The venture capital ecosystem is currently experiencing a significant slowdown, primarily due to a notable scarcity of exits, particularly large-scale tech public listings. In the first quarter, the total U.S. VC exit value stood at a mere $18.4 billion, with the IPOs of Reddit and Astera Labs making up roughly three-fourths of this figure. Although these IPOs generated considerable media buzz, it’s still premature to declare them as indicators of a reinvigorated public listing environment. Over the past two years, the exit market has been lackluster, causing many General Partners (GPs) to struggle to turn paper gains into actual cash distributions to Limited Partners (LPs). This situation has been exacerbated by many institutional investors facing liquidity constraints amid an ongoing market correction. With a generally low Distribution to Paid-In (DPI) ratio, LPs have found themselves unable to recycle distributions back into commitments to venture funds. This has led to a […]

In a surprising turn of events, European startups have managed to buck the global funding slowdown, raising a respectable $11.8 billion in the first quarter of 2024, according to Crunchbase data. This figure marks a marginal increase from Q4 2023 and a less than 10% decline from the same period in the previous year. While the overall European venture funding in Q1 2024 was slightly lower than the average quarter in 2023, the region’s startups continue to attract a significant share of global venture capital. In fact, around 18% of the world’s venture funding was allocated to European companies, with North America accounting for just over 50% of the quarterly investments. The leading sectors for funding in Europe were financial services, healthcare, and energy, with AI companies raising a sizable $1.4 billion, or roughly 12% of the total European venture capital. The United Kingdom emerged as the dominant player, representing […]

In a stark contrast to the sector’s high-flying days, the global edtech industry has faced a reckoning in recent quarters, with a dramatic 72% plunge in funding from $10.58 billion in 2022 to just $2.97 billion in 2023. This bleak picture is further underscored by the latest data from HolonIQ, which reveals that in the first quarter of 2024, a mere 100 global edtech startups managed to raise a combined $580 million from venture capital firms. The downturn has not spared even the industry’s star players. Quora, the popular question-and-answer platform, found itself on the receiving end of a down round, raising $75 million while its valuation plummeted from a peak of $1.8 billion in 2017 to a mere $500 million. The most noteworthy deals in Q1 2024 included a $120 million round for education financing solutions startup Avanse, a $21 million funding for global student housing platform Amber, and […]

In the ever-evolving world of startup fundraising, the post-money SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) has become the darling of the pre-seed landscape, leaving founders to navigate the complexities of this new financing tool. While most founders understandably focus on the valuation cap at which they’ll raise using a post-money SAFE, a more prudent approach may be to consider the acceptable level of dilution they’re willing to accept for a given amount of cash. Take the famous Y Combinator example: when startups join the program, they receive $125,000 in exchange for 7% of the company. The implied valuation cap for this investment is around $1.78 million, but that’s not the primary concern. Founders, especially those raising multiple rounds of SAFEs, would be better served by concentrating on the dilution implications of the funds rather than the valuation caps. It’s the same underlying math, but an emphasis on dilution may help […]

In a remarkable display of the startup world’s resilience, global startup venture funding surged by a staggering 6% quarter-over-quarter in the first three months of 2024, according to the latest data from Crunchbase. The first quarter of the year closed with a total of $66 billion in funding, a testament to the unwavering investor appetite for innovation and growth. The numbers paint a compelling picture – seed-stage startups raked in $7 billion, while early-stage companies secured a remarkable $29.5 billion, representing a 6% year-over-year increase. This surge in early-stage funding can be attributed to the robust performance of sectors such as AI, electric vehicles, and green energy, which witnessed a flurry of large Series B rounds. However, the VC pullback trend for late-stage startups continued, with funding falling 36% year-over-year to $29.5 billion. This shift in investor focus underscores the evolving dynamics of the startup ecosystem, where the appetite for […]

The startup world is abuzz with activity, as the latest data from Carta’s State of Private Markets report reveals a surge in both valuations and round sizes across most venture stages in the first quarter of 2024. According to the preliminary analysis, median pre-money valuations ticked upwards for seed, Series A, Series B, and Series C rounds, indicating a continued appetite for early-stage companies. However, the report also noted a decline in valuations for Series D and E+ rounds, suggesting a potential cooling of the late-stage market. Accompanying this valuation uptick was a notable increase in the median amount of cash raised across several stages. Seed, Series A, Series B, and Series C rounds all saw a sharp rise in the amount of capital secured, with the priced seed and Series C stages leading the charge. “Although the final numbers on total rounds and capital raised are not yet available […]

The Rise of the Underdog Unicorn Founders A groundbreaking study by Defiance Capital has shattered long-held assumptions about the pedigree of successful entrepreneurs. Analyzing 845 unicorns and 2,018 founders across the U.S. and U.K. from 2013 to 2023, the report reveals that 70% of unicorns were founded by underdogs – immigrants, women, and people of color. Remarkably, 17% of unicorns in 2023 had at least one female founder, a significant increase from the past. The study challenges the notion that a prestigious background is necessary for success, with only 34% of founders having worked at elite employers. Instead, the “DNA” of a unicorn founder is defined by three factors: an unwavering “no plan B” mentality, a “chip on the shoulder” that fuels their drive, and an unlimited self-belief. Many of these founders developed resilience from early experiences of feeling unfairly treated or limited. The pivotal role of immigrant founders is […]

