OpenAI Close to Finalizing Its $40B SoftBank-Led Funding
(bloomberg.com)
OpenAI is close to finalizing a $40 billion funding round led by SoftBank Group Corp. — with investors including Magnetar Capital, Coatue Management, Founders Fund and Altimeter Capital Management in talks to participate, according to people familiar with the matter.
OpenAI is close to finalizing a $40 billion funding round led by SoftBank Group Corp. — with investors including Magnetar Capital, Coatue Management, Founders Fund and Altimeter Capital Management in talks to participate, according to people familiar with the matter.
Did A16Z get it wrong about stablecoins?
(ycombinator.com)
Here is the article from a16z about how stablecoins will change daily payments:
Here is the article from a16z about how stablecoins will change daily payments:
20 Years of YC / HN
(vickiboykis.com)
I saw recently that YCombinator celebrated its 20th anniversary.
I saw recently that YCombinator celebrated its 20th anniversary.
Y Combinator founders raising less money signals a 'vibe shift,' VC says
(techcrunch.com)
Silicon Valley has been captivated by the prospect of AI, not only as a productivity enhancer but also as a catalyst for creating successful companies with much leaner teams than in the past.
Silicon Valley has been captivated by the prospect of AI, not only as a productivity enhancer but also as a catalyst for creating successful companies with much leaner teams than in the past.
The End of YC
(benn.substack.com)
If chefs start to come from anywhere, we might find out that current ones aren’t as talented as we thought they were.
If chefs start to come from anywhere, we might find out that current ones aren’t as talented as we thought they were.
5% in EU innovation funding yields a 4,300% ROI
(karlsnotes.com)
While only 5% of the EU innovation funding (about €12B) goes directly to startups, these same startups have raised an additional €70B in private capital and created €520B in combined enterprise value, representing a 4,300% return on investment.
While only 5% of the EU innovation funding (about €12B) goes directly to startups, these same startups have raised an additional €70B in private capital and created €520B in combined enterprise value, representing a 4,300% return on investment.
Happy 20th birthday, Y Combinator
(twitter.com)
Something went wrong, but don’t fret — let’s give it another shot.
Something went wrong, but don’t fret — let’s give it another shot.
The Hottest AI Companies Are "Apps"
(bloomberg.com)
Forget LLMs. Silicon Valley investors have a new favorite AI play.
Forget LLMs. Silicon Valley investors have a new favorite AI play.
GDP shock: Venture Capital's government bailout begins
(nextwave.partners)
As GDP contracts, venture capital abandons private markets for government funding, rebranding struggling startups as "strategic assets" to capture Trump's new sovereign wealth fund. A new innovation model emerges where political connections matter more than business fundamentals.
As GDP contracts, venture capital abandons private markets for government funding, rebranding struggling startups as "strategic assets" to capture Trump's new sovereign wealth fund. A new innovation model emerges where political connections matter more than business fundamentals.
Scientist Left OpenAI Last Year. His Startup Is Already Worth $30B
(wsj.com)
Silicon Valley’s hottest investment isn’t a new app or hardware product. It’s one man.
Silicon Valley’s hottest investment isn’t a new app or hardware product. It’s one man.
Vultr Secures $3.5B Valuation in Financing from LuminArx and AMD Ventures
(vultr.com)
In a landmark move for the cloud computing industry, Vultr has completed a growth financing round at a $3.5 billion valuation.
In a landmark move for the cloud computing industry, Vultr has completed a growth financing round at a $3.5 billion valuation.
Ask HN: Ethical VC Funds?
(ycombinator.com)
Are there any ethical VC funds? This is a genuine question. It feels like the majority of venture firms can rationalise away their position as doing good for the world but when you start to dig into it, the sole goal is making money and who they make money for isn't always the most righteous of people or entities.
Are there any ethical VC funds? This is a genuine question. It feels like the majority of venture firms can rationalise away their position as doing good for the world but when you start to dig into it, the sole goal is making money and who they make money for isn't always the most righteous of people or entities.
Y Combinator Supports AI Startup Dehumanizing Factory Workers
(404media.co)
A venture capital-backed “AI performance monitoring system for factory workers” is proposing what appears to be dehumanizing surveillance of factories, where machine vision tracks workers’ hand movements and output so a boss can look at graphs and yell at them about efficiency.
A venture capital-backed “AI performance monitoring system for factory workers” is proposing what appears to be dehumanizing surveillance of factories, where machine vision tracks workers’ hand movements and output so a boss can look at graphs and yell at them about efficiency.
Y Combinator Supports AI Startup Dehumanizing Factory Workers
(404media.co)
A venture capital-backed “AI performance monitoring system for factory workers” is proposing what appears to be dehumanizing surveillance of factories, where machine vision tracks workers’ hand movements and output so a boss can look at graphs and yell at them about efficiency.
A venture capital-backed “AI performance monitoring system for factory workers” is proposing what appears to be dehumanizing surveillance of factories, where machine vision tracks workers’ hand movements and output so a boss can look at graphs and yell at them about efficiency.
'Hey Number 17 '
(404media.co)
A venture capital-backed “AI performance monitoring system for factory workers” is proposing what appears to be dehumanizing surveillance of factories, where machine vision tracks workers’ hand movements and output so a boss can look at graphs and yell at them about efficiency.
A venture capital-backed “AI performance monitoring system for factory workers” is proposing what appears to be dehumanizing surveillance of factories, where machine vision tracks workers’ hand movements and output so a boss can look at graphs and yell at them about efficiency.
