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Venture Capital News
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Why I’m Scared to Buy New SaaS Apps Now
- Many users are hesitant to purchase new SaaS apps due to the challenges faced during cancellations and downgrades, with some apps making it difficult to cancel or downgrade.
- Concerns arise when being pushed into more expensive editions upon renewal, with instances where vendors demand higher fees for additional services.
- Issues related to renewal processes, including auto-renewal without notice, threats of legal action on non-renewal, and lack of transparency in variable costs, add to the fear of buying new SaaS apps.
- Lack of free trials or editions may indicate the complexity of the product, causing skepticism among users about its usability.
- Doubts about the effectiveness of post-sales customer support and the burden of migrating data from existing solutions contribute to the apprehension of investing in new SaaS apps.
- Time-consuming processes, obstacles in data exporting, and the increasing complications in dealings with vendors raise concerns about the overall experience and value of purchasing SaaS apps.
- Considering factors like transparency, ease of use, customer support, and data management, users are advised to evaluate the pros and cons before committing to new SaaS applications.
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Saastr
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Learnings from Scaling DeepL’s Americas Business from 0 to 40 people and 3x’ing ARR in Under a Year
- DeepL, the language AI platform, successfully scaled their Americas business from 0 to 40 people while 3X'ing ARR in less than a year.
- They made four key mistakes along the way, including underestimating legal complexity and over-reliance on HQ strategies.
- The eight key learnings from their scaling process include prioritizing the new geography, setting clear expectations, building a precise hiring machine, and choosing a deliberate hub strategy.
- DeepL achieved impressive results, including strong ARR growth, successful US headquarters establishment, and a solid foundation for further expansion.
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Funded
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Best Funding Options for Startups in 2025
- In 2025, entrepreneurs have access to a diverse array of funding options for starting a business.
- Top funding options include venture capital, angel investors, crowdfunding, government initiatives, and grants.
- Incubators and accelerators offer mentorship and resources in exchange for equity, enhancing a start-up's chances of success.
- Bootstrapping enables entrepreneurs to self-finance their start-up, maintaining full control over the company.
- Revenue-based financing aligns investor returns with company performance without diluting ownership.
- Corporate venture capital, social venture capital, and media for equity are alternative funding models to explore.
- Start-ups can also consider ICOs, peer-to-peer lending, bank loans, strategic partnerships, competitions, and awards for funding.
- Family and friends, along with alternative financing models like convertible notes, provide additional funding avenues.
- Assessing business needs and risk tolerance is crucial for selecting the most suitable funding strategy.
- Diversifying funding sources and practicing financial prudence can enhance a start-up's long-term success.
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Medium
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Hip-Hop and Venture Capital: Resources
- Hip-hop and venture capital intersect in various ways, with artists like Dr Dre, Ice T, Kendrick Lamar, and Jay Z making references to the business side of the music industry in their lyrics.
- Angel investing and venture capital are mentioned by Jay Z and Kanye West, highlighting the trend of artists investing in startup companies.
- The concept of capitalization table and the choice of jurisdiction are also referenced in the context of business and investment in songs by Jay Z and Nas.
- Additionally, regulation, Silicon Valley, Web3, and the role of lawyers in the industry are topics covered by artists like Drake, Frank Ocean, and Snoop Dogg.
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Medium
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Hip-Hop and Venture Capital: Southeast Asia
- SEA artists are making their mark on the international hip-hop stage, exemplified by the emergence of artists like Algorithm.
- Def Jam's entry into the Southeast Asian market with Snoop Dogg's involvement signifies a shift in focus towards developing local talent.
- The hip-hop community's investment interests have moved from Indo weed references to investing in ventures like the Indonesian coffee chain, Kopi Kenangan.
- Despite being an emerging market, the intersection of technology, startups, venture capital, and artists in SEA shows promising trends and possibilities.
- Although the Southeast Asian music industry is relatively small on a global scale, it shows significant growth potential with revenue projected to increase in the coming years.