In a resounding testament to the resilience and ingenuity of the American entrepreneurial spirit, the number of startups less than a year old has surged by an impressive 16% between 2019 and 2023, surpassing pre-Great Recession levels for the first time, according to a new analysis from the Center of American Progress. The data paints a striking picture of the entrepreneurial renaissance sweeping across the nation. Between January 2021 and December 2023, a staggering 5.2 million entrepreneurs in the United States filed for “likely employer” business applications, fueling the startup boom and injecting new life into the country’s economic landscape. The fourth quarter of 2023 witnessed a particularly remarkable surge, with 450,000 entrepreneurs filing business applications, a remarkable 37% increase compared to the same period in 2019. This upward trajectory was echoed across every state, with Wyoming leading the charge with an astonishing 93% surge, and even Alaska, the state […]

As the crypto market basks in the warmth of a bullish Bitcoin rally, venture capital (VC) firms are scrambling to raise new funds in a bid to capitalize on the burgeoning momentum. However, their efforts are being met with a lukewarm reception from limited partners (LPs), who remain wary of the industry’s tumultuous past and the hard-learned lessons of recent implosions like Three Arrows Capital and FTX. According to data from Galaxy Digital, crypto-focused VCs raised a respectable $5.8 billion in funds last year. However, this figure pales in comparison to the staggering $20 billion and $38 billion raised in 2021 and 2022, respectively, highlighting the industry’s precipitous fall from grace and the lingering skepticism that hangs over it. Compounding the challenge for crypto-focused VCs is the crowded market landscape, where differentiation is an increasingly elusive pursuit. Ray Hindi, managing partner at L1 Digital AG, aptly summarizes the conundrum: “Too […]

In the latter half of 2023, European startups experienced a notable shift in the timeline and dynamics of venture capital funding, according to insights from Carta reported by Sifted. The journey from Series A to Series B funding has become significantly longer for European Series A startups, with the timeframe extending by an astounding 85% compared to the first half of 2022. This trend has resulted in startups taking approximately 760 days on average to secure Series B funding after closing a Series A round. A Closer Look at Funding TimelinesThe funding landscape has seen varied changes across different stages. For pre-seed startups, the median time to raise seed rounds surged by 49%, reaching 511 days. This increase underscores the growing challenges and heightened scrutiny faced by early-stage startups in progressing to the next funding stage. Conversely, seed startups experienced a slight improvement, with the time required to raise Series […]

In the ever-evolving landscape of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, the beginning of 2024 has marked a notable uptick in venture capital (VC) investment within the sector. According to recent data from Crunchbase, crypto startups have raised an impressive $625 million through 111 deals so far this quarter. This marks a significant increase from the $446.3 million secured in Q4 2023, highlighting a resurgence of investor confidence and interest in the crypto space. A Comparative Look at Funding TrendsReflecting on the previous year, crypto startups amassed $3.6 billion across 821 deals. When compared to the $16.2 billion raised in 2022, it’s clear that 2023 experienced a substantial 78% decline in funding. This downturn was largely influenced by the fallout of the FTX collapse and a general slump in VC funding across all sectors. Despite these challenges, the current quarter has seen noteworthy funding rounds, including Freechat’s $80 million Series A, Flowdesk’s […]

European Lenders Feast on Convertible Debt Amid Funding Crunch. In a striking turn of events, European lenders have embraced convertible debt deals with a voracious appetite, setting a new record high of $2.5 billion in 2023, according to data from Dealroom seen by Reuters. This surge in venture debt deal value, a staggering leap from the $1.7 billion tallied in 2022, has been fueled by the dearth of equity funding availability that has gripped the startup ecosystem. As equity fundraising plummeted from the dizzying heights of $130 billion in 2021 to a mere $62 billion in 2023, as reported by PitchBook, startups have been forced to seek alternative avenues of financing. Convertible debt has emerged as a lifeline, allowing founders to defer the dreaded valuation repricing to a later date and avoid the ignominy of a down round. However, this newfound love affair with convertible debt is not without its […]

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) sent shockwaves through the venture debt market, plunging it into a deep abyss. Venture debt, a lifeline for many startups, saw a staggering $7.7B decline in the first half of 2023 compared to the previous year. Early-stage and pre-seed to seed startups faced the brunt of this downturn, with venture debt plummeting by a whopping 57% and 59%, respectively, according to the Wall Street Journal. But like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the venture debt market staged an incredible comeback in the second half of 2023. According to Pitchbook, banks and non-bank lenders provided U.S. startups with a staggering $3B more in venture debt compared to the first half of the year. The catalyst for this revival was a recovery in public equities and a growing belief that interest rate hikes might plateau. With economic conditions stabilizing, banks regained their appetite for […]

How much are venture capitalists (VCs) actually investing in women? In 2023, startups across Europe founded or co-founded by women have raised a noteworthy €5.9 billion in venture capital (Dealroom). While this figure represents 9.6% of all venture capital raised in the region, it underscores both progress and stagnation in funding gender diversity. The proportion of venture capital flowing to women-founded startups has experienced significant growth over the past decade, doubling to its current share. However, this growth narrative meets a plateau, with the investment share hovering around 10% since 2017. Despite the stagnation, the landscape of women entrepreneurship is far from static. The past decade has witnessed a tenfold increase in the number of women-founded unicorns in Europe, reaching a total of 35. This milestone not only showcases the scalability and market relevance of these enterprises but also aligns the current number of women-founded unicorns with the total number […]

