, indicating a shift towards self-sustainability. With this new funding, Cera aims to enhance its services and technology, positioning itself as a major player in the home healthcare space, covering approximately 30 million people in the UK. Cera's success highlights its role in alleviating pressure on the NHS while providing comprehensive home healthcare services.

💬 Source

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Venture Capital

07 Jan, 16:37


😥Microsoft to pump $3 billion into cloud and AI push in India

Microsoft plans to invest $3 billion in India to enhance its cloud and AI capabilities, aiming to expand Azure services and upskill 10 million people by 2030. CEO Satya Nadella announced this initiative during an event in Bengaluru, highlighting the growing demand for Microsoft’s technologies among Indian clients, including firms like Infosys and Air India.

This investment is part of a broader strategy by American tech giants to establish a significant presence in India, which has become a crucial market for technology development. More than 17 million developers in India utilize Microsoft's GitHub platform, showcasing the company's significant footprint in the region.

💬 Source

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Venture Capital

07 Jan, 09:33


🔻 Nvidia unveils $2,000 RTX 5090 GPU

Nvidia has unveiled its new RTX 5090 GPU during CES 2025, priced at $2,000. This GPU features 92 billion transistors, 4,000 AT TOPS, 380 ray-tracing TFLOPS, and 1.8 TB/s bandwidth, promising to outperform its predecessor, the RTX 4090, by up to 2x. The RTX 5090 is part of the Blackwell family, which aims to enhance gaming and creative applications through AI-driven rendering technologies.

In addition to the RTX 5090, the lineup includes the RTX 8050, 5070 Ti, and 5070, priced at $999, $749, and $549, respectively. Laptops equipped with these GPUs will start at nearly $3,000 and will be available beginning in March. Nvidia's CEO, Jensen Huang, emphasized the GPU's role in revolutionizing graphics technology, likening it to past innovations in computer graphics.

💬 Source

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Venture Capital

06 Jan, 17:41


🔵 Accel could raise billions for India, but it’s sticking to $650 million

Accel has opted to maintain its India fund size at $650 million for its eighth vehicle, despite opportunities to raise significantly more. Partner Shekhar Kirani explained that while other firms are increasing their funds, Accel believes that exceeding $650 million makes it challenging to generate high-quality returns. The firm has a history of strong performance in India, exemplified by early investments in successful startups like Swiggy.

Accel's strategy focuses on investing in approximately 40 companies annually from a pool of around 300 emerging startups. The firm is particularly interested in wealthtech and AI-driven software companies, as well as opportunities in smaller towns and villages, which it refers to as "Bharat." This approach aims to tap into the significant spending power of the top income quintile in these areas.

💬 Source

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Venture Capital

06 Jan, 09:46


🚨 OpenAI is losing money on its pricey ChatGPT Pro plan, CEO Sam Altman says

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed that the company is currently losing money on its $200-per-month ChatGPT Pro plan due to higher-than-expected usage. Despite raising around $20 billion since its inception, OpenAI is not profitable, projecting losses of about $5 billion against $3.7 billion in revenue for the previous year. Operational costs, including staffing and AI training, contribute to these losses, with expenses for ChatGPT reaching approximately $700,000 daily.

As OpenAI seeks to attract new investments through corporate restructuring, it may consider increasing subscription prices to achieve profitability. The company optimistically projects its revenue could reach $100 billion by 2029.

💬 Source

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Venture Capital

05 Jan, 16:42


📱 Microsoft to spend $80 billion in FY’25 on data centers for AI

Microsoft plans to invest $80 billion in fiscal year 2025 to build data centers specifically designed for artificial intelligence (AI) workloads. More than half of this investment will be allocated in the United States. The new AI-enabled data centers aim to train AI models and deploy cloud-based applications globally. Microsoft Vice Chair Brad Smith emphasized that AI is set to drive innovation and productivity across various sectors.

Additionally, there have been discussions between Microsoft and OpenAI regarding a facility to house an AI supercomputer called Stargate, which could cost over $100 billion to construct. As the demand for AI technology grows, concerns about power shortages for data centers due to AI's high energy consumption are also anticipated.

💬 Source

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Venture Capital

05 Jan, 09:35


🔺 Lyft will credit NYC riders for congestion fee throughout January

Lyft will credit New York City riders for the new congestion fee throughout January 2025. This fee, aimed at reducing traffic in lower Manhattan and funding mass transit, charges $1.50 per ride for services like Lyft and Uber during peak hours, in addition to an existing $2.75 fee for rides that begin, end, or pass through Manhattan below 96th Street.

Lyft's credits can be used for future rides or Citi Bike rentals, which the company describes as a gesture to help users adjust to this new expense.

💬 Source

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Venture Capital

04 Jan, 17:47


🫶 New ship, new year: SpaceX to deploy model Starlink satellites on next Starship launch

SpaceX is set to enhance its Starship test flight program with an upcoming launch that will deploy 10 model Starlink satellites. These simulators will mimic the size and weight of the next-generation V3 satellites, which are expected to significantly increase the Starlink network's capacity. The V3 satellites will have over 10 times the downlink and 24 times the uplink capacity compared to the previous V2 Mini satellites.

The launch will also showcase various upgrades to the Starship, including improvements to its propulsion system, avionics, and heat shield. Additionally, SpaceX aims to successfully "catch" the Super Heavy booster during this test, a feat they achieved in a previous launch. The deployment of the V3 satellites will mark a critical step in SpaceX’s plans to expand its satellite constellation using Starship, which can carry more payload than the Falcon 9 rocket currently in use.

💬 Source

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Venture Capital

04 Jan, 09:46


⚠️ Generative AI funding reached new heights in 2024

In 2024, funding for generative AI reached unprecedented levels, totaling $56 billion across 885 deals, a 192% increase from 2023's $29.1 billion. Major investments included Databricks' $10 billion Series J and OpenAI's $6.6 billion round. Despite a surge in funding, concerns about market saturation and sustainability arise, as many startups focus on similar verticals.

The U.S. dominated this investment landscape, attracting the majority of funds, while notable international players like Moonshot AI and Mistral also secured significant backing. Looking ahead, experts warn that technical challenges and high operational costs may hinder less-funded startups, especially as investor scrutiny on revenue growth intensifies. The infrastructure layer of generative AI, including data center startups, continues to thrive amid rising demand.

💬 Source

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Venture Capital

03 Jan, 17:26


🔔 Cloudflare’s VPN app among half-dozen pulled from Indian app stores

More than half a dozen VPN apps, including Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1, have been removed from India’s Apple App Store and Google Play Store following government intervention. The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs issued orders for the removals, citing violations of Indian law. This action is part of the enforcement of a 2022 regulatory framework requiring VPN providers to maintain extensive records of users, including personal information and transaction histories.

The move has sparked backlash from major VPN providers, with some, like NordVPN and ExpressVPN, ceasing to market their services in India while still maintaining operations. This marks the first significant application of the new regulatory rules, which have raised concerns in the industry regarding privacy and compliance.

💬 Source

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Venture Capital

03 Jan, 10:26


⚡️ Peter Thiel-backed venture debt firm Tacora raises $268.7M for new fund

Tacora Capital, a venture debt firm backed by Peter Thiel, has raised $268.7 million for its second fund. This follows an inaugural fund that raised about $350 million in 2022, which included a significant investment from Thiel. While it’s unclear if Thiel participated in this latest round, Tacora’s CEO, Keri Findley, noted the new fund aims to address demand for flexible financing solutions.

Tacora specializes in providing loans to startups, particularly in capital-intensive sectors like fintech and hardware, allowing founders to secure funding without diluting equity. The firm focuses on lending against strong assets to mitigate the risks associated with venture debt.

💬 Source

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Venture Capital

02 Jan, 17:11


🔄 Robinhood, already a ‘comeback’ stock, has even more aggressive plans for 2025

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev is celebrating the company's recognition as Yahoo Finance's "comeback stock" of the year after a tumultuous period following its 2021 IPO. The company plans to leverage a favorable regulatory environment anticipated with a potential second Trump administration, focusing on cryptocurrency and new trading strategies like copytrading and prediction markets.

Tenev highlighted the success of their recent presidential election market, which generated significant trading activity. Looking ahead, Robinhood aims to expand into event contracts related to various sectors, including politics and economics, potentially reshaping how users engage with financial markets.

💬 Source

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Venture Capital

02 Jan, 10:07


Accel closes $650 million for new India fund

Accel has raised $650 million for its eighth India fund, marking a significant expansion of its investment strategy in the South Asian market. This fund follows its previous one from March 2022. Accel has a strong track record in India, having invested in notable companies like Flipkart and Swiggy.

The firm aims to capitalize on the evolving Indian startup landscape, which has seen increased public listings and a focus on rural markets. Accel remains one of the few Silicon Valley firms that maintains its Indian unit, contrasting with competitors like Sequoia and Matrix, who have separated their India operations.

💬 Source

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Venture Capital

01 Jan, 17:02


🔸 Elon Musk’s promises for Tesla in 2024, from robotaxis to Optimus bots

In 2024, Elon Musk made several ambitious promises for Tesla, despite a history of missed deadlines. Key highlights include:

1. $25,000 EV: Musk initially pledged to unveil a low-cost electric vehicle but later scrapped the idea, claiming it was "pointless." He indicated that future vehicles would focus on autonomy instead.

2. Cybercab Production: Musk announced plans to start production of the Cybercab, a robotaxi without traditional controls, by 2025 or 2026. He aims for a price under $30,000 and an operating cost of $0.20 per mile.

