Venture Capital (VC) News, Latest Updates and Recent Venture Capital (VC) Announcements for Startup on Techminis

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VC Funding Feast Is Over. But These 5 Trends Give Reason to Be Optimistic About 2025

Global venture funding declined by 15% in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the previous year.
Artificial intelligence sector is expected to grow as a critical focus for venture capitalists, with startups demonstrating more practical examples of AI adoption.
AI evolution signals a shift towards the adoption of “System 2” thinking, prioritizing reasoning rather than pretrained models.
Startups addressing sustainability goals in biotech and science hold potential for growth.
Smaller funds have the potential to flourish as boutique funds and remain cautious about the exit of second-tier Series A/B firms.
Data-driven deal-analysis will continue to drive decisions and AI provide valuable insights in streamlining development.
Micro-targeting and segment based marketing allows for a hyper-personalized approach and more effective value proposition design in digital marketing.
Innovation in startup ecosystems can emerge from anywhere, independent of geographical constraints.
Emerging fields include sustainability, space tech, and advanced robotics.
Collaborations amongst startups are key to tapping into diverse expertise and networks for increased value.

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Medium

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Ayar Labs Raises $155 Million to Revolutionize AI Data Transfer with Light Technology

Ayar Labs is using light technology, known as photonics, to revolutionize data transfer in computer systems.
This innovation addresses the challenges of slow data transfers, high energy consumption, and overheating in AI applications.
Tech giants like Nvidia, AMD, and Intel have invested in Ayar Labs, showing their support for optical data transfer.
Ayar Labs' solution could reshape the future of AI, making it faster, more efficient, and sustainable.

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Medium

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5 reasons to be bullish on Chicago’s startup ecosystem in 2025

Chicago has the potential to be a top city for building a startup, due to its affordability and diverse range of industries and engineering talent.
Chicago saw some big wins in 2024, especially in relation to IPOs and M&As, and deal activity is expected to accelerate in 2025, driven by enthusiasm for AI.
A strong technical community is a priority in Chicago with a focus on bringing builders together in the same room and creating spaces for them to collaborate.
Chicago is making a bold bet on quantum computing, becoming leaders in hardware innovation, networking capabilities and software development.
Chicago's early-stage deal activity surpassed the total for both 2019 and 2020 by the end of Q3 2024, with VC dollars also expected to be higher than 2023.
Chicago is ranked #2 among non-coastal cities for early-stage companies that have raised at least two rounds of funding since 2022.
Chicago maintains its position as the #1 city for corporate relocations and the state has the second-highest number of Fortune 500 HQs, which benefits the startup community.
Drive Capital and other firms are doubling down on investing in early-stage opportunities, with new programs and incubators helping investors uncover fresh deals.
Major company moves to Chicago included 440 companies expanding or relocating to Illinois, leading to 12,900 new jobs, with Google also set to bring 2,000 employees to the Loop in 2026.
Chicago's ecosystem needs to retain more talent, increase early-stage funding, and encourage founders to dream bigger but its foundation is strong and the momentum is here.

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Medium

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Research from the Rock: Next-Gen Transportation Management Systems

The trucking industry is composed almost entirely of small carriers. The extremely fragmented freight logistics industry is responsible for moving 53.6M tons of freight in the US every day, making coordination and optimization the name of the game.
The Transportation Management System (TMS) market is projected to reach $45 billion by 2030, enabling freight companies to better coordinate their logistics networks.
TMSs primarily service three main segments: carriers, intermediaries, and shippers, each of these relying on their specialized TMS to manage its specific role and ensuring the smooth and timely flow of goods from origin to destination.
Legacy systems have their drawbacks. They are time-consuming and costly to implement, making them more suitable for larger customers that spend $100 million annually on freight, representing 1% of the total market.
Many companies lack the in-house expertise needed for system configuration, data migration, and software integration, leading to the need for external consultants.
New-generation startups are emerging to fill the gaps – they're cheaper, easier to use, and smarter. Startups like Rose Rocket, Alvys, Rectangle, Chain.io, Cargoflip, Transflo, and Tive are developing cloud-based solutions that aim to be lighter, more accessible versions of traditional TMS software.
Winners in TMS space will use a “land and expand” approach: starting with point solutions and growing functionality from there.
Two significant applications for next-gen TMSs are entry automation and real-time route replanning. These applications offer seamless integrations that unify data from different systems and create a single source of truth, allowing for streamlined workflows and centralized operations.
Finally, emerging tech and shifting demands across the supply chain have created an opportunity for innovative startups in the $45 billion TMS market. Increased accessibility to better tracking, visibility, and faster delivery times drive disruptive ideas to simplify the supply chain.

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Saastr

150

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How Many Sales Reps You Really Need for Next Year

To determine the number of sales reps needed for the next year in SaaS, you need to calculate the revenue target and attainable quota.
Multiply the quota by a yield factor to account for reps who may not meet their quota, and consider the load of sales managers and support staff.
Specialized sales processes may require additional roles like SDRs, BDRs, and SEs.
Many founders underestimate the headcount needed and should budget properly for scaling sales teams.

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Saastr

347

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Dear SaaStr: If a VC Backs Out of a Signed Term Sheet, Should the Entrepreneur Spread the Word?

If a VC backs out of a signed term sheet, the entrepreneur should not spread the word.
There's a chance the entrepreneur is partially at fault for the deal falling apart.
No one will care or be surprised since VCs are known for tough business practices.
Instead of spreading the word, the entrepreneur should focus on their business and let it go.