In 2023, the startup ecosystem experienced a significant shift in hiring practices, marked by increased scrutiny from founders on new hires. This change was part of a broader trend that saw the tech industry grappling with a record number of layoffs, leading to an overall contraction in the asset class over the previous 12 months. This development represents a stark departure from the explosive growth during the boom period of 2021 and 2022, when Carta companies alone added more than half a million new employees. The past year’s hiring statistics present a clear picture of the changing dynamics. Carta startups saw only 268,000 new hires, a substantial decrease from the previous years, while 286,000 employees departed, whether by choice or through reductions in force (RIFs). It’s important to note that these figures primarily track employees receiving equity, which increasingly represents a majority within tech startups. What Led to the Shift?Two […]

In 2023, European startups secured approximately $60 billion in venture capital (VC) funding, showcasing the continent’s dynamic innovation landscape. This funding performance, detailed in a report by global law firm Orrick, highlights the shifting tides of investment preferences and strategic adjustments startups are making in response to broader market conditions. Sector SpotlightThe artificial intelligence (AI) sector commanded a significant portion of the total VC funding, securing a 17% share. This indicates the growing importance of AI technologies across various industries. However, climate technology (climate tech) emerged as the frontrunner, overtaking AI in terms of investment popularity. The focus on climate tech underscores Europe’s commitment to sustainability and the growing investor interest in environmentally-focused innovations. Changing Dynamics in FinancingThere was a noticeable downturn in later-stage financing, attributed to founders exploring alternative financing routes or pivoting their business models towards profitability. This shift reflects the strategic adjustments companies are making in a […]

The venture capital (VC) funding landscape has undergone a significant shift, with the economic downturn now affecting seed-stage startups—a group previously deemed somewhat immune to such financial squeezes. According to data from Carta, these startups are increasingly exploring alternative funding avenues to weather the storm. Seed Funding TrendsThe final quarter of 2023 marked a notable low in new seed investment rounds on the Carta platform, recording only 462 new rounds. This is the lowest quarterly figure since the first quarter of 2019, illustrating a stark downturn from the peak of 902 transactions observed in Q4 2021. Alongside the decline in transaction volume, median round sizes have also seen a reduction, falling from $3.5M in 2022 to $3M in 2023. Despite these challenges, there’s a silver lining with median seed stage valuations, which rose to $13.3M in Q4 2023, an 11% year-on-year increase. This suggests that while fewer deals are closing, […]

In 2023, pre-seed and early-stage European startups showcased resilience and growth, defying the broader fundraising downturn. According to a recent Pitchbook report highlighted by TechEU, these startups not only survived but thrived, with pre-money valuations for pre-seed and early-stage ventures climbing by 4% and 2.5%, respectively. This growth comes in contrast to the overall cautious atmosphere pervading the investment landscape. The data reveals an intriguing trend across the startup lifecycle. While the median deal value for pre-seed, seed, early-stage, and late-stage startups recorded increases of 8.4%, 5.3%, 2.8%, and 11.7% respectively, seed-stage startups experienced a 9.2% year-on-year decline in valuations. This decline underscores the varied impact of market conditions on startups at different stages of development. Particularly noteworthy is the stark contrast faced by startups in venture growth stages, where both deal value and valuations witnessed declines of 4.7% and 26.6%, respectively. The report also sheds light on the exit […]

Revolut and SumUp are the only two confirmed profitable companies among the 10 most valuable unicorn startups in Europe according to Pitchbook. In total, there are about 140 unicorn startups in Europe in terms of euros. Most of them became unicorns because they chose a hypergrowth strategy. As a result, most of them are operating at a loss. There are only two exceptions in the top 10. The first one is the British Revolut, which announced EBITDA of £45 million ($54 million) in Q4 2023. The second is mobile payment company SumUp, which reported a pre-tax profit of £1.2 million ($1.5 million) in its 2022 declaration.

Carta specialists analyzed all the facts of attracting investments that were formalized with the help of SAFE or convertible bonds. We are talking about investments that took place before any significant venture rounds. That is, the sample includes both pre-seed and later seed. According to Carta, in 2023, 34.6% of all pre-seed funding rounds went to Bay Area companies. However, the picture changes slightly if we look at the deals themselves and their number rather than the capital. Small angel rounds of less than $1 million have become much more dispersed across the US geography.

The value of unicorn startups in the cybersecurity and artificial intelligence sectors grew by 24.4% and 22.9%, respectively, last year. This is evidenced by the Morningstar Pitchbook Global Unicorn Vertical Indexes. Almost half of the new unicorns (44%) belonged to the artificial intelligence and machine learning sector. The pace of unicorn creation dropped almost threefold over the year, but the cumulative value of all unicorns backed by venture capital funds increased by 12.77%. There is a simple explanation for the growth in the value of unicorns in the two industries: a few companies set the tone for the entire sector. For example, the growth in the valuation of unicorn startups in the cybersecurity sector can be explained by the fact that Wiz is close to a $10 billion valuation. The artificial intelligence sector received a rising tide that lifted all boats, thanks to Microsoft’s investment in OpenAI ($10 billion) and […]

Carta has published another interesting report on the distribution of investor interest depending on the stage of startup financing. The starting point was 2021, after which the increase or decrease in investor interest was analyzed. The graph clearly shows two trends. SAFE and Convertible note are becoming an attractive form of investment, particularly for new investors. It is fast and cheap – low entry barrier.