3. Robovan Development: A prototype Robovan is in development, although specific plans remain unclear.

4. Unsupervised FSD: Musk stated that Tesla would introduce an "unsupervised" Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature and a ride-hailing service in California and Texas by 2025.

5. Optimus Robots: Musk promised that Tesla would begin limited production of the Optimus humanoid robot in 2025, with over 1,000 units expected to be operational.

Overall, while Musk's promises are ambitious, the feasibility of these plans remains to be seen, especially given regulatory challenges and past delays.

💬 Source

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Venture Capital

01 Jan, 10:59


🚨 A Waymo robotaxi and a Serve delivery robot collided in Los Angeles

On December 27, 2024, a Waymo robotaxi collided with a Serve delivery robot in West Hollywood, Los Angeles. Video footage shows the Serve bot attempting to navigate onto a sidewalk when it was struck by the Waymo vehicle, which was making a right turn. Despite claims that the Serve robot may have run a red light, this was not confirmed by the footage.

Waymo stated that its Driver system recognized the delivery robot as an inanimate object and acted defensively, applying hard brakes before the low-speed collision at 4 mph. Fortunately, neither vehicle was damaged, and they continued on their way shortly after.

This incident marks the first collision between a Serve robot and a robotaxi, with Serve confirming that its bot was under remote supervision at the time. Both companies are discussing ways to prevent similar incidents in the future, although specific liability details for future collisions remain unclear.

💬 Source

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Venture Capital

31 Dec, 15:40


ByteDance appears to be skirting US restrictions to buy Nvidia chips: Report

ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, plans to invest $7 billion in Nvidia chips in 2025, despite U.S. restrictions on Chinese companies acquiring U.S. AI technology. The company is reportedly navigating these restrictions by using a loophole: instead of bringing the chips directly to China, ByteDance intends to store them in data centers located in other regions, such as Southeast Asia.

This approach allows them to technically comply with U.S. regulations while still gaining access to valuable AI chips. ByteDance also operates Doubao, a popular AI chatbot in China with 51 million active users.

💬 Source

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Venture Capital

31 Dec, 09:40


🔸 From AI agents to enterprise budgets, 20 VCs share their predictions on enterprise tech in 2025

In a recent discussion, 20 venture capitalists shared their predictions for enterprise technology in 2025. Despite the hype around AI, many enterprises have been slow to adopt it due to budget constraints and the experimental nature of the technology. Key trends to watch include increased AI adoption driven by better data, modernization of code for cloud applications, and the rise of automation in traditionally high-cost sectors.

Investors are particularly interested in areas such as enterprise resilience, data sovereignty, and task-specific AI models. They anticipate that enterprises will increase their tech budgets, especially for AI and cybersecurity solutions. The conversation also highlighted the importance of time-to-first-value (TTFV) as a metric for implementation ease.

Looking ahead, VCs expect a shift towards technology that creates enterprise value while reducing friction. The exit environment is predicted to see increased M&A activity as companies seek AI capabilities, although the IPO market may remain cautious. Overall, optimism for tech spending and AI adoption is prevalent among investors.

💬 Source

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Venture Capital

30 Dec, 17:31


🔸 India’s mobile payments dilemma

India's payments regulator is poised to decide whether to limit the market share of major players like Walmart's PhonePe and Google Pay in the rapidly growing mobile payments sector. This decision revolves around the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which has revolutionized digital transactions in India. Currently, PhonePe holds 47.8% and Google Pay 37.1% of UPI transactions, and a proposed rule would cap any company's share at 30%.

The uncertainty surrounding these regulations has complicated PhonePe's plans for an IPO, as the company fears potential market share reductions could impact its valuation. The regulator has delayed enforcing these limits multiple times, and the outcome could significantly affect fintech startups seeking to compete in the market. This situation reflects India's challenge in balancing innovation with regulatory oversight in the digital economy.

💬 Source

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Venture Capital

30 Dec, 09:27


⚙️ Nvidia’s next move: powering humanoid robots

Nvidia is set to deepen its involvement in robotics in 2025 by launching a new generation of compact computers for humanoid robots called Jetson Thor. This initiative is part of a long-term strategy to support the vast number of robot manufacturers globally, rather than directly competing with companies like Tesla.

The push is driven by advancements in generative AI models and the ability to train robots in simulated environments. Nvidia's efforts come amid significant customers, such as Amazon and Google, working to reduce their reliance on Nvidia's AI chips by developing their own technologies.

💬 Source

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Venture Capital

29 Dec, 18:05


⚡️ Trump asks Supreme Court to pause imminent TikTok ban

Donald Trump's attorneys have requested that the Supreme Court pause an impending ban on TikTok, which requires its owner, ByteDance, to sell the app or face a ban in the U.S. set for January 19. The request comes just before Trump's inauguration and claims this timing disrupts his ability to manage foreign policy. Trump's lawyers argue that he has the expertise to negotiate a resolution that addresses national security concerns while preserving the platform.

The law, known as the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, has been challenged by ByteDance on constitutional grounds. Supporters of the ban cite national security threats from potential data collection by the Chinese government, while civil liberties groups have expressed concerns about free speech and the lack of credible evidence of harm from TikTok.

💬 Source

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Venture Capital

29 Dec, 11:04


⚙️ Google CEO says AI model Gemini will be the company’s ‘biggest focus’ in 2025

In a recent strategy meeting, Google CEO Sundar Pichai highlighted that the AI model Gemini will be the company's primary focus in 2025, calling the year "critical" for Google. Pichai emphasized the urgency for the company to accelerate its AI efforts to remain competitive, acknowledging that they need to catch up in this area.

He described the Gemini app as having strong momentum but noted that scaling it for consumers will be a significant priority for the coming year.

💬 Source

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Venture Capital

28 Dec, 16:45


🔹 Lyft says San Francisco overcharged it $100M in taxes 

Lyft is suing San Francisco, claiming the city overcharged it more than $100 million in taxes over five years. The lawsuit alleges that San Francisco incorrectly categorized revenue earned by Lyft drivers as company revenue. Lyft argues that its drivers are customers, and the revenue should reflect fees paid by drivers rather than charges from riders.

This legal action is part of an ongoing debate regarding the classification of gig economy workers, particularly after the California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 22, allowing companies like Lyft to classify drivers as independent contractors without providing full employee benefits.

💬 Source

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Venture Capital

28 Dec, 07:42


Cyber firm’s Chrome extension hijacked to steal user passwords

Cyberhaven, a data-loss prevention startup, reported that hackers hijacked its account to publish a malicious update to its Chrome extension, which could steal user passwords and session tokens. This incident, occurring on December 25, is suspected to be a supply-chain attack. Cyberhaven confirmed the breach and removed the compromised extension from the Chrome Web Store soon after detecting the attack.

They advised affected customers to revoke and rotate all passwords and review logs for any malicious activity. The company is cooperating with federal law enforcement and has engaged an incident response firm, Mandiant, to investigate the breach. It appears that this attack may be part of a larger campaign targeting multiple Chrome extension developers.

💬 Source

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Venture Capital

27 Dec, 15:10


🔸 AI sales rep startups are booming. So why are VCs wary?

AI sales development representative (SDR) startups are experiencing rapid growth by using large language models for automated outreach. Despite their success, venture capitalists (VCs) are cautious about investing in this sector. Concerns focus on the sustainability of growth and the risk of established companies like Salesforce and HubSpot leveraging their customer data to outperform these startups.

While small and medium-sized businesses are eager to adopt AI SDRs to address declining response rates in cold emails, doubts remain about the long-term effectiveness of these tools in generating actual sales. VCs question whether the current excitement will lead to lasting adoption or if these startups will fade like other fleeting AI trends.

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Venture Capital

27 Dec, 09:07


🚨 Executive assistants, high salaries, and other ways early-stage founders will trigger a seed VC

VC Jenny Fielding sparked discussion on X by questioning the necessity of executive assistants (EAs) for pre-seed founders, suggesting that many founders still misunderstand cash management from the funding boom of 2020-2021. She emphasizes that in the early stages of a startup, when revenue is limited, founders should focus on product development rather than hiring support staff.

Fielding notes that while VCs allow founders some discretion in spending, they closely monitor cash management, especially as it affects future funding opportunities. She identifies roles like COO and CFO as potential red flags, arguing they can be unnecessary and costly at this stage. Fielding advises that reasonable salaries for founders should be between $85,000 and $125,000, cautioning against high salaries that quickly deplete raised funds. Overall, she stresses the importance of financial prudence for early-stage startups.

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Venture Capital

26 Dec, 16:45


💠 Onyx Motorbikes is back, one year after its owner died leaving the company in shambles

Onyx Motorbikes is making a comeback one year after the sudden death of its owner, James Khatiblou, which left the company in turmoil with unfulfilled orders and significant debts. Tim Seward, the original founder, announced the brand's revival on LinkedIn, expressing excitement about returning to business with new backing. Initially, the company plans to sell about 100 RCR electric dirt bikes, though it's unclear if these are new units or part of previously produced stock.

Khatiblou’s death created a complex situation, as he left no will or succession plan, halting operations and complicating financial matters. Creditors, including Oxygen Funding, are still pursuing claims against the estate, with ongoing legal issues regarding control of the company's assets. It's uncertain how the revived company will address these debts or if other stakeholders, like Kenneth Ames and Troy Smith, will be involved in its future.

