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Venture Capital News
Medium
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The World Carbon Budget is Running Low — Tick, Tock…
- The carbon budget is the limit to how much CO₂ can be put into the atmosphere before global temperatures become dangerously hot.
- It is calculated how much CO₂ can be released to have a good chance of keeping global warming below 1.5°C.
- Approximately 500 billion tons of CO₂ can be released starting from 2020 to maintain a 50% chance of staying below 1.5°C.
- The world currently adds about 40 billion tons of CO₂ to the atmosphere each year, depleting the carbon budget rapidly.
- At the current rate, the carbon budget could be exhausted in just over a decade, leading to increased extreme weather events and environmental damage.
- The carbon budget underscores the importance of understanding the time left to cut emissions in line with climate goals and the urgency of transitioning to cleaner energy sources.
- Scientists and advocates use the carbon budget to call for stronger climate action, highlighting the insufficiency of current emission reduction efforts.
- The carbon budget serves as a warning signal, emphasizing the need to accelerate and improve efforts to meet climate goals.
- An analogy is made between the carbon budget and a national debt clock, suggesting the idea of a carbon budget countdown as a reminder of the urgency of the situation.
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Saastr
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GTM in The Age of AI: The Top 10 Learnings from ICONIQ’s 2025 B2B SaaS Report
- ICONIQ's 2025 B2B SaaS report highlights a market split, with AI-forward companies excelling.
- AI-native companies achieve higher trial-to-paid conversion rates, shorter sales cycles, and lower costs.
- Fundamental organizational redesign and AI adoption are crucial for success in the Age of AI.
- Key findings include growth stagnation, AI advantages, and challenges in sales conversion rates.
- Sales cycles have extended across sectors, while high AI adopters outperform in quota attainment and cost per opportunity.
- Early-stage companies with high AI adoption operate with leaner GTM teams.
- Hybrid pricing models are on the rise, benefiting AI-native companies.
- Channel revenue increases with company scale, with partnerships becoming vital for growth.
- High-growth companies are significantly increasing AI investments for lead generation and personalization.
- AI-native and traditional SaaS companies show differing post-sales team allocation strategies.
- Adapting to AI, rethinking pricing, and organizational structures are crucial for B2B success in the current landscape.
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Medium
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Partnering With Eventual: The Next Generation of Data Processing for AI Applications
- Partnership announced with Eventual, leading their $7.5M seed and $20M Series A.
- Eventual aims to revolutionize data processing for AI applications with Daft, an open-source distributed query engine.
- Traditional data warehouses struggle with multimodal data; Eventual's Daft addresses this issue.
- Daft is designed to handle complex data like images, audio, and JSON files efficiently.
- Daft optimizes queries for multimodal data types and supports cloud-native, distributed processing.
- Already proven at scale, Daft is used at Amazon Retail for processing over two petabytes of data daily.
- Daft has led to a 38% increase in cost efficiency for Amazon by optimizing IO-bound workloads.
- Founders Sammy Sidhu and Jay Chia have backgrounds in autonomous driving and biotech, focusing on data challenges.
- CRV partners with Eventual due to their technical talent, vision, and innovative data processing approach.
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Medium
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179
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From Grit to Growth: Part I —Cash Won’t Buy Culture. But It Might Start a Venture Capital War.
- Meta reportedly offered a $100 million signing bonus to senior AI employees at OpenAI.
- Altman made a quiet bet on culture over capital in response to the high signing bonus.
- The focus is on culture rather than just fitting in for AI professionals.
- The best people in AI are staying in their current roles despite tempting financial offers.
- Recruiting, retention, and team design are influenced by culture considerations.
- Startups prioritize scaling precision over headcount in their organizational structure.
- Companies are embedding People Ops directly into teams as enablers, not just administrative support.
- Legal and compliance are important, but team building is now a core responsibility within teams.
- Successful strategies focus on high-signal, trust-based networks rather than just traditional HR approaches.
- Winning in today's landscape involves building tighter networks instead of just growing bigger organizations.
- VU Talent Partners is an example of a company adopting a network-based, signal-rooted approach to team building.
- Grit and growth now depend on clarity, community, and conviction in building teams and networks.
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Saastr
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The IPO Renaissance Has Begun: Offerings Are Up 62.5% Already This Year. With Much More to Come.
- The IPO market is thriving with a 62.5% increase in U.S. IPOs compared to last year.
- Aftermarket performance of IPOs in 2024 was exceptional, with over 20% rise from issuance.
- Over 85% of 2024 IPOs priced within or above their initial ranges, signaling market demand.
- The IPO pipeline for B2B SaaS companies is growing, with major players like Figma and Genesys preparing to go public.
- Key metrics for 2025 IPOs include revenue scale, growth rates, and profitability, setting new standards.
- The IPO market in 2025 focuses on quality over quantity, with an emphasis on revenue multiples and profitability.
- Investor confidence in U.S. equities remains strong with significant inflows, driving the IPO market.
- B2B and SaaS companies must accelerate IPO readiness and focus on key performance metrics for success.
- The IPO renaissance signifies a new era where strong SaaS companies can achieve remarkable public market success.