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Medium

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How Palcoin Leverages AI & ML to Transform Venture Capital Investing

Palcoin is a platform that leverages AI and ML to transform venture capital investing.
By integrating advanced AI and machine learning technology, Palcoin offers data-driven investment opportunities.
Palcoin's AI-powered engine, MAGINTO, evaluates crypto projects based on various data points.
Palcoin's community-driven model combines AI insights with community voting for transparent investment decisions.

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Medium

289

AI vs censorship, discrimination, and segregation.

Censorship, discrimination, and segregation exist in IT open platforms, contests, hackathons, open source code, and AI projects.
Using AI can help reduce censorship, segregation, and discrimination.
Automating AI to check user submissions can eliminate human censorship in platforms and contests.
Companies and individuals can build a better future by utilizing AI to ensure no censorship, segregation, or discrimination.

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Medium

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Welcoming Loman AI to the Genesis Portfolio

Loman AI provides restaurants with an AI-powered virtual assistant that handles customer calls, orders, and reservations.
Their technology integrates with POS systems and improves the overall customer experience.
Loman AI's solution reduces missed calls and allows restaurant staff to focus on in-person customers.
The founders of Loman AI bring expertise in marketing, AI systems, and data analytics.

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Medium

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Harvard in Tech AI Edition: Russ Wilcox, Partner at Pillar VC

Russ Wilcox is a partner at Pillar VC, where he helps start-ups develop their businesses.
Wilcox has experience in building several start-ups, including E Ink.
He is now leading a new cleantech dehumidifier firm spun-out of Harvard and split's his time between this and being an operating partner at Pillar.
Wilcox cites three key lessons for successful entrepreneurship:
1. Focus on doing the scariest, most intimidating thing on your to-do list every day.
2. Balance technical innovation with the demands of running a business.
3. Focus on completing the research for a major breakthrough before concentrating on revenue.
Wilcox plays a hands-on role in helping eight to 10 companies navigate the complexities of scaling their businesses.
He also teaches a capstone course at Harvard, where he helps graduate students blend entrepreneurship with cutting-edge science.
Wilcox is fascinated by biotech advancements and regenerative medicine.
He advises students to build stronger relationships with professors in order to learn from them.

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Medium

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Welcoming Sups to the Genesis Portfolio

Sups leverages natural language AI to help students with their college applications.
The platform provides targeted feedback and suggestions to improve the student writing process.
Sups aims to provide an affordable digital counseling solution for middle/low income and international students.
The company plans to expand its services and continue developing innovative technologies.

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Medium

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How to sell SaaS in 2025–8 tools to scale to 2M+ ARR and beyond

To sell SaaS successfully, early-stage and growth-stage companies need different tools that suit their evolving needs.
Early-stage companies, with up to 2M ARR, use flexible tools, like HubSpot CRM, to achieve product-market fit and refine their value proposition.
As companies approach the milestone of 2M ARR, they begin to lay the groundwork for future growth by validating their product and business model. To achieve predictable, scalable and repeatable results, growth-stage companies need tools like Salesforce CRM and CPQ to streamline complex sales processes.
In the growth stage, acquisition remains a key driver of growth, but retention and expansion become increasingly valuable to sustain momentum. Tools like Gainsight enable proactive account management at scale and ensure that customer success teams monitor and improve customer health, driving upsell potential in an expanding customer base.
Other tools like Apollo.io help teams streamline sales processes by identifying leads and optimizing workflows, while Loom simplifies how teams share ideas and updates through quick video messages.
Dreamdata helps companies understand which marketing and sales activities drive pipeline and revenue by building custom attribution models that fit complex customer journeys, while Coefficient enables real-time data sync between Salesforce and Google Sheets to streamline data analysis, reporting, and dashboarding without relying on a full BI tool.
Overall, companies need to establish the right processes and tools during these critical stages to position themselves for future success in the competitive SaaS landscape.

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Saastr

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THE CLUB DEAL

A Club Deal is a model that brings together multiple investors with a shared vision for supporting transformative businesses.
It leverages collective expertise, resources, and networks, enabling investors to access larger deals, diversify their portfolios, and mitigate individual exposure to risk.
Club Deals require strong coordination among investors and their agreements help in mitigating disputes and aligning investor objectives.
They offer flexibility, shared expertise, and resource pooling but they have their complications.
One of the biggest hurdles for Club Deals is competition with large VC funds. They need to sharpen their pitch by leveraging niche expertise or specific sector knowledge to stand out.
Access to premium opportunities can be a significant challenge for Club Deals and building robust deal flow involves cultivating relationships with networks.
Assessing potential investments is a challenge but can be tackled by ensuring rigorous due diligence.
Carried interest and management fee are some of the common modes of remuneration in Club Deals.
Flexible profit-sharing arrangements that are pre-agreed upon in the shareholders’ agreement are also common.
Corporate investors or strategic partners may prioritize non-monetary benefits such as industry insight or customer acquisition opportunities.
Aligning the incentives of all parties ensures not just financial success but a rewarding collaborative experience in Club Deals.

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Saastr

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Pitchbook: 30 VC Firms Raised 75% of All the VC Capital in 2024

According to Pitchbook, the top 30 VC funds raised 75% of all the VC capital in 2024.
The VC industry operates with a finite pool of capital available for funds to raise from LPs and provide to founders.
At the earlier stages, there are many smaller funds, but as companies grow, the community of VCs becomes relatively small.
It is important for founders to understand the key drivers and metrics of the VC industry.

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