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Venture Capital

26 Dec, 09:40


🚨 GV, the VC team backed by Google, has a broad remit, but it can’t do one thing

GV (formerly Google Ventures), a venture capital firm funded entirely by Google, which has invested over $10 billion in approximately 800 companies in its 15-year history. Led by CEO David Krane, GV operates with significant autonomy, primarily focusing on financial returns without many restrictions. However, one notable limitation is that GV does not actively recruit Google employees to start companies that it can fund.

Krane mentions that while GV has a broad investment scope, it has historically focused on U.S. companies and has divided its efforts between life sciences and digital sectors. The firm has successfully navigated its relationship with Alphabet’s growth-stage investment arm, CapitalG, by maintaining open communication to avoid conflicts.

GV does invest in startups that compete with Google, contrary to an earlier assumption. Overall, the firm aims to support transformative products while also acknowledging that some Google employees may eventually leave to pursue entrepreneurial ventures, which GV may then consider funding.

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Venture Capital

25 Dec, 14:05


🔔 Juniper Ventures spins out of Climate Capital to invest in synthetic biology for the climate

Juniper Ventures has spun out from Climate Capital to focus on investing in synthetic biology aimed at addressing climate challenges. Founding partners Michael Luciani and Jennifer Kan recognized a gap in climate tech funding, noting that many investments have been concentrated in energy and transportation, which contribute less than half of carbon emissions.

Juniper's first fund, totaling $10.6 million, is oversubscribed and will invest between $100,000 and $500,000 in early-stage companies, particularly those commercializing scientific research. Early investments include California Cultured, which produces sustainable coffee and chocolate through plant cell cultivation, and Cache DNA, focused on efficient DNA and RNA storage. The firm aims to position itself as a leader in climate biotechnology, addressing critical sectors like industrials, agriculture, and materials.

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Venture Capital

25 Dec, 08:01


📱 Pavel Durov says Telegram is now profitable

Telegram founder Pavel Durov announced that the messaging app is now profitable, with total revenue exceeding $1 billion in 2024. The platform has gained 12 million paid subscribers since launching its premium subscription service in 2022 and holds over $500 million in cash reserves, excluding crypto assets.

Durov noted that Telegram has repaid a significant portion of its $2 billion debt issued over the past four years. The company aims to go public in the future and has introduced various features for businesses, an ad revenue sharing service, and a mini app store to enhance monetization. With more than 950 million monthly active users, Telegram continues to expand its offerings while achieving financial stability.

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Venture Capital

24 Dec, 18:40


🔺 Venture capitalists continue to play musical chairs

In 2024, there has been a notable trend of venture capitalists changing firms or starting their own ventures, a departure from the traditionally stable nature of the industry. Key movements include:

- Michelle Volz left Andreessen Horowitz to pursue new opportunities.
- Matt Miller, a longtime Sequoia partner, is launching his own firm focused on European startups.
- Bilal Zuberi departed from Lux Capital after a decade to partner with early-stage founders.
- Alex Taussig and Nicole Quinn transitioned from partner roles at Lightspeed Venture Partners to board positions.
- Sriram Krishnan left Andreessen Horowitz for a senior role in the incoming Trump administration.

This reshuffling reflects broader changes within the venture capital landscape, with many investors seeking new roles or launching their own firms, signaling a dynamic environment in venture funding. The article tracks these movements and their implications for the industry.

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24 Dec, 10:40


🔺 Elon Musk’s xAI lands $6B in new cash to fuel AI ambitions

Elon Musk's AI company, xAI, has secured $6 billion in new funding, bringing its total raised to $12 billion. This latest round attracted notable investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, Blackrock, and Nvidia, and was restricted to previous backers. xAI aims to reach a valuation of $50 billion, double its earlier valuation.

Founded last year, xAI launched its generative AI model, Grok, which features a distinctive approach to answering questions and is integrated into X (formerly Twitter). Grok is designed to be less "politically correct" than competitors like ChatGPT.

xAI plans to utilize data from Musk’s various companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, to enhance its models, and is already providing customer support for Starlink. However, Musk faces criticism from Tesla shareholders over potential conflicts of interest. Despite these challenges, xAI is rapidly expanding, aiming to compete with major players in the AI space, and plans to raise more funds in the future.

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Venture Capital

23 Dec, 16:01


X jacks up Premium+ prices by 37.5%, hits some markets harder

X (formerly Twitter) has announced a 37.5% price increase for its Premium+ subscription service, raising the monthly fee from $16 to $22 for U.S. users, effective December 21. Annual subscriptions will increase from $168 to $229. Existing subscribers will maintain their current rates until January 20.

Internationally, users in the European Union will see prices rise from €16 to €21, while Canadian rates will increase from $20 to $29. Some markets will experience even steeper hikes; for example, in Nigeria, the monthly fee will jump from ₦7,300 to ₦34,000, and in Turkey, from ₺300 to ₺770.

X stated that the price adjustments are intended to support the quality of the service, which includes ad removal and additional features. The platform's basic subscription tier will remain at $3 a month.

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Venture Capital

23 Dec, 08:56


🚨 xAI is testing a standalone iOS app for its Grok chatbot

xAI, Elon Musk's AI company, is currently testing a standalone iOS app for its Grok chatbot, which was previously available only to X (formerly Twitter) users. The app is live in Australia and a few other countries in beta, featuring capabilities such as real-time web data access, text rewriting, summarization, Q&A, and image generation from text prompts.

Grok is designed as an AI assistant focused on being truthful, useful, and curious. xAI is also preparing a dedicated website, Grok .com, to provide web access to the chatbot. Initially, Grok was limited to paying subscribers of X, but a free version has recently been rolled out to all users. The chatbot's image generation model is noted for its ability to create photorealistic images without significant restrictions, including the use of public figures and copyrighted materials.

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Venture Capital

22 Dec, 15:01


🔻 Energy Revolution Ventures’ $18M fund lays a bet on ‘new chemistry’ startups in energy and hydrogen

Energy Revolution Ventures (ERV) has launched an $18 million fund aimed at investing in "new chemistry" startups focused on energy and hydrogen technologies. The fund will support deep tech innovations, including energy storage and carbon capture.

Co-founder Marcus Clover, a former chemical engineer, emphasizes the need for innovative solutions in the energy sector, highlighting his background in building hydrogen-powered drones. ERV's portfolio includes nine companies, such as Green Li-ion and Anthro, focusing on lithium-ion battery recycling and safe batteries.

The fund collaborates with family offices and corporate venture capital, and it also operates a venture builder called Prosemino to develop new startups. ERV believes that significant advancements in chemistry will drive the future of energy technologies, particularly in electrification and decarbonization efforts.

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Venture Capital

22 Dec, 06:57


🔸 Hollywood angels: Here are the celebrities who are also star VCs

There is a growing trend of celebrities in Hollywood becoming venture capitalists, often referred to as "Hollywood angels." Notable figures include:

1. Snoop Dogg - A prolific angel investor and co-founder of Casa Verde Capital, focused on cannabis investments. He has backed companies like Cameo and Robinhood.

2. Sara and Erin Foster - The sisters launched a venture firm in 2022, raising $20 million to invest in consumer companies, including Kudos and Juliet.

3. Kevin Hart - Co-founded HartBeat Ventures, focusing on supporting minority and underrepresented founders. The firm has invested in companies like Masterworks and Savage x Fenty.

4. Paris Hilton - Through her company 11:11 Media, she has invested in various sectors including crypto and biotech, with at least 22 investments.

5. Ashton Kutcher - Co-founder of A-Grade and Sound Ventures, with investments in companies like Airbnb and Duolingo. He is known for backing multiple AI companies.

6. Nas - Founded QueensBridge Venture Partners, making over 130 investments in various industries, including Robinhood and Coinbase.

7. Gwyneth Paltrow - Co-founder of Kinship Ventures, focusing on consumer and wellness investments, with notable investments in MoonPay and Kudos.

8. Emma Watson - Invested in sustainable manufacturing and women's health companies.

9. Olivia Wilde - Launched Proximity venture firm, focusing on consumer and enterprise tech.

10. Jay-Z - Co-founder of Roc Nation and MarcyPen Capital Partners, with investments in companies like Oatly and Impossible Foods.

The article emphasizes the influence these celebrities bring to startups, not just through funding, but also by enhancing visibility and credibility in the investment landscape.

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Venture Capital

21 Dec, 16:10


🚨 Swizzle Ventures raises $5M for inaugural fund addressing women’s health and wealth

Swizzle Ventures, founded by Jessica Kamada, has successfully raised over $5 million for its inaugural fund, focusing on women's health and wealth. The firm, which began operations quietly in 2023, aims to invest in early-stage companies addressing key issues such as caretaking and financial challenges faced by women.

So far, Swizzle has invested in Mavida Health, a mental healthcare platform. Kamada, a former COO at the marketing agency Bamboo, is entering a crucial time for innovations related to women's needs, particularly as the caregiving crisis and a significant wealth transfer are anticipated.

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Venture Capital

21 Dec, 08:10


VCs pledge not to take money from Russia or China, and Databricks raises a humongous round

Over 20 venture capital firms have signed the Clean Capital Certification, pledging not to accept funding from geopolitical adversaries like Russia and China.

This move reflects a growing concern among investors regarding the implications of foreign capital in the tech sector.