- Companies that seize this opportunity will set new standards and create generational wealth for stakeholders.
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Intelalley
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MIH Receives $40m Investment from Warburg Pincus
- Miami International Holdings, Inc. (MIH) secures a $40 million investment from Warburg Pincus for global expansion.
- The funding was used to help finance the acquisition of The International Stock Exchange (TISE) in Europe.
- The investment supports MIH's strategy of diversifying revenue streams across multiple regions.
- The Chairman and CEO of MIH, Thomas P. Gallagher, views the investment as validation of their international growth plan.
- Warburg Pincus had previously provided a $100 million investment for MIH's growth initiatives.
- MIH intends to launch the MIAX Sapphire options exchange and expand its trading platforms and futures businesses.
- The investment from Warburg Pincus is aimed at strengthening MIH's international expansion efforts.
- Piper Sandler & Co., Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, and other firms provided financial and legal counsel for the transaction.
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Saastr
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237
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Dear SaaStr: How Much Equity is Typically Given Out to the First 50 Employees?
- Typically, for the first 50 employees at a venture-backed startup, around 10%-20% of the company's equity is allocated in the employee stock option pool (ESOP).
- The equity distribution for employees depends on various factors like hiring pace, growth stage, and future hiring plans.
- Start-ups commonly allocate 15%-20% of the cap table for employees initially and grant 6%-8% of equity annually as they scale.
- Early employees, especially the first 10, often receive larger equity grants for their risk-taking contributions.
- Initial employees may receive roughly 2x a normal grant for their role and seniority.
- As the company grows, equity grants for later hires usually decrease but remain meaningful.
- Employees, as a group, may own about 10%-20% of the company at IPO or exit.
- Equity allocation is crucial for attracting and retaining top talent.
- Equity distribution needs to be refreshed to accommodate new hires and retain talent.
- Various rounds of funding and dilution affect the overall equity ownership by employees.
- Equity is a key incentive for employees in start-ups.
- Balancing equity distribution at various stages of a start-up's growth is important for maintaining incentives.
- The equity percentage for employees is dynamic and subject to adjustments based on company growth.
- Equity allocation considerations are essential for the success and longevity of a start-up.
- Equity grants reflect the level of risk, contribution, and stage of involvement of employees.
- Distribution of equity among early employees is typically more substantial than for later hires.
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Insider
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409
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A former DreamWorks president just raised $11.6M to build franchises using AI
- Former DreamWorks president, Chris deFaria's Chronicle Studios raised $11.6M to create Hollywood franchises using AI.
- AI will help animators grow audiences and monetize projects beyond YouTube.
- AI has been utilized in Hollywood for script reading, dubbing, and visual effects.
- Chris deFaria, aiming to create Hollywood franchises with AI, secured funding for Chronicle Studios.
- Chronicle Studios backed by Patron, Point72 Ventures, Z Ventures, Sands Capital, and others.
- Chronicle's focus is on marketing and distribution to boost creators' shows and develop franchises.
- DeFaria and Sisto identified AI as a tool to enhance audience growth in the evolving marketing landscape.
- Chronicle provides funding, business plans, and AI tools to help animators distribute content and build fan bases.
- Investing up to 40% of the $11.6M raised in creators, Chronicle has backed six creators and aims for 15 by year-end.
- Creators backed by Chronicle remain undisclosed, with projects in various stages, such as upcoming short films.
- Chronicle's approach involves building loyal fan bases through platforms like YouTube.
- Similar ventures in the market include Further Adventures and Promise, focusing on independent creators and AI.
- Chronicle's goal is long-term monetization for creators through avenues like streaming services, ad-supported channels, and more.
- They prioritize building fan communities over short-term view hacks with AI tools.
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Medium
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Building Acurio Ventures’ next-stage investor base
- Raising capital is a challenging task for VC firms, especially in the current market environment where companies stay private longer.
- Building relationships is crucial in the VC industry, both with individual and institutional investors.
- Acurio Ventures focused on developing new relationships with international and institutional investors.
- Their recent €150M fund saw a significant portion of capital coming from institutional investors and non-Spanish LPs.
- One of the notable investors in their fund was a US-based endowment.
- Acurio Ventures has been actively engaging with potential international and institutional LPs through various forums and networks.
- They went on a two-week trip to the US and Canada to connect with institutions and family offices.
- Additional trips to Latin America are planned for similar engagements in the future.
- The focus is on planting relationship seeds that will eventually benefit the firm in the long term.
- Acurio Ventures aims to become one of the leading European firms by consistently building and nurturing investor relationships.
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Medium
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Why VCs are dumb and how to use us
- VCs might not know more about a sector or business than founders or their teams.
- Building a strong relationship with VCs is vital for founders to get the most value out of them.
- Select VCs that are right for you and your company to ensure advocacy and support.
- Communicate effectively and be responsive to engender a positive relationship with VCs.
- Use VCs as a sounding board for business decisions and emotional support related to your company.
- Board meetings should focus on open debates rather than mundane updates.
- External investors like VCs can instill discipline and help with corporate governance.