The Unicorn Boom Is Over, and Startups Are Getting Desperate
(bloomberg.com)
The billion-dollar startup bubble is deflating, and more than $1 trillion in value is locked up in companies with dwindling prospects.
The billion-dollar startup bubble is deflating, and more than $1 trillion in value is locked up in companies with dwindling prospects.
Antithesis: Lessons from Launch
(antithesis.com)
It’s basically a cliche at this point for founders to write the “my experiences from one year of blah” post. Not quite “our incredible journey”-level, but getting there. And why not? It’s pure Hacker News catnip, practically guaranteed to get you views from the people who run the companies that you sell to and buy from in the Great Venture Flywheel / Startup Circle of Life. So I suppose I have to do one.
It’s basically a cliche at this point for founders to write the “my experiences from one year of blah” post. Not quite “our incredible journey”-level, but getting there. And why not? It’s pure Hacker News catnip, practically guaranteed to get you views from the people who run the companies that you sell to and buy from in the Great Venture Flywheel / Startup Circle of Life. So I suppose I have to do one.
Startup Funding Roadmap
(anyonyashraya.com)
This is a concise roadmap to help founders navigate the fundraising journey, from pre-seed to IPO. It provides actionable insights into funding sources, equity dilution, pros and cons, best practices, and common pitfalls, enabling founders to make informed decisions at every stage. Note: Beyond securing capital, fundraising is about finding strategic partners who align with your vision and can drive long-term growth.
This is a concise roadmap to help founders navigate the fundraising journey, from pre-seed to IPO. It provides actionable insights into funding sources, equity dilution, pros and cons, best practices, and common pitfalls, enabling founders to make informed decisions at every stage. Note: Beyond securing capital, fundraising is about finding strategic partners who align with your vision and can drive long-term growth.
The Butter Thesis (2019)
(nickgrossman.xyz)
At USV, we talk a lot about our investment thesis. The USV thesis is a set of ideas that has guided our investing over the years. It is a tool we use to help ourselves know what to look for, and to help companies who fit into it to find us.
At USV, we talk a lot about our investment thesis. The USV thesis is a set of ideas that has guided our investing over the years. It is a tool we use to help ourselves know what to look for, and to help companies who fit into it to find us.
Venture Capital Extremism
(vcinfodocs.com)
Tech extremism emerges from the power grab of right-wing venture capitalists in the tech industry.
Tech extremism emerges from the power grab of right-wing venture capitalists in the tech industry.
Andreessen Horowitz stands by decision to hire Daniel Penny
(techcrunch.com)
Andreessen Horowitz is defending its decision to hire Daniel Penny, according to an investor memo seen by The New York Times.
Andreessen Horowitz is defending its decision to hire Daniel Penny, according to an investor memo seen by The New York Times.
Andreessen Horowitz Defends Hiring of Daniel Penny to Its Investors
(nytimes.com)
Partners at Andreessen Horowitz, the blue-chip venture capital firm in Silicon Valley, defended to investors their decision to hire Daniel Penny, a Marine veteran acquitted on a charge of criminally negligent homicide last year, according to an internal memo viewed by The New York Times.
Partners at Andreessen Horowitz, the blue-chip venture capital firm in Silicon Valley, defended to investors their decision to hire Daniel Penny, a Marine veteran acquitted on a charge of criminally negligent homicide last year, according to an internal memo viewed by The New York Times.
You Can't "Win" in Tech Unless You Cheat
(joanwestenberg.com)
PayPal started by paying people to sign up. Their viral growth came from essentially bribing users with $10 to join and $10 for each referral. That’s not innovation — it’s buying market share with venture capital.
PayPal started by paying people to sign up. Their viral growth came from essentially bribing users with $10 to join and $10 for each referral. That’s not innovation — it’s buying market share with venture capital.
Andreessen Horowitz Defends Hiring of Daniel Penny to Its Investors
(nytimes.com)
Partners at Andreessen Horowitz, the blue-chip venture capital firm in Silicon Valley, defended to investors their decision to hire Daniel Penny, a Marine veteran acquitted on a charge of criminally negligent homicide last year, according to an internal memo viewed by The New York Times.
Partners at Andreessen Horowitz, the blue-chip venture capital firm in Silicon Valley, defended to investors their decision to hire Daniel Penny, a Marine veteran acquitted on a charge of criminally negligent homicide last year, according to an internal memo viewed by The New York Times.
Daniel Penny Gets Hired by Andreessen Horowitz
(thefp.com)
In less than two months, Daniel Penny has gone from facing a potential 20 years in prison to landing a role at Andreessen Horowitz, the premier investment firm in Silicon Valley.
In less than two months, Daniel Penny has gone from facing a potential 20 years in prison to landing a role at Andreessen Horowitz, the premier investment firm in Silicon Valley.
Venture Capital Extremism
(vcinfodocs.com)
Tech extremism emerges from the power grab of right-wing venture capitalists in the tech industry.
Tech extremism emerges from the power grab of right-wing venture capitalists in the tech industry.
Venture Capital Extremism
(vcinfodocs.com)
Tech extremism emerges from the power grab of right-wing venture capitalists in the tech industry.
Tech extremism emerges from the power grab of right-wing venture capitalists in the tech industry.
2025 will likely be another brutal year of failed startups, data suggests
(techcrunch.com)
More startups shut down in 2024 than the year prior, according to multiple sources, and that’s not really a surprise considering the insane number of companies that were funded in the crazy days of 2020 and 2021.
More startups shut down in 2024 than the year prior, according to multiple sources, and that’s not really a surprise considering the insane number of companies that were funded in the crazy days of 2020 and 2021.