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Venture Capital

20 Dec, 15:25


🌐 Perplexity has reportedly closed a $500M funding round

Perplexity, an AI-powered search engine, has reportedly closed a $500 million funding round, bringing its valuation to $9 billion. Led by Institutional Venture Partners, this funding round closed earlier in December. Despite facing a class action lawsuit over alleged copyright infringement, Perplexity continues to grow; it recently acquired Carbon, a startup that connects AI systems to external data sources.

The funding comes amid increasing competition in the AI search space, with OpenAI launching ChatGPT Search and Google developing features to rival Perplexity, including AI-generated summaries and a potential chatbot-like mode in its search engine.

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Venture Capital

20 Dec, 09:23


🚨 Google releases its own ‘reasoning’ AI model

Google has introduced a new experimental AI model called Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental, designed for multimodal understanding, reasoning, and coding. This model is part of Google’s AI Studio and aims to tackle complex problems in fields like programming and math.

While the model is still in early stages and shows promise, it has room for improvement. It is trained to reason through problems, often fact-checking itself to avoid common AI pitfalls, but this process can be slower compared to traditional models. Early tests revealed some limitations, such as inaccuracies in counting letters.

The development of reasoning models like Gemini 2.0 follows a wave of similar releases from other AI labs, driven by the need for improved approaches in generative AI. However, there are concerns about the high computational costs and whether reasoning models can sustain their performance improvements over time.

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Venture Capital

19 Dec, 16:45


🫶 With 25M users, Bluesky gets a $1M fund to take on social media and AI

Bluesky, the decentralized social media platform created by Jack Dorsey, has announced a new fund called Skyseed, which has an initial budget of $1 million.

This fund aims to support developers building on Bluesky's open-source AT Protocol and is looking to foster innovations in areas like data privacy for AI and applications for parents and local communities. Bluesky currently has 25 million users and is positioning itself as an alternative to Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter). Notably, the fund is independent of Bluesky itself.

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Venture Capital

19 Dec, 07:45


🔸 Menlo Ventures and Anthropic have picked the first 18 startups for their $100M fund

Menlo Ventures and Anthropic have selected the first 18 startups for their newly established $100 million Anthology Fund, which focuses on supporting innovative companies in the AI space. The selected startups were chosen from thousands of applicants and include those working on areas such as recruitment software, autonomous coding, fintech compliance, and radiology analysis.

The fund aims to combine elements of a corporate startup program and an incubator, offering investments of at least $100,000 along with $25,000 in credits for Anthropic’s AI models. This initiative reflects a broader strategy to explore new applications built on AI foundational models, positioning both Menlo Ventures and Anthropic at the forefront of upcoming trends in AI for 2025.

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Venture Capital

18 Dec, 14:31


🔹 Salesforce plans to hire 2,000 people to sell its AI products

Salesforce plans to hire 2,000 new sales representatives to promote its AI products, doubling its previous hiring target. CEO Marc Benioff announced the initiative, noting that the company has already received 9,000 referrals for these positions.

This expansion comes ahead of the anticipated release of Salesforce's second-generation AI agent software in February. Benioff expressed great excitement about the potential of generative AI, predicting that Salesforce will have over a billion AI agents running within the next year.

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Venture Capital

18 Dec, 09:21


🚨 Insight VC describes Databricks’ wild $10B deal and the bad advice the CEO ignored

Databricks recently completed a record-breaking $10 billion fundraising round, attracting significant interest from investors, including Insight Partners and Thrive. The deal's valuation quickly escalated from approximately $8 billion to $10 billion, reflecting strong institutional demand for Databricks' offerings, especially in the AI and data infrastructure space.

CEO Ali Ghodsi initially sought advice from Insight's George Mathew about entering the data warehousing market, to which Mathew responded negatively. However, Ghodsi's decision to launch Databricks SQL has proven successful, positioning the company as a major competitor to Snowflake. Databricks is now on track for a $3 billion revenue run rate, highlighting its growth and the increasing relevance of high-quality data in the age of large language models.

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Venture Capital

17 Dec, 18:45


😄 Jay-Z’s Marcy Venture Partners merges with investment arm of Pendulum Holdings

Jay-Z's venture capital firm, Marcy Venture Partners, has merged with Pendulum Holdings’ investment arm, Pendulum Opportunities, to create MarcyPen Capital Partners. The new firm boasts $900 million in assets under management, as confirmed by PitchBook. The merger was finalized around September, although MarcyPen did not provide additional comments.

Pendulum Opportunities was previously raising a $250 million Fund II and will continue this effort under the new name, MarcyPen Opportunities Fund II, having already secured over $100 million.

Marcy Venture Partners, founded in 2018 by Jay-Z, Jay Brown, and Larry Marcus, has invested in various companies, including Partake Foods and Savage x Fenty. Pendulum, established in 2019 by Robbie Robinson and D’Rita, has backed firms like Greenwood Bank and Adwoa Beauty.

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Venture Capital

17 Dec, 15:45


🚨 Waymo robotaxis are coming to Tokyo in 2025

Waymo will start testing its autonomous vehicle technology in Tokyo in early 2025, marking the first time its robotaxis will operate on public roads outside the U.S. This initiative is part of Waymo's "road trips" program, which aims to adapt its technology to different urban environments, with Tokyo presenting unique challenges such as left-hand driving and high population density.

Waymo plans to collaborate with the taxi-hailing app GO and the taxi company Nihon Kotsu, which will manage and service the Waymo vehicles. Initially, Nihon Kotsu drivers will manually operate the vehicles to map key areas of Tokyo, including Minato, Shinjuku, and Shibuya, before transitioning to autonomous testing with a human operator present.

This announcement follows GM's recent decision to discontinue its Cruise robotaxi program, which included plans for a driverless ride-hailing service in Japan with Honda. In October 2023, GM, Cruise, and Honda had announced intentions to launch a robotaxi service in Tokyo by 2026.

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Venture Capital

04 Dec, 20:50


Climate VCs are cautiously optimistic about a second Trump term — here’s why

While Trump has been critical of renewable energy and climate change policies, some of his proposed policies, such as deregulation and increased oil and gas extraction, could actually benefit certain climate tech industries like geothermal and nuclear power.

Investors are cautiously optimistic that the climate tech sector will continue to grow despite the change in administration, as these technologies are driven by long-term trends rather than short-term political cycles. Some climate tech companies, particularly those reliant on government subsidies or tax credits, may face challenges under a less climate-friendly administration.

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Venture Capital

04 Dec, 16:02


🚨 Brian Singerman to take a step back from Founders Fund 

Longtime Founders Fund partner Brian Singerman announced on X that he would be taking a step back. He will be transitioning from partner to partner emeritus to get a better “work-life balance,” although he will continue to serve as an “investor and strategic advisor” for the firm.  

Singerman has been at Founders Fund for over 16 years. In his goodbye post, he wrote that he was attracted to the firm, which was launched by Peter Thiel in 2005, because it was considering a “literal moonshot” investment in SpaceX. Singerman went on to invest in companies like fintech Affirm, and health insurance company Oscar Health, both of which went public. 

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Venture Capital

04 Dec, 12:02


👀 US says Chinese hackers are still lurking in American phone networks

U.S. government officials revealed that the China-backed hacking group known as Salt Typhoon remains embedded in the networks of major American phone and internet providers, weeks after the hacking campaign was first disclosed. The affected telecom companies are still working to remove the hackers, whose goals are unclear.

It's suspected the hackers may be trying to spy on U.S. officials and senior Americans, including presidential candidates, as well as access wiretap systems that could identify Chinese individuals under U.S. surveillance. The U.S. government has provided guidance to telecom networks on how to strengthen their defenses against these China-backed hackers.

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Venture Capital

04 Dec, 07:54


🚨 ServiceTitan’s IPO keeps getting weirder

ServiceTitan, a cloud business software provider, recently filed for an initial public offering (IPO) with the SEC, disclosing a price range of $52 to $57 per share. The company plans to use a significant portion of the IPO proceeds, around $311 million, to buy back all of its nonconvertible preferred stock from its investors, Saturn FD Holdings, LP, and Coatue Tactical Solutions PS. This move is intended to clean up the company's capital structure before going public.

However, ServiceTitan's IPO may be complicated by a previously agreed-upon "compounding IPO ratchet structure" with its Series H investors, which could result in the company needing to grant those investors additional shares if the IPO price falls below their original investment price of $84.57 per share.

Despite the potential complexities, the company plans to use any remaining IPO proceeds as working capital for its business operations. Analysts believe the company may ultimately price and trade its shares higher than the initial range, potentially in the high $60s or low $70s, as investment banks typically aim for an "IPO pop" to create positive headlines and excitement for the offering.

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Venture Capital

03 Dec, 11:13


📈 Asian chip stocks mostly rise, shrugging off new U.S. semiconductor export curbs on China

The export restrictions, announced in October 2022, aim to limit China's access to advanced computing chips that can be used for military purposes. However, the impact on Asian chip stocks was not as severe as expected, with many of them shrugging off the new US regulations.

This suggests that the semiconductor industry in Asia may be able to weather the effects of the US export controls on China, at least in the short term. While the long-term implications remain uncertain, the initial market reaction indicates that the Asian chip sector has some resilience in the face of these geopolitical and trade tensions between the US and China.

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Venture Capital

03 Dec, 06:48


🚨 FTC fines online retailer Goat $2M over deceptive ‘Instant’ and ‘Next Day’ orders

According to the FTC, GOAT misled consumers by advertising instant or next-day deliveries without disclosing the actual shipping times, which were often much longer. The FTC alleged that GOAT's practices violated the FTC Act's prohibition on deceptive acts or practices.