Last year, 95 startups from around the world received a valuation of more than $1 billion. This is the lowest number since 2016. Most of the new unicorns – 20 of them – specialize in artificial intelligence. Fintech, cleantech, and energy accounted for 14, 12, and 9 startups respectively. Geographically, there is a significant advantage of American companies – 41 of the new unicorns were from there. 24 companies are from China, and three each are from India and the UK. Today, there are more than 1,500 unicorn startups in the world with a collective valuation of more than $5 trillion. In total, they have already raised more than $900 billion from investors.

In Q4 2023, the income distributed by US venture capital funds to LPs fell to its lowest level in 14 years. The peak value was 32% in Q2 2022. Since then, the average distribution of US venture capital funds has been declining every quarter. The exception was a slight increase in Q1 2023. The main reason for the drop in yields is the lack of exit options. This directly affects the balance of funds that can be reinvested in other venture funds. With such results, LPs are less inclined to invest in new structures and venture capital companies with a poor history of profitability. Preference is given to funds with high DPI and a long history. The increase in the number of IPOs projected for 2024 should help improve the situation.

According to Pitchbook, at the end of 2023, American venture capital companies had $311 billion in dry powder. The capital of the so-called “dry powder” reached a record level. American venture capital firms were able to spend only half of the $435 billion raised from investors between 2020 and 2022. Investors are in no hurry to spend money given the current economic climate. The main reason is that you shouldn’t invest if you can’t make money on it. Last year, investors were able to distribute only $21 billion to LPs. As a result, there is growing pressure from investors to either waive management fees or return some of their capital. Sequoia Capital has already begun to waive fees for unused capital. Some investors, including Lightspeed, are transferring portions of their portfolios to a new continuation fund, from which LPs can withdraw at any time.

According to Pitchbook, US investors participated in 1,863 European deals in 2023. The activity decreased by 40% over the year. In 2022, U.S. VCs financed 23% of the total number of deals in the region. At the same time, despite the decline, the level of participation remained the third highest in the last decade. US investors are increasing their participation significantly each year, up from 11% in 2013. The main reason is the overall growth of the European startup market. American investors are likely to focus on their core domestic markets. But there are those who are increasing their presence. IVP and Andreessen Horowitz are opening offices in Europe. In addition, last October, General Catalyst acquired La Famiglia, a German early-stage venture capital firm.

Kruze Consulting has found through a survey that investors have begun to pay more attention to revenue performance. Startups that received Series A funding in 2023 showed four times more revenue growth than those that failed. Investors want to see Series A startups that are not only growing rapidly, but are also efficient in terms of capital utilization. While revenue growth is important, investors believe that gross profit margin is much more important, as several seed startups with impressive revenues have failed to raise funding in Series A rounds. Around 90% of seed-stage startups that raised subsequent Series A rounds had gross margins of more than 50%. On average, the most successful companies that passed Series A had gross margins of 80%. Startups that successfully raised Series A rounds had an average loss ratio of 3 times. Startups that failed had a 10x multiple.

Acquisitions of venture capital-funded startups hit an eight-year low in 2023 as strategic buyers and private equity firms decided to hold off on spending, expecting startup valuations to decline further. Only 1,738 venture-backed startups were acquired globally in 2023, the lowest number since 2015 and a 31% decline from 2022. In the U.S., the number of deals also fell to a ten-year low, with 824 deals in 2023, down 30% from the previous year. Large deals were rare, but some significant deals still took place, including the $4.9 billion acquisition of Scopely by Savvy Games Group. Expectations for 2024 vary, but many are hoping for a revival in deal activity, especially in the cybersecurity, cryptocurrency, semiconductor, and artificial intelligence sectors.

Another report reveals the difficulties startups faced in attracting investment in 2023. This time, the Carta service has revealed the down-rounds figures. A down round is an investment round in which the company’s valuation decreases compared to the previous one. That is, companies are forced to raise funds on deteriorated terms, but these are the realities of the market: take the money or die. The chart shows that companies at later stages of development have been disproportionately affected by this trend. As a rule, their valuation has fallen by a larger percentage. Experts disagree on how to interpret the drop in company valuations. Some see it as a market problem, while others see it as a path to recovery. Carta is inclined to the second opinion.

In 2023, the European technology landscape faced a significant reality check, as evidenced by data published by Sifted. Funding for European startups throughout 2023, up to December 5, experienced a notable 42% decline when compared to the previous year, 2022. The most substantial decline was observed in Series C and beyond funding rounds, where the total funds raised were reduced by half, marking a decrease from $61.4 billion in 2022 to $30 billion in 2023. Across all European countries monitored by Sifted, there was a consistent decrease in the total funding amount when compared to the previous year, with the exception of Denmark, which managed to match the €1.4 billion it raised in the preceding year.