- The linguistic fluidity and cultural diversity of hip-hop in ASEAN countries contribute to its potential for wider audience reach and success.
- There is a growing intersection between hip-hop artists and entrepreneurship in SEA, resembling the US hip-hop scene's emphasis on brand building and collaboration.
- While the interaction between Southeast Asian hip-hop and venture capital is still evolving, there are notable examples like media company 88rising receiving VC funding.
- The gap between the approaches in SEA and the US regarding hip-hop artists' involvement in venture capital may be attributed to various factors, including the youth of the scene and industry in SEA.
- Despite current limitations, there is potential for increased collaboration between the hip-hop community and the regional startup ecosystem as both sectors mature.
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Medium
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Finding my career path through podcasts
- The article discusses the career journey of Nikki van Teijlingen Bakker, a strategy manager at Olympus, showcasing a pivotal moment in her career.
- Nikki transitioned from laboratory-based life sciences research to venture capital and pursued an MBA in Barcelona to leverage her diverse experience.
- She created the Career Navigators podcast to help individuals explore various career paths and find the right fit for themselves.
- Through networking and exploring, she discovered her interest in venture capital, leading her to pave a new career path despite initial discomfort.
- This career moment made Nikki realize the importance of self-discovery, adaptability, and continuously learning and evolving in one's career.
- Nikki's advice includes networking, trying new experiences, and embracing discomfort to grow and find the right career path.
- She advocates for academic organizations to support alumni networks and provide opportunities for exploring alternative career paths.
- Key values for Nikki include open-mindedness, collaboration, diversity, curiosity, while prioritizing skills like cross-cultural competency and adaptability.
- Emerging skills she emphasizes include social intelligence, contextual problem-solving, and empathy for working and living in a dynamic environment.
- Nikki's energy comes from being surrounded by diverse, motivated individuals who challenge her perspectives and push her towards personal growth.
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Medium
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Fundraising Hacks: How to Shorten Your Capital-Raising Timeline for Startup Funding
- Craft an irresistible pitch that stands out to investors.
- Start establishing relationships with potential investors early.
- Join Startup Accelerators to gain credibility, resources, and investor connections.
- Optimize your fundraising strategy by targeting relevant investors and exploring alternative funding sources.
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Medium
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“The Media Maestro partnership with dmg ventures has been a game-changer for Jude”
- A media partnership between Media Maestro and dmg ventures has had a significant impact for Jude in terms of increasing brand awareness among women over 45.
- Through a campaign across various media outlets, including YOU Magazine, MailOnline, Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday, and Weekend, Jude showcased its expertise and success with customer testimonials.
- A survey of 700 people, including readers and non-readers of the campaign's titles, showed that those who recalled the campaign had a more positive view of Jude.
- The campaign also resulted in notable increases in website sessions, direct traffic, brand search, and sales, with over 65k+ website sessions and more than 650 new customers acquired.
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Saastr
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What VCs are Really Looking For: Signs
- VCs are always looking for outliers in their investments.
- In order to be considered, founders need to demonstrate the potential to be an outlier.
- VCs seek signs of potential unicorn status, such as an incredible team, top 10% growth, strong word-of-mouth, and significant customer acquisitions.
- A valuation that allows VCs to make a substantial return on investment is also important.
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Medium
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782,000€ in 3 Months: The Power of Uncompromising Strategy
- A client approached the author with the goal of maximizing sales in the shortest time possible.
- To achieve different results, the author recommended tearing down everything and implementing high-pressure sales strategies, automated sequences, and psychological triggers.
- The result was 782,000€ in revenue in just three months.
- The author emphasizes the importance of trust in the process and being willing to invest what it takes to achieve success.
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Medium
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What is CapitalConnect?
- CapitalConnect is an innovative online platform designed to streamline the connection process between startups and investors.
- Key Features of CapitalConnect: It operates as a digital social network that helps startups and investors find the right match.
- Early success stories demonstrate the potential of CapitalConnect to revolutionize how startups and investors collaborate.