As part of the settlement, GOAT is required to clearly disclose delivery times, refund consumers affected by the deceptive practices, and implement a compliance program to prevent future violations. The case highlights the FTC's focus on ensuring online retailers provide accurate and transparent information to consumers about their products and services.

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Venture Capital

02 Dec, 20:15


🚨 Ads might be coming to ChatGPT — despite Sam Altman not being a Fan

Advertisements are being introduced on ChatGPT, despite OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's previous reluctance towards ads. Although Altman has voiced concerns about the potential negative effects of advertising on user experience, OpenAI hasn't dismissed the idea of incorporating ads into the chatbot in the future.

OpenAI is exploring various monetization strategies, including a subscription model, to ensure ChatGPT's sustainability and profitability. However, it emphasizes the ongoing debate within the AI community regarding the best monetization approaches for large language models and the potential risks associated with introducing ads into these technologies.

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Venture Capital

02 Dec, 18:36


🚨 Revenue from sales of mobile phone ringtones

Despite the significant decline, the market is still active. In the U.S., the leading four ringtone apps—Garage Ringtones, RingTune, Ringtones: for iPhone, and Zedge—collectively achieve 60 million annual downloads and generate $21 million in subscription revenue. The average user age for these apps has risen to 31-37, compared to 14-20 in 2007.

Ringtones remain popular in South Asia as well, with 93% of Google searches for “download ringtone” originating from India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Bangladesh

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Venture Capital

01 Dec, 16:33


💼 Elon Musk files injunction against OpenAI and Microsoft

Elon Musk’s legal battle with OpenAI heats up as his attorneys file an injunction accusing the AI giant, its leaders, and Microsoft of anticompetitive practices.

The motion seeks to pause OpenAI’s transition to a for-profit model, claiming irreparable harm to Musk’s rival AI venture, xAI.

OpenAI’s response? “Utterly without merit.” The court drama continues.

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Venture Capital

30 Nov, 17:30


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Venture Capital

30 Nov, 14:24


🟢 Zomato secures $1B to fuel quick-commerce dominance

Zomato has raised $1B in its first big funding round since going public, with backing from major Indian mutual funds like Motilal Oswal and ICICI Prudential. The move positions Blinkit to lead India’s fast-growing quick-commerce market.

😁 We wonder if they deliver that street food from TikTok compilations

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Venture Capital

29 Nov, 11:34


💭 Building the future of AI agents – /dev/agents scores $56M seed round

AI startup /dev/agents, founded by ex-Google leaders, raised $56M at a $500M valuation to create an “Android for AI.” Their goal? A cloud-based operating system enabling AI agents to collaborate seamlessly on complex tasks.

Backed by tech heavyweights like Index Ventures, CapitalG, and OpenAI's Andrej Karpathy, their first product is expected next year, poised to revolutionize how we interact with AI. Looking forward to it.

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Venture Capital

28 Nov, 16:52


🌐 Anduril execs cash big checks

Defense startup Anduril, valued at $14 billion, pays its top executives millions in cash and stock, with some earning over $19M in a year. CEO Brian Schimpf, COO Matt Grimm, and co-founder Palmer Luckey lead the pack. Much of the compensation includes multi-year equity grants, showing how the startup lures top talent from tech giants like Microsoft and Tesla.

Yeah, the pay is really good. So let's leave it here just in case: https://www.anduril.com/careers/

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Venture Capital

28 Nov, 13:57


🎤 4 must-ask questions for founders in VC meetings

Make your VC meetings more impactful by asking these four key questions:

Feedback on your pitch deck – Get immediate insights to refine your message.
Requests for introductions – Leverage investor networks while interest is fresh.
Resources and opinions – Tap into industry knowledge and market trends.
How you can help them – Build reciprocal relationships and enhance your reputation.

These questions turn pitches into collaborative discussions, leaving a lasting impression.

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Venture Capital

27 Nov, 11:03


💎 How many rounds to become a unicorn?

For Spire, 18 funding rounds don’t seem that impressive when you learn the company was founded... on March 2, 1857. On the bright side, they deliver natural gas, so slow and steady wins the race.

Also interesting is the comparison between OpenAI and Anthropic, the latter only needed one round when OpenAI needed as many as 7.

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Venture Capital

27 Nov, 07:21


President-elect Donald Trump is considering appointing an advisor to lead efforts in AI policy, as well as the government’s use of the technology, Axios reports.

The official likely won’t be Elon Musk, who has become an influential figure on Trump’s transition team, but Musk will likely play a major role in shaping AI policy as well.

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Venture Capital

26 Nov, 17:03


📌 State of Gen AI in the enterprise: 2024 insights from Menlo Ventures

Menlo Ventures' 2024 report reveals a transformative AI landscape: automation drives change, enterprise AI spending surges to $13.8B, and a talent crisis looms with 2–3x salary premiums for top AI/ML talent.

Dominant use case? Developers lead with 51% adoption in code generation.

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Venture Capital

26 Nov, 13:04


💰 State of Private Markets Q3 2024

Carta’s latest market report highlights a stable plateau in investments and valuations, with $20.1B invested this quarter (vs. $17.5B a year ago).

➡️ Key insights:

Downrounds persist at 20.3%, but deal terms are slightly more founder-friendly, with participating preferreds down to 4.1%.
Bridge rounds dominate Seed (39%) and Series A (40%), reflecting difficulty in raising priced rounds early.

The wait between funding stages is growing:

Seed → A: 1.95 years
A → B: 2.61 years
B → C: 2.22 years

📉 Raising Series B now takes over 2.5 years post-Series A – a sign of shifting market dynamics.

Let's check and discuss full report in the comments 👇

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Venture Capital

26 Nov, 10:32


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Venture Capital

25 Nov, 15:46


👀 Why venture capital lost its spark?

Remember when VCs hunted for world-changing ideas? Today, they’re stuck chasing mostly quick SaaS profits. Valuations based on ARR and short-term gains have sidelined deep tech and real innovation. Fixing this? Either rethink how VCs get paid or stop relying on lazy math.

Is it real to bring back bold, long-term bets?

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Venture Capital

25 Nov, 09:09


💥 Latin America’s fintech bounce — are we in for a 2025 boom?

2024 is shaping up as the year Latin American fintech rises from the ashes, with funding up 73% from last year. New infrastructure-focused startups and seasoned entrepreneurs are revamping the market. But challenges remain, like limited exits and heavy reliance on local funds.

🤔 Will 2025 bring global investors to the table?

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Venture Capital

24 Nov, 18:02


👌 ByteDance stays strong despite US pressure

ByteDance's valuation keeps climbing, even with the threat of a US ban. Instead of traditional funding, they're boosting value through stock buybacks. This move is a bold strategy to maintain growth and stay resilient in a tough market. ByteDance’s confidence is clear – they're playing the long game, despite the challenges.

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Venture Capital

24 Nov, 15:21


💸 This week’s big funding highlights – xAI and Anthropic lead the charge. Again AI?

AI continues to dominate this week's funding rounds. xAI raised $5B, doubling its valuation, while Anthropic secured $4B from Amazon. Other major rounds include LogicMonitor's $800M and Cyera's $300M. These deals show AI's strong hold on venture capital this week. It will definitely end someday, how soon do you think that “someday” will come?

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Venture Capital

23 Nov, 16:26


🟢 Cyera doubles down. From $1.4B to $3B just in 7 months

Data security startup Cyera is on fire – after raising $300M in April, the company just secured another $300M, skyrocketing its valuation to $3B. Cyera’s AI-driven platform protects and analyzes company data, keeping security teams ahead of the game. Founded in 2021, it has raised $760M total and is now a leading player in AI-powered cybersecurity.

Cybersec + AI is the most underrated combination of all.

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Venture Capital

23 Nov, 13:06


👀 2025 tech trends or where to invest

CB Insights' latest report highlights diverse innovations across industries:

Financial Services: AI copilots aim to streamline tasks for wealth managers; crypto emerges as an AI-driven payment method.
Healthcare: Autonomous robots like Figure show cross-industry potential.
AI: Open-source AI is niche, funding is US-dominated (71%), and GPT-4 costs plummet.
Retail: Generative AI drives hyper-personalized customer recommendations.
Industrials: Big Tech pioneers nuclear power for efficiency; spaceflight costs drop 8x since 2008.

A must-read for insights into emerging tech across verticals. 96 page detailed review at the link in the source.

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Venture Capital

22 Nov, 12:21


👀 Perfect SMB found

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Venture Capital

22 Nov, 11:51


🎙 AI + blockchain? The smart founders cashing in on the ultimate tech combo

While some investors juggle between blockchain and AI or just make memes about it, savvy founders have blended both worlds into a hot new category: decentralized AI on blockchain. It's not just hype – investment in this innovative sector is booming.

Honestly, our team admire their brilliance...

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Venture Capital

21 Nov, 17:12


🌐 Wiz’s $450m Dazz deal — a power move in cybersecurity?

Big moves in cloud security! Wiz, a major player in cybersecurity, just acquired dazz for $450M in cash and stock. This deal brings dazz’s expertise in remediation and posture management into wiz's all-in-one platform.

Wiz’s CEO called dazz a “perfect fit” and hinted at more acquisitions coming soon, fueled by $1B set aside for growth. With $500M in annual recurring revenue and nearly half the Fortune 100 as clients, Wiz is betting big on a secure future.