- Make use of VCs' networks and expertise to benefit your company.
- Though VCs may not offer groundbreaking insights, they can still provide valuable support and networking opportunities.
- Founders are encouraged to leverage VCs' superpowers and build strong relationships with them.
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Saastr
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220
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From $10M to $100M ARR in 5.5 Months: Inside Replit’s AI Coding Rocketship
- Replit achieved an impressive $10M to $100M ARR growth in just 5.5 months, making it one of the fastest B2B scale stories.
- The company pioneered the 'vibe coding' movement, allowing users to create production apps using natural language, disrupting the software development market.
- In the AI coding space, Replit, alongside other players, achieved remarkable growth rates, attracting significant investment.
- Replit's breakthrough with Replit Agent in 2024 marked a paradigm shift, leading to significant revenue growth quarter over quarter.
- They offer true no-code development where the AI handles frontend to hosting, attracting major enterprise customers like Zillow and HubSpot.
- Competitors in the AI development platform space like Cursor, Lovable, and Windsurf are also experiencing rapid growth and attracting investments.
- Replit's three strategic masterstrokes include platform integration, democratization of complex development, and leveraging network effects.
- Their financial metrics show sustainable growth with evolving revenue models and customer expansion strategies.
- Replit's success signifies a new era in software development, emphasizing AI-first product strategy, democratization, and community building as key factors.
- The 'vibe coding' revolution is just beginning, indicating a fundamental shift in software development facilitated by AI.
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Medium
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351
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Magical Thinking: The Most Expensive Mistake in Tech
- The article discusses the dangers of 'magical thinking' in the tech industry, which involves making bold claims before fully understanding the implications.
- It highlights past examples like ML in Cybersecurity, SOAR strategies, RPA, Low-Code solutions, and AI deployments that fell short due to unrealistic expectations.
- Many automation efforts failed due to skipping over governance, process design, and facing the realities of implementation.
- The focus on 'LLM Everything' in the future is predicted to encounter similar challenges, with McKinsey data indicating low success rates in early AI projects.
- The article emphasizes the importance of understanding the limitations of technology and aligning expectations with reality.
- It warns against succumbing to hype cycles and inflated expectations, stressing the significance of hard work and perseverance in achieving success in tech.
- The narrative underscores the need to build products with a clear problem-solving focus before aiming to create a movement or larger impact.
- It concludes by highlighting that while hype can propel initial excitement, sustained success in tech requires a grounded approach and a commitment to facing challenges head-on.
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Medium
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395
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Halter Continues Rapid Growth, Raises $100M Series D
- Halter raised $100M Series D round led by BOND, with NewView and existing investors participating.
- The company, employing over 200 people, offers technology for managing beef ranches and dairy farms using Physical AI through smart collars.
- Halter serves customers in New Zealand, Australia, and the US, revolutionizing ranch and farm operations.
- Users report higher profitability and improved herd management, soil health, and land management through Halter's system.
- The cattle industry, generating over $1 trillion annually, has embraced Halter's Physical AI technology.
- Halter's platform evolution and high quality have made it a unique offering in agriculture.
- The system offers ranchers and farmers operational advantages, including ease of use and various features.
- Halter has built a strong position in the market due to its hardware/software technology platform.
- Promus Ventures, a Halter investor, praises the company's perseverance and success despite doubts in the early stages.
- Successful DeepTech investments often face early skepticism, but Halter's team has proven naysayers wrong.
- The Halter Board is composed of supportive investors, acknowledging the company's potential for global scalability and industry impact.
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Funded
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433
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Venture Capital in 2025: Top Trends & Predictions for Startups
- Venture capital in 2025 is experiencing significant changes driven by economic shifts, tech advancements, and a focus on sustainable growth.
- Key trends include AI for due diligence, rise of ESG investing, DeFi impact, operator-led funds, and geographic diversification.
- Micro-funds, hybrid funding models, and evolving exit strategies are predicted to shape venture capital.
- Startups should prioritize resilience, sustainability, and scalability while being open to non-traditional funding.
- Metrics like LTV/CAC ratios and capital efficiency are crucial, and data room organization is key for successful fundraising.
- Consistent understanding of the VC landscape and investor priorities is vital for funding and growth.
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Medium
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Joyce Shen’s picks: musings and readings in AI/ML, June 23, 2025
- Waymo is testing its cars in NYC and has applied for an autonomous driving permit.
- Midjourney has launched an AI video generator.
- Apple executives have discussed buying Perplexity based on reports from Bloomberg News.
- SoftBank is reportedly planning to launch a trillion-dollar AI and robotics industrial complex.
- Databricks CEO highlighted the company's focus on data and AI governance.
- Several papers on topics like Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning for Autonomous Multi-Satellite Earth Observation and Lightweight Federated Tuning for Pretrained Multimodal Large Language Models were published.
- Deal highlights include financing raised by companies like Diskover, Ubyx, Quilt Health, Extend, Hoppr, Athena, RevelAi Health, Tensec, Sunrise Robotics, Alta, YieldClub, Stackup, GDI, and Nabla Technologies.
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