- With its user-focused design and advanced matching algorithm, CapitalConnect offers an efficient alternative to traditional networking methods.
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Medium
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HardTech Reads: The AI & Robotics Revolution vol.22
- Physical Intelligence has open-sourced its Pi0 robotic foundation model, allowing for customization and widespread adoption in robotics.
- China's ManusAI redefines autonomous AI agents with complex task execution, outperforming OpenAI and poised for global AI development.
- Apptronik partners with Jabil to mass-produce AI-powered humanoid robot Apollo for manufacturing, logistics, and potential retail and elder care use.
- China sets elder care robot standards as Unitree Robotics' humanoids gain attention, predicts mass adoption in five years.
- Alibaba's QwQ-32B reasoning model aims for efficiency on consumer hardware, intensifying competition in the global AI landscape.
- Gecko Robotics secures a $100M deal with NAES for AI-powered infrastructure inspection, optimizing U.S. power plant maintenance.
- Human Acceptance Testing (HAT) crucial for robot integration, ensuring social and environmental acceptance in human environments.
- RightHand Robotics receives a strategic investment from Rockwell Automation to expand AI-powered warehouse fulfillment globally.
- Skylo secures $30M to connect remote industries with satellite-based IoT connectivity, focusing on agriculture, maritime, and logistics.
- Coatue's report highlights startups' impact on the U.S. industrial base, reshaping defense, energy, and advanced manufacturing sectors.
- The Hardware Handbook provides valuable insights for robotics, manufacturing, and deep tech builders, offering a curated resource from Informal.cc.
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Medium
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Last Week in ConTech — 10 March 2025
- Solar energy is currently the most feasible clean energy option and serves as an ideal entry point for construction robotics due to labor constraints and layout repeatability.
- The Trump Administration's reversal on climate pledges could impact clean energy investments and the adoption of construction robotics.
- Rising non-market risks are being observed in the Construction Technology (ConTech) industry, prompting increased awareness among stakeholders.
- A new ConTech News podcast hosted by Alice Leung and a guest from the industry will analyze top construction stories and trends, providing insights for industry professionals.
- Startups like TwinKnowledge, Trades ManagementInstaller, SafetyNotify Technologies, DataMode, DesignStrato Create, and Home ServicesDaisy have secured significant funding for innovative solutions in AEC, safety platforms, AI data management, and home design.
- Companies like Zeitview, Viam, Telescope, Ocean Ledger, and VIE Technologies have raised funds for various solutions in inspections, fleet management, environmental risk monitoring, and grid technology.
- Notable developments include UK's Crown Plus securing funding for highway drainage equipment and Missouri's Daupler raising funds for incident response software for utilities.
- In the political sphere, Trump's policies impact homebuilders, HVAC rebates, transportation project reviews, and tariffs on China and USMCA goods.
- Elsewhere, EU unveils climate regulations, China sees advancements in nuclear energy and battery swapping stations, and Finland launches battery-storage projects.
- Other highlights include Germany's energy grid improvements, AI leadership efforts, and developments in global power infrastructure under initiatives like China's Belt and Road.
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Saastr
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AI SaaS Leader Moveworks Sells for $2.85 Billion. But Do Most of Their Investors Make Any Money?
- AI support/agent leader Moveworks has been acquired by ServiceNow for $2.85 billion.
- The $200 million raised in Moveworks' last funding round will likely only result in breaking even for investors.
- Earlier stage investors will make money, but most of the last funding round's capital won't see any profit.
- While the acquisition is impressive, it highlights the challenge of making money at the growth stage.
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Nytimes
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Eric Schmidt Joins Relativity Space as C.E.O.
- Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google, has joined rocket start-up Relativity Space as CEO, succeeding co-founder Timothy Ellis.
- Schmidt is making a significant investment and taking a controlling stake in the company.
- Relativity Space is focused on manufacturing cheaper reusable rockets for smaller payloads, with the long-term goal of creating an industrial base on Mars.
- The start-up aims to compete with SpaceX and other legacy manufacturers by offering cost-effective launches into space.
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