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Venture Capital

21 Nov, 14:40


🖥 How Nvidia makes money

Nvidia's revenue grew significantly in Q3, doubling compared to last year. However, its growth rate has slowed down, disappointing investors.

While the company experienced a 265% increase in revenue last year, this year’s expected growth is only 70%.

Despite the slowdown, Nvidia remains a key player in AI and gaming technologies, generating income through AI model training, graphics processing, and hardware sales.

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Venture Capital

21 Nov, 12:41


💵 This $1B hotel tech startup is changing travel forever

Lighthouse just raised $370M in funding, skyrocketing its valuation past $1B. The London-based company uses AI to crunch massive amounts of travel data, giving hotels like Radisson and Holiday Inn the tools to outshine competitors. With plans to expand and maybe even acquire new businesses, Lighthouse is setting the stage for smarter, more personalized hospitality experiences.

🤔 What kind of data hotels collect about us? Share your thoughts in the comments

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Venture Capital

20 Nov, 21:23


JUST IN: Nvidia $NVDA reports $35.1 billion in revenue for Q3, 6% higher than expectations.

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Venture Capital

20 Nov, 18:30


Are genetic testing startups a goldmine or gamble?

The genetic testing industry has seen both triumphs and setbacks. 23andMe, once a high-flyer, faces layoffs and declining market value. Yet others, like prenatal-focused Natera, thrive with multibillion-dollar valuations. Startups like BillionToOne and Genome Medical are raising hefty funds, while niches like pet DNA testing lose steam.

Despite past bubbles, the $10B genetic testing market is predicted to double by 2033, hinting at massive growth opportunities, but not without risks.

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Venture Capital

20 Nov, 15:45


💭 Why Bling Capital is still shining

Ben Ling’s Bling Capital just raised $270M for its fourth fund, with half reserved for follow-on investments in standout startups. Known for backing unicorns like GitLab and Webflow, Bling leverages a powerful network of tech leaders from firms like OpenAI and Stripe to guide its portfolio.

This team invested in 170 startups, including Rippling and Vise, this seed-stage VC keeps proving its knack for spotting the next big thing.

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Venture Capital

20 Nov, 12:07


🟢 Defense tech investments hit record highs in 2024

From $145M for Chaos Industries to Anduril’s $1.5B mega-round, venture capital in defense tech has soared past $3B this year, breaking all records. With rising global tensions and a predicted defense budget increase under the new U.S. administration, VCs are diving deeper into tech like AI-driven weapons and autonomous systems. If we're being honest, this feels more like the latest gold rush.

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Venture Capital

19 Nov, 17:18


📌 VCs struggle with lowest returns since 2011

In 2023, U.S. VCs faced a liquidity crisis, investing $60 billion more than they returned, with only $26 billion in returns – the lowest since 2011.

Despite record-high funding in recent years, the exit market has been quiet. However, IPOs like Klarna and ServiceTitan may bring relief in 2024, potentially reducing the deficit.

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Venture Capital

19 Nov, 15:33


📊 Slow recovery of the venture funding in Europe

European venture funding reached $45B in 2024, a slight drop from last year but showing signs of stabilization. Despite growth in AI investments, overall funding remains low, with fewer exits and rising debt.

While Europe’s tech scene is expanding, it’s still trailing behind the U.S. in terms of funding and valuations.

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Venture Capital

19 Nov, 11:32


🌐 ServiceTitan Files for IPO: Here’s What’s Next

ServiceTitan’s gearing up for its IPO with impressive revenue growth but a notable loss due to heavy investment in sales and R&D. With a solid track record and backers like ICONIQ Growth, this could be a big one – definitely worth keeping an eye on as they move forward!

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Venture Capital

18 Nov, 18:10


🔔 India’s HealthKart valued at $500M in new investment

HealthKart, India’s largest consumer nutrition platform, raised $153 million in a secondary investment, boosting its valuation to $500 million. Co-led by ChrysCapital and Motilal Oswal, this round saw exits from previous investors, including Peak XV. The startup, which reported $118.5 million in revenue for FY 2024, plans to expand as India’s sports nutrition market grows.

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Venture Capital

15 Nov, 16:47


📊 Spotify Posts Record Profits After Strategic Cuts

Spotify achieved its most profitable quarter ever by streamlining operations through layoffs, reduced marketing expenses, and higher subscription prices – moves aimed at countering the post-pandemic subscriber growth slowdown.

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Venture Capital

15 Nov, 11:38


🗣️ Bitsight Buys Cybersixgill for $115M

Bitsight, valued at $2.4B, has acquired dark web threat intelligence firm Cybersixgill for $115M. The Israeli startup specializes in analyzing dark web activity to detect potential breaches, complementing Bitsight's cyber risk management tools. Bitsight plans to invest in Cybersixgill’s AI-driven technology and team to expand its offerings.

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Venture Capital

14 Nov, 16:28


💎 Quantum Computing Funding Surges Amid AI Growth

Quantum computing startups raised a record $1.5 billion in 2024, fueled by AI's demand for faster, more energy-efficient computing. Major investments include Quantinuum’s $300 million and PsiQuantum’s $620 million. Quantum’s potential to improve AI efficiency and energy consumption is driving this surge, with broad applications ranging from AI to life sciences.

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Venture Capital

14 Nov, 15:12


🟢 Reliance and Disney Complete $8.5B Media Merger in India

Reliance and Disney have finalized an $8.5 billion merger, creating India’s largest media venture by combining Star India and Viacom18. Reliance will control the venture, which now holds the majority of India’s streaming and TV market share, along with valuable sports rights. Chaired by Nita Ambani, the new entity aims to deliver extensive content and affordable options for Indian viewers.

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Venture Capital

14 Nov, 12:11


🌐 Tesla’s Energy Business Accelerates with High Profit Margins

Tesla’s energy generation and storage division grew over 50% in Q3 with a 31% gross profit margin, doubling automotive margins and marking it as Tesla's most profitable segment amid rising demand for renewable energy storage solutions.

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Venture Capital

13 Nov, 18:29


🔝 5 Key Factors to Evaluate When Assessing AI Startups

As the generative AI market grows, investors should focus on five critical factors when evaluating startups:

*️⃣LLM customization;
*️⃣Access to vertical-specific training data;
*️⃣Speech-to-text/text-to-speech capabilities;
*️⃣API integrations;
*️⃣User-friendly business interfaces.

These factors ensure AI products are accurate, versatile, and accessible for enterprise adoption, with the potential for greater business transformation.

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Venture Capital

13 Nov, 16:16


✔️ Prosus Eyes 2025 IPO for PayU Following Swiggy Success

Following Swiggy's successful listing, Prosus is targeting an IPO for its fintech firm PayU in 2025, with a valuation range of $5–$7 billion. PayU recently resumed merchant acquisitions after regulatory approval in India's competitive digital payments market, where it rivals Razorpay and PhonePe.

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Venture Capital

13 Nov, 12:26


💭 Metaverse and VR Funding Declines Despite Apple’s Vision Pro Launch

Metaverse and VR startup funding has hit a multi-year low, with only $758 million raised this year as consumer interest wanes. Even Apple’s Vision Pro struggled with slow sales, possibly halting production due to its high price tag and limited consumer integration. As companies like Meta and Apple explore cheaper alternatives, the future of immersive wearable devices hinges on accessibility and practical use.

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Venture Capital

12 Nov, 17:32


🗣️ Generative AI Startup Writer Raises $200M at a $1.9B Valuation

Writer has raised $200 million in Series C funding to advance its enterprise-focused generative AI, bringing total funding to $326 million. The funds will support product development and AI solutions tailored to enterprise needs, with clients including Mars, Salesforce, and Intuit.

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Venture Capital

12 Nov, 15:17


💵 Robotics Funding Soars as Startups Aim to Expand Robots' Skills

Robotics startups have raised $6.4 billion in 2024, with increased funding for versatile robots that leverage AI to perform multiple tasks. Key players, including Physical Intelligence and Figure, received large investments, driven partly by Jeff Bezos, who has backed companies advancing adaptable robotic technology for various industries.

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Venture Capital

12 Nov, 11:31


💵 Fleek Secures $20M to Transform Wholesale Second-Hand Clothing Market

Fleek, a marketplace connecting second-hand clothing wholesalers with retailers, has raised $20 million to expand its global platform, aiming to simplify sourcing for resellers and bring structure to the fragmented industry.

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Venture Capital

11 Nov, 16:31


Cogna Raises $15M to Revolutionize Enterprise Software with AI

Cogna, a U.K. startup founded by Ben Peters, has raised $15 million to develop AI-driven software that automates enterprise software creation, focusing on ERP systems. Using generative AI and a "natural language compiler," Cogna aims to simplify custom solutions and challenge traditional IT consultancies.

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Venture Capital

11 Nov, 14:39


👀 Swiggy IPO to Test India's Appetite for Billion-Dollar Tech Listings

Swiggy’s IPO will gauge India's interest in billion-dollar tech listings as it aims to expand its quick-commerce model, already popular in major cities. With backing from major investors like Prosus and SoftBank, the IPO also highlights India’s rapid digital shift, though profitability in smaller cities remains a question for the long term.

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Venture Capital

11 Nov, 09:53


a16z's Martin Casado Criticizes AI Regulations as Misguided and Premature

Martin Casado, a general partner at a16z, argues that current AI regulations focus on hypothetical future risks rather than present realities, stifling innovation. At TechCrunch Disrupt, he pointed out that these laws often rely on vague definitions and can deter AI development, as seen with California’s AI “kill switch” bill. Casado suggests building on existing tech regulatory frameworks rather than rushing into speculative rules targeting AI.