The Crunchbase article, “Lower Valuations, Higher Bar: What It’s Like To Raise A Seed Round In 2024,” discusses the current state of seed-stage startup investing. Main ideas:Aftereffects of 2021’s Boom: In 2021, startups raising seed funding faced a more forgiving environment with higher valuations. However, the scenario has since shifted, leading to lower valuations and stricter criteria for funding. This change was influenced by the previous year’s overvaluation and the need for startups to prove their worth more convincingly to attract investors. Changing Dynamics in Seed Funding: Despite the lower valuations, seed funding hasn’t seen a significant drop from its peak. The bar for securing seed funding has risen, especially for first-time founders, who now need substantial traction to raise funds. The trend shows a shift towards larger seed rounds, with fewer but more sizeable deals being the norm. Implications for Future Funding: The seed stage has become a more […]

US seed funding has remained strong despite a decline in startup investments worldwide. This is promising for the future in 2024. US seed funding increased by almost 10% in 2022, but then dropped by 31% in 2023. However, it still remained more stable than funding at other stages. This downturn, while significant, was less severe compared to the broader investment landscape, with seed funding still above pre-pandemic levels. Investors are positive about the growing startup environment, with lower company values and more skilled workers, which could benefit early-stage companies in the future. In the last ten years, seed funding in the US has increased significantly, reaching a peak of over $16 billion in 2022 before dropping to $11.5 billion in 2023, which is still higher than the investment levels of 2019 and 2020. The current market dynamics have led to more selective investment practices at the seed stage, with a […]

Web3 startup investments dropped by 74% in 2023, totaling less than $7 billion from 1,564 deals (Crunchbase). This is a significant decrease compared to the previous year, which saw $26.6 billion invested across 2,891 deals. This is the lowest level of investment since 2020, marking a sharp decline in investor interest in the sector. In the fourth quarter of 2023, only $1.1 billion was raised in 221 deals, down 21% from the third quarter and 65% from the same period in 2022. During the year, only eight Web3 startups were able to raise $100 million or more in funding, a significant drop from 118 such rounds in 2022. Bitcoin has recovered significantly and regulatory developments, like the SEC’s approval of spot bitcoin ETFs from 11 companies, suggest a potential return of interest in the sector, despite the overall downturn. However, investor interest is shifting to AI, leaving Web3 facing the […]

In 2023, VCs invested $2.9 billion in Latin American startups. Crunchbase calculated the funds and tried to determine the reasons for the negative trend. The above amount means that venture capital funding in the region has fallen by 63% compared to 2022. The drop of 84% compared to the record-breaking figures of 2021 is even more impressive. Latin America has been experiencing the fastest decline in venture capital funding for two years in a row. Crunchbase’s experts think that the negative trend is not only due to regional specifics and political conditions. There are multiple reasons for it. The problems are primarily economic. This is a multiplier for the global decline in venture capital funding. Brazilian startups are doing better than others in the region. Lending provider QI Tech raised $200 million in Series B, and online real estate platform Loft received $100 million in new funding. Despite the overall […]

One of the signs of the next “venture winter” is a drop in valuations of companies that are attracting investment. Carta has analyzed the clients of its service over the past three years. In 2021, a study revealed that the median valuation of a new Series D company was over $800 million, making it very close to achieving unicorn status. In 2023, the average company at the same stage was valued at $222 million. The decline is also visible at other stages, but the percentage difference is very different. Compared to 2021, Series A valuations are down 8%. Series D valuations are down 73%. Carta experts believe that in 2024, we should not expect a rapid return of valuations. Interestingly, they call it a return to “full health”. Or maybe it’s the current valuations that are healthy?

In a significant shift within the venture capital landscape, 2023 has marked the longest fundraising period for venture firms in over a decade. According to recent data from Pitchbook, the median time required to close funds has expanded to 15 months, a stark contrast to the previous year’s decade-low average of 9.3 months. This notable increase, representing a 46% surge from 2022, signals a shift in the investment climate. The change is primarily attributed to a more cautious approach from limited partners (LPs), who have pulled back their investments in response to multiple economic stressors. Key factors include a decline in technology stock prices, rising interest rates, and a noticeable reduction in initial public offerings (IPOs). The current economic environment has prompted fund managers to adopt new strategies to attract LPs. These strategies include offering more favorable terms, such as side letters and co-investing rights. However, the fundraising landscape is […]

Crunchbase continues to summarize the results of the past venture capital year. it’s time to identify the most active investors. Andreessen Horowitz took part in 79 venture capital deals and became the first. Lightspeed Venture Partners and Bpifrance took second and third place in the list with 57 and 55 deals respectively. A16z also ranked second in the ranking of the most active investors leading or co-leading deals. Microsoft became the leader thanks to its $10 billion investment in OpenAI and $1.3 billion in chatbot startup Inflection AI. Interestingly, A16z’s leadership came despite the fact that they closed 43% fewer deals compared to 2022. This trend is even more pronounced given the fact that last year’s leaders – Tiger Global Management, SoftBank Vision Fund, and Sequoia Capital – are not on the 2023 list. Among Seed stage investors, the leaders have not changed: Techstars, Y Combinator, and Antler. Source: https://news.crunchbase.com/venture/active-investor-ranks-a16z-lightspeed-eoy-2023/

In recent years, DocSend has become one of the recognized standards in communication between startups and investors. Entrepreneurs use it to share presentations of their companies, tracking interest statistics. DocSend regularly releases reports that use general data without disclosing company names. This allows you to see trends that characterize communication between the parties. The company has just released another report describing the state of affairs in 2023. The 26-slide presentation with the report can be found here: DocSend report. We will share a few interesting slides from it. Less engagement vs. More pitch decks?! Team + Problem + Market size Show me your money! More contacts. Less meetings. Is winter coming?

