softbank SoftBank's $5B Latin America Fund Backed by Record Venture Growth SoftBank's new $5 billion innovation fund for Latin America aligns with a massive surge in regional venture capital, which more than doubles to $1.14 billion in 2017 and continues to climb.
venture capital Small Venture Funds Thrive and Multiply Amid Mega-Fund Dominance Despite the venture capital industry's tilt toward massive mega-funds, smaller U.S. funds raising under $100 million reach record numbers in 2018. These micro and nano funds target early-stage deals without directly competing for the same institutional capital as their larger counterparts.
elizabeth warren Venture Capitalists Push Back Against Warren's Big Tech Breakup Plan Silicon Valley investors and startup executives express skepticism over Elizabeth Warren's proposal to break up major tech monopolies, arguing that blocking acquisitions will ultimately harm startups and reduce market competition.
y combinator Y Combinator President Sam Altman Steps Down Amid Major Accelerator Shake-Up Sam Altman transitions from his role as Y Combinator president to chairman as the accelerator undergoes significant operational changes. The company is relocating its headquarters to San Francisco and expanding the size of its startup batches.
artificial intelligence Why Critics Misjudge the American AI Initiative's Actual Impact Despite complaints about a lack of new government funding, the American AI Initiative holds value as a strategic vision because private sector investment is driving the industry forward.
coral capital Coral Capital Raises $45 Million Fund to Boost Japanese Startups The former 500 Startups Japan team launches an independent $45 million fund called Coral Capital to back early-stage Japanese startups. The new fund closes quickly and continues the team's mission to shift Japan's risk-averse corporate culture.
artificial intelligence Why Critics Misjudge the American AI Initiative's True Impact Despite complaints about a lack of new government funding, the American AI Initiative holds value as a strategic vision because private sector investment in artificial intelligence is already skyrocketing.
wework WeWork Lays Off 300 Employees in Routine Performance Review WeWork cuts roughly 300 jobs, or 3 percent of its global workforce, as part of a standard annual performance review.
gwyneth paltrow Celebrity Founders Face VC Skepticism Despite Star Power, Say Summit Speakers Gwyneth Paltrow reveals at the Upfront Summit that her fame brought initial meetings but also extra rejections while raising venture capital for Goop. Meanwhile, major funding rounds for Clover Health and Clutter highlight a busy week in startup finance.
hims Men's Wellness Startup Hims Reaches Unicorn Status With $100M Raise Digital health startup Hims officially joins the unicorn club after securing $100 million in new funding at a $1 billion pre-money valuation. The company expands its direct-to-consumer offerings with its recently incorporated women's brand, Hers.
urgent.ly BMW, Porsche, and Jaguar Land Rover Back Digital Roadside Startup Urgent.ly Major automakers invest $21 million in Urgent.ly, an app-based roadside assistance platform that replaces traditional membership models. BMW also signs on as a vendor partner to power digital assistance for its U.S. brands.
venture capital Top Startup Hubs Hold Steady As Utah And Pennsylvania Gain Ground A recent Crunchbase data analysis shows that the largest U.S. venture ecosystems are maintaining their dominance in seed and early-stage funding, despite rumors of a mass exodus to cheaper cities.
predictive index Workplace Analytics Firm Predictive Index Raises $50M to Build Better Teams The Predictive Index secures a $50 million growth round from General Catalyst to expand its behavioral assessment software. The funding supports the company's mission to help businesses win the talent war through strategic hiring.
march capital Los Angeles Venture Firm March Capital Closes $300 Million Fund March Capital Partners raises $300 million to invest in artificial intelligence and computing infrastructure startups. The firm also targets opportunities in the growing eSports sector and the emerging tech market in India.
march capital Los Angeles Venture Firm March Capital Secures $300 Million for AI and Infrastructure March Capital Partners raises $300 million to invest in artificial intelligence and computing infrastructure startups. The Los Angeles-based firm also targets emerging opportunities in eSports and the Indian tech market.