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Venture Capital

10 Nov, 17:11


💵 ZAP Surgical Raises $78M Series E to Expand Robotic Brain Surgery Platform

ZAP Surgical Systems has secured $78 million in Series E funding, led by Qingdao Baheal Medical Inc. The financing will support the expansion of ZAP Surgical’s ZAP-X Gyroscopic Radiosurgery platform, designed for non-invasive robotic brain surgery.

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Venture Capital

10 Nov, 14:00


🖥 This Week's Biggest Funding Rounds: Smaller Deals Amid Election Week

Due to election-related news overshadowing funding announcements, only a few sizable U.S. rounds occurred this week, led by Physical Intelligence’s impressive $400M round for AI-driven robotics. Other notable deals included Precision Neuroscience’s $93M Series C and AmplifyBio’s $50M biotech investment.

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Venture Capital

10 Nov, 10:41


📊 Andreessen Horowitz Leads as Most Active US Investor in October

Andreessen Horowitz dominated October with 14 deals, marking its busiest month of the year. The firm was particularly involved in major rounds such as a $100 million Series C for Valon Technologies and a $51.5 million Series C for Infinitus Systems. General Catalyst and Lightspeed Venture Partners were also highly active, each participating in over 10 deals.

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Venture Capital

09 Nov, 14:37


🔴 Private Equity Bets on Nuclear Energy Amid AI Surge

Private equity firms, including Carlyle Group and Brookfield Asset Management, are increasingly investing in nuclear energy, drawn by the sector’s revival and tech companies’ rising electricity demands, particularly for AI operations. Apollo Global Management is also looking to finance nuclear projects in the UK.

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Venture Capital

09 Nov, 11:18


💵 Upwind Raises $100M Amid High Demand for Cloud Security

Israeli cybersecurity startup Upwind is reportedly securing $100M in Series B funding, valuing it at up to $900M. This round aims to expand its cloud security platform and support growth across global offices.

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Venture Capital

08 Nov, 19:03


🗣️ AI-Powered Parenting: Andreessen Horowitz Backs New Wave of AI Co-Pilots

Andreessen Horowitz partner Justine Moore introduces a new investment focus on AI-powered parenting tools, supporting companies like Cradlewise and Nanit that use AI to enhance baby care. Moore envisions a future where AI companions assist parents 24/7, helping with everything from sleep tracking to emotional support.

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Venture Capital

08 Nov, 18:28


🎙 Former Raya, Dispo Exec Launches Hobart Ventures Focused on Consumer Tech

TJ Taylor, former exec at Raya and Dispo, has launched Hobart Ventures with an $8 million fund aimed at early-stage consumer startups. Drawing on his tech background, Taylor plans to invest between $150,000 and $300,000 per startup, emphasizing the ongoing opportunities in the consumer sector despite market fluctuations.

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Venture Capital

08 Nov, 16:19


🟢 October’s Most Active U.S. Investors: Andreessen Horowitz Leads the Pack

In October, Andreessen Horowitz took the top spot with 14 deals, marking its busiest month of the year, followed by General Catalyst with 12 deals and Lightspeed Venture Partners with 11. Notably, Andreessen Horowitz led rounds for Valon Technologies and Infinitus Systems, while General Catalyst co-led Pacific Fusion’s $900 million Series A and Armis Security’s $200 million Series D.

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Venture Capital

08 Nov, 11:52


🔍 AI, Data Center, and Energy Startups See Record $32B Venture Capital Surge in October

Venture funding hit $32 billion in October, driven by large rounds in AI, data centers, and energy, with OpenAI alone raising $6.6 billion, accounting for 20% of the month’s total.

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Venture Capital

07 Nov, 18:06


🔔 SocialCrowd Secures $2.5M Seed Round Amid Demand for Future of Work Software

Performance management startup SocialCrowd raised $2.5M to expand its engineering and customer success teams as demand for tools supporting frontline and shift workers continues to grow.

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Venture Capital

07 Nov, 13:03


💭 Glint Solar Secures $8M to Accelerate Solar Adoption in Europe

Glint Solar raised $8M in Series A funding to expand its platform, helping solar developers speed up project planning and site assessments across Europe.

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Venture Capital

03 Nov, 17:39


🔍 The Rise of GenAI Startups in Europe and Israel

The Accel report highlights a surge in GenAI startups across Europe and Israel, with the UK leading in both the number of startups and investment attracted, as former top executives from OpenAI venture into new entrepreneurial landscapes.

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Venture Capital

03 Nov, 15:30


⚡️ Managing Power and Trust in Investor and Partner Relationships

1️⃣ Don’t force your way — successful partnerships thrive when both parties prioritize shared goals over individual ambitions, fostering a collaborative environment.

2️⃣ Prioritize long-term goals — founders must remain steadfast in their commitment to the long-term success of the company, even when pressured for short-term gains.

3️⃣ Balance professionalism with warmth — maintaining a professional demeanor while building trust through social interactions helps keep business decisions objective and focused.

4️⃣ Project strength and be honest — entrepreneurs should project confidence and practice radical honesty to establish credibility and foster trust in their relationships.

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Venture Capital

03 Nov, 11:48


🌐 October’s Top 10 U.S. Funding Rounds: OpenAI Leads with $6.6B

October saw some major funding rounds, led by OpenAI’s $6.6 billion raise, which dwarfed all others. Pacific Fusion followed with a $900 million round, and Crusoe Energy Systems, Poolside, X-energy, and Insider each raised $500 million.

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Venture Capital

02 Nov, 17:38


👀 Startup Funding Evolution: Age Matters More Than Ever

Today's data shows US startups are raising later than before, with Series D companies now averaging 8.3 years old at funding (up from 6.4 years in 2019), suggesting a trend toward more mature companies securing major investment rounds.

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Venture Capital

02 Nov, 15:20


🔥 VCs share what they actually want to see from early stage founders | TechCrunch Disrupt 2024

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Venture Capital

02 Nov, 11:26


🔍 Melio Secures $150 Million in Strategic Funding to Expand SMB Payment Solutions

Melio, a leading platform for small and medium business payments, raised $150 million in a funding round led by Fiserv, with participation from Shopify Ventures, Capital One Ventures, and other major investors to drive growth through strategic partnerships.

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Venture Capital

01 Nov, 16:00


🔥 Silicon Valley’s Billionaire VC Duo Throws Support Behind Trump

Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, influential Silicon Valley VCs, endorse Donald Trump, viewing him as a bulwark against proposed Biden policies they believe could threaten tech startups and innovation.

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Venture Capital

01 Nov, 12:31


🚀 xAI Valued at $40 Billion in New Funding Round

Elon Musk’s AI startup xAI is in early talks to raise new funding at a valuation of $40 billion, following a previous round in May that valued it at $24 billion.

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Venture Capital

01 Nov, 09:41


🟢 Flueid Secures $8.3M to Expand Real Estate Title Verification Solutions

Flueid’s new funding, led by LiveOak Ventures, aims to drive growth and advance its VOT technology, bringing early title insights to streamline real estate transactions.

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Venture Capital

31 Oct, 18:14


💎 Janngo Capital Closes $78M Fund to Boost African Startups and Gender-Equal Investments

African VC Janngo Capital has closed its second fund at $78 million, surpassing its target, and will continue investing in African startups with a strong focus on supporting female founders and gender-equal opportunities.

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Venture Capital

31 Oct, 13:49


📊 European Defense-Tech Sector Sees Record Funding Amid Rising Geopolitical Tensions

Amid escalating conflicts, Europe’s defense-tech sector has reached a record $531.6M in 2024, with new venture firms capitalizing on dual-use technologies to support the region's security needs.

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Venture Capital

30 Oct, 17:47


💵 Hummingbirds Raises $5.4M to Boost Hyperlocal Creator-Brand Connections

Hummingbirds, a platform connecting local content creators with community-based brands, secured a $5.4 million seed round to expand across 20 U.S. cities by 2025. This startup, founded by Charise Flynn and Emily Steele, taps into nano-creators with under 10,000 followers, delivering high engagement rates for brands seeking authentic, word-of-mouth marketing.

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Venture Capital

30 Oct, 15:11


🔍 Swing States Lag Top Venture Hubs but Boast Diverse Startup Growth

While swing states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and North Carolina may not match the venture capital intensity of major hubs like California, Massachusetts, and New York, they each host prominent, sector-specific startups. Ranging from Michigan's electric vehicle tech to North Carolina's biotech, these regions reveal unique entrepreneurial strengths.

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Venture Capital

29 Oct, 17:45


⚠️ U.S. Tightens Grip on AI Investments in China Amid Security Concerns

The U.S. is finalizing rules that will ban American investments in China's AI, quantum tech, and semiconductor sectors starting January 2, targeting technologies with military and surveillance uses. Investors will be restricted from providing funds or expertise that could enhance China's military and intelligence capabilities, with limited exceptions for publicly traded securities.

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Venture Capital

29 Oct, 15:27


🌐 AI Grabs a Record 33% of U.S. VC Funding in 2024

AI startups are attracting a growing share of U.S. venture capital, with investments jumping from 14% in 2020 to 33% in the first nine months of 2024. Q3 alone saw $38 billion in VC funding, 37% of which went to AI-focused deals, setting the stage for even more funding as the sector matures.