In a notable shift within the U.S. venture capital landscape, the once-dominant app startups are now seeing a marked decline in funding. This year, venture capitalists have poured approximately $3 billion into app startups, a significant decrease compared to previous years, according to data from Crunchbase. This change is particularly striking given that in 2016, app startups accounted for 14% of all U.S. funding. However, fast forward to 2023, and their share of the capital pie has dwindled to a mere 2.5%, despite the ever-growing popularity of applications. The investment trend for U.S.-based app startups reached its zenith in 2021 with a massive $19 billion inflow. Yet, this momentum was short-lived as the sector experienced a steep 64% plunge in funding the following year, closing at just $6.7 billion. This downturn isn’t just a one-off event; the trend of declining investments continues, with many investors now turning their attention and […]

In an unexpected twist in the tech world, funding for AI startups is skyrocketing across Europe, a region traditionally not known as a hotbed for AI innovation. This surge is headlined by the French generative AI startup, Mistral AI, which recently secured a staggering $487 million in funding. This investment round, spearheaded by the renowned Andreessen Horowitz, catapulted Mistral AI’s valuation to an impressive $2 billion, placing it firmly at the top of Europe’s AI startup scene. This funding frenzy isn’t isolated to Mistral AI. To date, 16 other European AI companies have collectively hauled in over $1 billion, signaling a robust interest in AI technologies across the continent. Notably, Synthesia, another major player in this burgeoning field, has clinched the second spot on Crunchbase’s list of most-funded European AI startups. Following a $90 million Series C funding round led by Accel, Synthesia achieved unicorn status in June, further emphasizing […]

Pitchbook data was analyzed by The New York Times and Entrepreneur. They found that the startups that failed raised a total of more than $27 billion in venture capital funding. This is almost the same as the $29.8 billion total investment in startups in the third quarter of 2023. One of the main reasons is that it is increasingly difficult for companies to attract investment. Venture capital funding for startups decreased from $183.9 billion to $104.5 billion between the first nine months of 2022 and the same period this year. Tom Loverro, general partner of IVP, eloquently described this period as a “mass extinction” of startups.

Duncan Davidson is General Partner at Bullpen Capital. He is a serial entrepreneur known for many successful projects. He served as the SVP of Business Development at InterTrust and led the IPO in 1999 and the secondary in 2000. He spent four years as a managing director at VantagePoint Venture Partners where he focused on digital media and telecom investments including Widevine (acquired by Google) and Livescribe. Prior to Bullpen, he co-founded one of the first mobile social app companies, Xumii, later sold to Myriad Group. At Bullpen he focuses on SaaS and IoT investments, and is an advisor to or sits on the boards of Grin, Hologram, Ripplematch, Wheels, GoodTime, Barn2Door and Skywatch. How did it all start? How did you decide to enter the venture investment business? I had several startups in the 1990s and two of them went public. Another 2 of them were bought. Obviously, the […]

Gilman Louie is a Partner at Alsop Louie Partners. He is the former CEO of In-Q-Tel, a strategic venture fund created to help enhance national security by connecting the Central Intelligence Agency and U.S. intelligence community with venture-backed entrepreneurial companies. He built a career as a pioneer in the interactive entertainment industry, with accomplishments that include the design and development of the Falcon F-16 flight simulator as well as being the person who licensed Tetris, the world’s most popular computer game, from its developers in the Soviet Union. He has served on a number of boards of directors, including Wizards of the Coast, Netwitness, Ribbit, Zephyr Technologies, the National Venture Capital Association, the CIA Officers Memorial Fund. How did it all start? How did you decide to enter the venture investment business? It started because I was an entrepreneur. And as an entrepreneur in Silicon Valley in the 80s, particularly […]

Ashesh Shah is the Founder of The London Fund. He has 20+ years of global operational experience in building, integrating, and managing enterprises from concept through IPO. He has managed a venture capital portfolio of over $1.5B AUM and returns in excess of 30%. As a serial entrepreneur, he has overseen the high-profile exits of solo sciences, Good & Co, Black Duck Software, Draft.com, Frigo RevolutionWear, and StarStreet among others. He is an active participant in the global entrepreneurial community and specializes in sourcing transactions often unavailable to the broader investment community and ahead of institutional exposure. He holds patents in intellectual property, licensing, consumer loyalty, couponing, and payment technology. He has served on a Presidential task force for the CIA, holding top secret and special clearances, and as a VP of R&D for Razorfish. He was on the Advanced Research Board at Partners Healthcare and is a graduate of […]

Wal van Lierop is the Executive Chairman and Founding Partner at Chrysalix Venture Capital, one of the most respected and recognized venture capital firms that focuses on energy technology and industrial innovation, and is located in British Columbia, Canada. Prior to founding Chrysalix in 2001, Dr. van Lierop had a number of positions in the energy industry, from being a university professor to corporate executive to international consultant and founding New Ventures BC. Especially passionate about the cleantech space, he has won numerous awards from Canada’s Clean50 and Clean16 contests, contributed to Forbes, and participated as a speaker at events like the Cleantech Forum, Energy for Tomorrow, and many more. At Chrysalix, he continues to actively support startups by investing, advising, and scaling up companies with breakthrough solutions for the energy transition. How did it all start? How did you decide to enter the venture investment business? I’ve been involved […]

Warner Philips is a Managing Partner at Rubio Impact Ventures, an impact fund based in Amsterdam and focused on passionate entrepreneurs who can change the world through a commercially scalable business model. With over 25 years of experience in ImpactTech and startups, Warner has been both a VC investor and an entrepreneur, investing in or starting over 50 companies. In all of them, he was a founder, shareholder or an active board member. How did it all start? How did you decide to enter the venture investment business? When I graduated from law school in 1996, I was looking for a job and had never heard of venture capital, but I ran into some people who were active in venture capital. I decided to speak to a fund, and managed to get into it. And ever since I’ve been in start-ups! But I started off on the venture capital side […]

Brett Martin is General Partenr at Charge Ventures. He is the founder of Sonar and also helps AppFund, a NYC-based, seed stage incubator build game-changing mobile technology companies. Prior to AppFund, he co-built an automated social media monitoring platform for SMBs after he spent a year researching resource allocation in early stage start-ups as a Fulbright Fellow in Milano, Italia. Before that, he worked at an IPTV startup as an internet marketing associate and at an investment bank as an equity research associate. How did it all start? How did you decide to enter the venture investment business? Aside from a brief stint on Wall Street after college I’ve either been building or investing in early-stage companies my entire career. Even when I was in college I took Venture Capital classes and won the business school playing competition. My buddies and I always talked about business ideas to start. When […]

Peter Harris is Founding Partner at University Growth Fund. He assists in the deal sourcing, due diligence, and portfolio management of the fund. He also spends much of his time recruiting, training, and mentoring students in the program. Prior to UGF, he was a principal with University Venture Fund where he participated in funding several companies including Instructure, Lineagen, and Workfront. He has also worked as an international business consultant, helping launch over 10 microfranchises around the world. He has been a loan committee member for the IRC Refugee Loan Fund and a frequent guest lecturer at several local universities. How it all started? How did you decide to enter the venture investment business? Growing up, I really wanted to be an engineer, like my dad. When I was at the high school, he left engineering work at Lockheed Martin and started doing some real estate investing. When it happened, […]

Scott Nissenbaum is President and Chief Executive Officer at Ben Franklin Technology Partners. Prior to this position, he served as its Chief Operating Officer through 2020, and previously served as its Chief Investment Officer and Executive Vice President, where he led the organization’s investment group, making seed and early-stage investments across IT, Digital Health, Life Sciences, and Advanced Manufacturing. He has raised capital for six different funds, served as a board member for 14 private and public companies, and was the Chairman of Philadelphia Game Labs. He has been recognized as a leader by Philly Tech’s “Thirty under 30” Award, Philadelphia Business Journal’s “40 under 40” Award, American Carbon Registry Innovator Award, and the Eastern Technology Council. How did it all start? How did you decide to enter the venture investment business? I started my VC career somehow luckily when I was 25 years old and just finished my MBA […]

Fabian Sacharowitz is the investment director at EIT InnoEnergy Germany, a company aimed at accelerating sustainable energy innovation through investment in startups and curation of a strong industry network. After originally starting out as an entrepreneur, he made the shift towards investment when he transitioned into his job at InnoEnergy. InnoEnergy’s investments are partially funded by the EU and are mostly centered around sustainable energy.  How did it all start? How did you decide to enter the venture investment business?  It was strongly dependent on the job that I took here at InnoEnergy. I was not from the very beginning in the investment arena. I was more on the other side – I started as an entrepreneur, I founded a company together with my brothers. It is still existing, but I left the company in 2013 due to organizational reasons. It was at this time a small company with three […]

Emanuele Levi is General Partner at 360 Capital. He started in Venture Capital in January 2000 in Milan and has since made over 30 investments in France and Italy, mostly in the digital industry as well as in the e-commerce sector. Emanuele has held board positions in various companies such as Aramis Auto, Bergamotte, Cubyn, Leetchi, Quitoque, Regate, Tediber, Venere.com, Withings, Yellow Korner, and Yoox. Since 2007, he has been living in Paris and has invested almost exclusively in France. He started his career in 1993 at Unicredito Italiano Group in London where he spent 4 years on cross-border M&A advisory. How it all started? How did you decide to enter the venture investment business? It was back in January of 2000 when the Dotcom wave from the US came to Europe. I used to work at Lazard investment bank and I decided to join Pino Venture, one of the […]

Renana Ashkenazi is a General Partner at Grove Ventures, a technology-oriented venture capital based in Israel. Renana has a strong technical background and unique experience in global innovation, strategic marketing, and technology spheres. Prior to joining Grove Ventures, she worked at Applied Materials in managerial and technical positions. Currently, Renana is also involved in several companies, supported by Grove Ventures, as an investor or an observer. How did it all start? How did you decide to enter the venture investment business? That was actually not that trivial. I’ve started my career at Applied Materials. My Bachelor’s degree is in Engineering, so it’s a pretty natural decision to make. After a few years in Applied, where I started in R&D, I moved to Chicago to do my Master’s in Electrical Engineering. I also worked at the Center for Innovation and Global Health Technology, developing diagnostic devices for poor-resourced countries. After a […]

Harry Haeck is Investment Manager at SmartFin. Before joining SmartFin, he worked for several years in the Private Equity team of BNP Paribas Fortis, where he focused on both direct and indirect investments. Before that, he participated in the Senior Talent Program of BNP Paribas Fortis where he worked on various strategic projects across different business lines of the bank. He started his career as a business lawyer at Liedekerke and Deloitte Legal (formerly Laga), focusing on banking and financial law. How did you decide to enter the venture investment business? Since I was young, I’ve always been fascinated by technology – both hardware and software. Nevertheless, I decided to study law and finance, and actually started my career as a business lawyer. After a few years, I decided that I wanted to be closer to the entrepreneur – rather than the legal department of a company – and went […]