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Venture Capital

28 Oct, 17:23


👀 Venture Capital's Political Power Play: Millions at Stake in the 2024 Election

Venture capitalists are predominantly donating to Democratic candidates, with Reid Hoffman leading as the top individual donor at nearly $30 million, while Vinod Khosla contributed over $3 million to Democratic causes. In contrast, Republican donations are significantly lower, with Doug Leone from Sequoia Capital contributing about $3.8 million, and Andreessen Horowitz investing $47 million in blockchain-friendly initiatives that support both parties.

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Venture Capital

28 Oct, 15:26


💎 Read AI Secures $50M to Expand Its AI Summary Bot Capabilities

Read AI has raised $50 million in a Series B funding round, led by Smash Capital, to enhance its AI bot's integration with popular tools like email and Slack. This comes on the heels of strong customer growth, with over 100,000 new accounts created since its last funding round, showcasing the demand for its innovative solutions.

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Venture Capital

27 Oct, 17:28


💵 South Korean Cybersecurity Startup Thero6 Raises $6 Million in Seed Round to Boost Blockchain Security

Thero6, a South Korean cybersecurity startup developing AI-powered blockchain firewalls and algorithms, has secured $6 million in a seed round, including $1.07 million from crowdfunding. The company aims to expand its team and make its product demo available to Asian firms by 2025.

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Venture Capital

27 Oct, 15:11


🌐 Biotech Leads 2024 VC Megadeals, Surpassing AI

Biotech is outpacing AI in 2024’s VC megadeals, with 87 $100M+ rounds compared to AI’s 26. Major deals include Xaira Therapeutics’ $1 billion round and Superluminal Medicines’ $120 million, signaling strong investor confidence in health tech.

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Venture Capital

26 Oct, 17:05


🔍 Joseph Jacks and OSS Capital: Betting on Open Source Startups

Joseph Jacks, founder of OSS Capital, is making waves in the investment world by focusing on early-stage open source startups like Formbricks, AppFlowy, and Cal.com. He believes that the interplay of philanthropy and capitalism within the open source realm can lead to sustainable business models, despite the inherent challenges of monetizing open source software.

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Venture Capital

26 Oct, 15:04


Yes, we all deny that we enjoy this pain 🤗

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Venture Capital

25 Oct, 17:55


💵 Waymo Secures $5.6 Billion in Series C Funding from Alphabet, a16z, and More

Waymo has completed a $5.6 billion Series C funding round, with Alphabet leading the way alongside prominent investors like Andreessen Horowitz, Silver Lake, and Fidelity. With this new funding, Waymo plans to expand its robotaxi services, now serving over 100,000 customers weekly in cities like San Francisco and Phoenix.

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Venture Capital

25 Oct, 15:34


📣 Post-Election Years Often Boost U.S. Startup Funding

Crunchbase data shows that U.S. startup funding frequently rises after presidential elections, as seen in 2021 under Biden with a record $345 billion, and in 2017 under Trump, with a 26% funding increase. While economic downturns in 2001 and 2009 caused declines, most post-election years see boosts driven by new policies and shifting market sentiment.

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Venture Capital

24 Oct, 18:02


👀 General Catalyst Raises $8B for Global Startup Investments

U.S.-based venture capital firm General Catalyst has secured $8 billion in new funds to back early-stage startups across the U.S., Europe, and India. The funds will support sectors such as AI, healthcare, defense, and climate tech, with $4.5 billion allocated for core VC activities, $1.5 billion for building new companies with proven founders, and $2 billion for specialized accounts.

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Venture Capital

24 Oct, 16:02


🌐 Megadeals Surge in 2024 Despite Venture Funding Slowdown

While overall venture funding remains slow, 2024 has already seen nearly 240 megadeals of $100 million or more, surpassing last year's total of 210. Key sectors like biotech, healthcare, and AI have driven this growth, with significant rounds from companies such as OpenAI and Xaira Therapeutics.

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Venture Capital

23 Oct, 18:34


💵 Andreessen Horowitz Provides Nvidia GPUs to AI Startups via Oxygen Cluster

Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) has launched its Oxygen program, offering portfolio companies access to Nvidia H100 GPUs, enabling them to train AI models without the burden of high market prices. This initiative helps AI startups compete with larger tech firms by offering flexible, low-cost access to high-performance compute resources.

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Venture Capital

23 Oct, 16:45


🌐 AI Seed Rounds Decline 43% in Q3, But Valuations Hit New Highs

AI startups raised fewer seed rounds in Q3 2024, with deal volume dropping 43% compared to the previous year. However, total capital raised remained steady, signaling that seed round valuations have reached unprecedented levels.

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Venture Capital

22 Oct, 16:20


📌 Interface.ai Raises $30M to Expand AI-Powered Banking Solutions

Customer automation platform Interface.ai raised $30M in a round led by Avataar Venture Partners to expand its AI-based solutions for banks. The platform helps financial institutions automate customer service tasks with voice and text-based AI agents, aiming to democratize AI access for regional and community banks.

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Venture Capital

22 Oct, 14:17


🌐 Nine New Unicorns in September, Including a $5B Valuation in Three Months

Nine companies joined the Crunchbase Unicorn Board in September, including Safe Superintelligence, which reached a $5B valuation just three months after its founding. The board now includes nearly 1,550 companies valued at $5.2 trillion.

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Venture Capital

21 Oct, 17:33


💎 Perplexity Aims for $8B Valuation in New Fundraise

Perplexity, an AI search engine, is reportedly in talks to raise $500 million at an $8 billion valuation, more than doubling its previous $3 billion valuation from a summer raise by SoftBank. The company handles about 15 million queries daily and generates around $50 million in annual revenue, despite facing legal challenges over web scraping.

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Venture Capital

21 Oct, 15:11


🔍 4 Hot Areas for Seed Funding: Robotics, AI, Legaltech, and Carbon Capture

Seed funding is strong in areas like AI assistants, robotics, legaltech, and carbon capture. These sectors have seen significant investment in recent months, with numerous startups raising funds to develop technologies in automation, legal AI tools, and carbon storage solutions.

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Venture Capital

20 Oct, 17:06


💵 Generative AI Startups Secure $3.9B in Q3 2024 Despite Challenges

Investments in generative AI startups reached $3.9 billion across 206 deals in Q3 2024, with U.S.-based companies securing $2.9 billion of that total. Major funding rounds included Magic’s $320 million and Glean’s $260 million. Despite challenges related to high computational demands and legal questions around data use, VCs remain confident in generative AI’s potential to impact industries like scientific research and coding automation.

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Venture Capital

20 Oct, 16:29


🌐 Web3 Funding Climbs 43% YoY Despite Declining Deal Flow in Q3

Web3 funding saw a 43% year-over-year increase in Q3 2024, with startups raising $2 billion across 300 deals, according to Crunchbase. However, this represents a 13% decline compared to Q2 2024. Several large funding rounds — such as Infinite Reality’s $350 million and Story Protocol’s $80 million — how that investors are still backing big projects in the space. Despite challenges, investor interest is buoyed by factors like the rise of Bitcoin ETFs and stablecoin growth.

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Venture Capital

19 Oct, 19:05


🔍 Venture Exit Values from Public Listings Decline Sharply in Q3 2024

The third quarter of 2024 saw a significant reduction in exit values from public listings, as reflected in the latest data from the PitchBook-NVCA Venture Monitor report. Buyouts and acquisitions continued to dominate the exit landscape, while public listings saw a sharp decline, marking one of the lowest points since 2021.

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Venture Capital

19 Oct, 15:44


🌐 X-energy and Lightmatter Lead This Week’s Biggest Funding Rounds

This week, X-energy secured $500 million to advance its small modular nuclear reactor technology, backed by Amazon. Lightmatter followed with $400 million in funding for its photonic computing technology, aiming to tackle energy consumption challenges in AI data centers. These massive deals reflect strong investor confidence in energy innovation and AI infrastructure.

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Venture Capital

18 Oct, 17:40


🟢 Cyera Acquires Trail Security for $162 Million Amid Sluggish Cybersecurity M&A

Cyera, a New York-based data security startup, acquired Trail Security for $162 million despite the generally sluggish M&A market. This deal is seen as a strategic move by Cyera to enhance its platform, which helps companies manage and secure their data.

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Venture Capital

18 Oct, 15:42


💎 AI Startups Raise $1B+ in Equity Funding as Generative AI Leads the Way

Over 23 private AI startups have raised over $1 billion in equity funding in recent years, according to Crunchbase data. Generative AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic lead the pack with massive investments, while autonomous driving giants Waymo and Cruise also dominate the funding landscape.

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Venture Capital

17 Oct, 16:40


📌 Surge in Data Center Investments Fuels Startup Growth

Recent investments in data centers, including Blackstone's $8.2 billion plan in Spain, are boosting funding for database-related startups, which have raised $1.3 billion this year. Notable rounds include Lightmatter's $400 million Series D and Xscape Photonics' $44 million Series A.

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Venture Capital

17 Oct, 14:01


🌐 Venture Investments in Fintech Decline in Q3

➡️ CB Insights reports a total of 753 fintech deals in the third quarter, marking a 16% decrease compared to the previous quarter. Notably, half of the largest early-stage funding rounds were secured outside the U.S., in countries such as France, India, Italy, and Kenya.

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Venture Capital

16 Oct, 18:12


🔍 Market Performance of Top 15 Tech IPOs Then and Now

➡️ The majority of top tech startups that went public in recent years have maintained or even increased their valuation. This trend could be a positive sign for companies considering IPOs but hesitating due to market uncertainty.

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