Kai Chen is the Founder and Managing Director of OceanIQ Capital, an SEC-registered global multi-family office that specializes in both, venture capital and equity investments. After graduating from UCLA with a BA in Business Economics, he spent 15 years working at Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management and Credit Suisse, focusing on asset allocation and investment strategies, before starting his own firm.  How did it all start? How did you decide to enter the venture investment business?  I was really interested and fascinated by the world of finance in general and finance investing. I love reading about Warren Buffet, Charlie Munger, etc., even back in college. So I just felt that it would be nice to work in a space that I truly enjoy and get paid at the same time. I studied Business/Economics as an undergrad at UCLA and one of my first jobs was working at Goldman Sachs in […]

Rishi Garg is Partner at Mayfield Fund. He co-leads Mayfield’s Consumer investment practice, after a career helping to build many great consumer platforms. As Global VP of Corporate Development and Strategy at Twitter, he executed its most active M&A program, including the acquisitions of Periscope, TellApart, Niche, Zipdial, and others, greatly expanding Twitter’s technology and product platform. As an early executive at Square, he was the first Head of Corporate Development and earlier, served as Head of Strategic Partnerships, working across the company on a wide range of M&A and business development projects during the company’s hypergrowth phase. Earlier, he co-founded FanSnap, a leading venture-backed live event ticket search company acquired by Nextag. He also served in impactful Business Development roles at Google and MTV Networks. Rishi has been a personal investor and advisor to several companies including Opendoor, Netsil/Nutanix, and others. You ask to ask you about growing up […]

Jacek Łubiński is Principal at Market One Capital, a Pan-European early stage VC firm that specializes in digital platforms and marketplaces. Jacek has been a venture capital investor for more than 8 years. How did it all start? How did you decide to enter the venture investment business? I was always interested in technology and started my professional career as a software engineer. Later on, having interest in finance as well, I switched to a more corporate finance role, and I tried this for a couple of years. When an opportunity to join a VC firm arose, it seemed like a place where I can combine my passion for both tech and finance, so I jumped on the occasion and it’s been a blast for me ever since. What was the most unusual startup you have ever supported? Or, maybe, your favorite one? It’s difficult to name just one, because […]

George Spencer III is Founder and Senior Managing Director at Seyen Capital. He has over 30 years of experience in the venture capital industry. Before founding Seyen Capital in 2007, he spent seven years as a Partner at Adams Street Partners (“ASP”) where he helped to architect the spin-out from Brinson Partners. At ASP, he was a key player in the direct investing group as a lead IT investor. After leaving Adams Street Partners in late 2006, he continued to serve as a Senior Consultant to ASP, managing his prior investments with the firm. He was also a co-founder and Executive Member of JK&B Capital, a Chicago-based venture firm. How it all started? How did you decide to enter the venture investment business? I got a job in venture capital in 1990, when I get out of Business School.  Just like that? Yes, I work in VC since my Business […]

Adrian Lloyd is Founding Partner at Episode 1 Ventures. He has a management and strategic consulting and entrepreneurial background in Europe and Asia and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business. After his MBA he spent 2 years working on on- and off-line startups before founding Episode 1 Ventures with Simon Murdoch and Damien Lane. Immediately prior to his MBA, he established Marakon Associates’ presence in China. He speaks Mandarin fluently. He is also a mentor at TechStars London. How it all started? How did you decide to enter the venture investment business? In my early career, I worked as an advisor to large multinational corporations, mostly European and American, on their long-term strategies, organisational design – all the kinds of things a consulting firm would advise on. I felt that all this world was far too removed from the coalface of what was really going on in those […]

Peter Redford is Partner at Band of Angels. He is a veteran Silicon Valley tech CEO, Xerox PARC alumnus and IP litigation expert. His patents are licensed by most of the world’s top computer, consumer-electronics and media companies, and are used everyday by billions of consumers worldwide. As the inventor of the 2nd screen concept, now called AirPlay (used in AppleTV), he is often referred to as the “Father of the 2nd screen.” His technology credits also include all of the original patents for AutoPlay (used in all DVD players, Blu-ray players, video game consoles and Microsoft Windows), the personal computer sound card (CreativeLabs), Flash (Adobe), the LeapPad (most popular toy ever sold), and one of the original patents for the graphical user interface (GUI). How it all started? How did you decide to enter the venture investment business? Since I was a child, I was always entrepreneurial. When I […]

Christie Pitts is General Partner at Backstage Capital. She is an experienced early stage investor. She is also a co-founder of Backstage Studio. She joined Backstage in August 2017, and went on to assist in sourcing and investing in more than 80 startups led by underrepresented (women, people of color, and LGBTQ) founders, helping to bring the firm’s total investment portfolio to more than 170 companies. She built and led the Backstage Accelerator program, with a global cohort in London, Detroit, Los Angeles and Philadelphia. Prior to Backstage, she led a multi-faceted career at Verizon, where she was a manager on the Verizon Ventures team, patented a connected IoT device, and led marketing and sales operations for a $4B P+L. How it all started? How did you decide to enter the venture investment business? I started in venture capital through a corporate VC firm, at Verizon. I worked there for […]