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🔵 SaaS GTM Crisis: A Wake-Up Call for Startups
➡️ Recent data reveals a troubling trend in the SaaS industry: skyrocketing go-to-market (GTM) costs with diminishing returns. The median GTM spend ratio (sales and marketing expenses divided by net new ARR) for public SaaS companies has surged from 150% to 264% over the past eight quarters. This means companies are spending increasingly more to acquire new revenue. For instance, New Relic spent $378 million on sales and marketing to gain just $63 million in net new ARR—a 6:1 ratio. This trend is widespread across the industry, with few companies showing signs of improvement. The data suggests that the current SaaS GTM model may be broken, forcing companies to reassess their strategies for customer acquisition and retention.
Efficiency in customer acquisition is more crucial than ever. As you build your GTM strategies, focus on sustainable growth models that prioritize capital efficiency. The current crisis presents an opportunity for innovative startups to disrupt traditional SaaS GTM approaches and offer more cost-effective solutions.
🔵 Metaverse Startups Face Funding Drought: AI and Practical Applications Lead the Way
➡️ The metaverse, virtual reality, and augmented reality sectors are experiencing a significant downturn in venture capital interest. Only $464 million has been invested in these areas in 2024, marking the lowest funding total in years. This decline follows disappointing adoption rates for VR/AR gear and metaverse platforms. Even Apple’s Vision Pro launch hasn’t revived investor enthusiasm. However, some companies are still securing funding by focusing on practical applications.
➡️ Rokid raised $70 million for its AR glasses targeting workplace and industrial use, while Xreal secured $60 million for its mixed-reality glasses positioned as a cost-effective alternative to Meta’s Quest and Apple’s Vision Pro. The trend shows a shift away from the “metaverse” buzzword, with startups now emphasizing AI capabilities and practical use cases to attract investment.
This trend signals a need to pivot toward practical, industry-specific applications and AI integration. The funding drought in pure metaverse plays suggests that investors are looking for tangible value and real-world applications rather than speculative virtual environments. Startups that can demonstrate clear use cases, especially in enterprise or industrial settings, and leverage AI technologies are more likely to attract funding in this challenging landscape.
🔵 Mental Health Startups: Steady Funding Amid Growing Demand for Therapy
➡️ Despite a slight tapering off from the 2021 peak, mental health startups continue to attract significant investment as therapy demand grows. Recent trends show a focus on covered care and targeted services. Talkiatry secured $130 million for its psychiatric care platform, while Grow Therapy raised $88 million for its insurance-friendly therapist matching service.
➡️ Other notable investments include Two Chairs’ $72 million for AI-driven therapist matching and InStride Health’s $30 million for pediatric anxiety care. The sector’s growth is driven by increasing mental health spending, estimated at $280 billion in 2020, with over 20% of U.S. adults receiving treatment annually. However, the industry faces challenges, as evidenced by recent controversies surrounding startups like Done and Cerebral, emphasizing the need for responsible practices in mental health care delivery.
For startup founders, the mental health sector presents significant opportunities, particularly in areas like insurance-covered care, targeted services for specific demographics, and innovative matching technologies. The steady funding flow indicates continued investor confidence but also highlights the importance of ethical practices and regulatory compliance in this sensitive field.
💡 The Art of Pivoting: Navigating Your Startup’s Evolution
➡️ Pivoting is an essential skill for any startup founder. As you build your company, you’ll likely face moments when changing course becomes necessary. Recognizing these pivotal moments is crucial. Watch for signs like stagnant growth despite months of effort, reliance on external factors beyond your control, or exhausting all ideas to make your current concept work.
➡️ Many founders hesitate to pivot, held back by loss aversion, misinterpreting politeness as traction, or fear of admitting defeat. Don’t fall into this trap; instead, be prepared to evaluate new ideas based on market size, your fit with the market, ease of getting started, and early feedback.
➡️ When considering a pivot, look for something that genuinely excites you. Make an honest assessment of your strengths and weaknesses, and seek ideas you can quickly build and validate. Timing is everything—be ready to pivot as soon as you’ve been struggling to gain users for an extended period, when your idea seems impossible to start without massive funding, or when you know in your heart it’s not going to work.
Remember, pivoting isn’t failure—it’s a strategy for finding the right opportunity. Stay agile, listen to the market, and don’t be afraid to change direction when needed. Your initial idea doesn’t define your startup—your ability to adapt and find product-market fit does. Stay focused on creating value and be willing to evolve your concept until you find what truly resonates with customers.
📎 Point72 Ventures’ Pivot: From Fintech to AI—A Lesson in Adapting to Market Trends
➡️ Billionaire Steve Cohen’s venture capital arm, Point72 Ventures, is making a significant strategic shift by pivoting away from fintech and crypto investments to focus more on artificial intelligence and defense technology startups. This move comes with a substantial restructuring, including the layoff of five investors specializing in fintech and digital assets, and the potential departure of key partners.
➡️ Point72 Ventures, which has deployed around $1 billion since its inception in 2016, had previously made over half of its 100-plus investments in the fintech sector. However, the recent downturn in fintech valuations and funding, coupled with the explosive growth in AI investments, has prompted this strategic realignment.
➡️ The firm’s decision reflects broader market trends, with fintech funding down 70% from its 2021 peak, while AI startups are securing multi-billion-dollar funding rounds. This shift also aligns with Point72’s reported plans to raise a $1-billion hedge fund for AI investments in public markets.
➡️ While this move may present challenges for Point72’s existing fintech and crypto portfolio companies, it demonstrates the firm’s agility in responding to changing market dynamics and its commitment to pursuing the most promising investment opportunities.
Point72’s pivot serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of adaptability in the fast-paced world of startups and venture capital. Market trends can shift rapidly, and both investors and founders must be prepared to reassess their strategies and pivot when necessary. This story underscores the current surge of interest in AI and defense tech, suggesting that startups in these fields may find increased funding opportunities.
🔵 Tech Giants Dominate Hedge Fund Portfolios: Opportunities for AI and Fintech Startups
➡️ Recent data reveals that tech giants are dominating hedge fund portfolios, with Microsoft leading as the most popular stock held by 874 hedge funds. This trend highlights the growing importance of AI and technology in investment strategies. Amazon, Alphabet, and Nvidia follow closely, indicating a strong focus on AI-driven companies. Interestingly, Apple saw the largest increase in hedge fund holdings, with over 26 million shares added last quarter.
➡️ This shift toward tech and AI-focused investments presents significant opportunities for startups in these sectors. The data also shows a continuing interest in financial powerhouses like Visa and JPMorgan Chase, suggesting potential for fintech innovations. For startup founders, this trend underscores the importance of integrating AI and advanced technologies into their business models to attract investor attention.
The dominance of tech stocks in hedge fund portfolios signals a prime opportunity for AI and fintech startups. By focusing on cutting-edge technologies and financial innovations, new ventures can position themselves to capture the interest of major investors and potentially become the next big names in these rapidly evolving sectors.
🔵 The Global Decline of Cash: Opportunities for Fintech Startups
➡️ Recent data from WorldPay’s Global Payments Report 2024 reveals a significant shift in global payment trends, with cash transactions declining rapidly worldwide. This trend presents exciting opportunities for fintech startups and digital payment ventures. Even in traditionally cash-heavy economies like Nigeria, cash usage has plummeted from 90% in 2019 to 55% in 2023.
➡️ Countries such as Canada, New Zealand, and Nordic nations are already seeing cash become a rarity. By 2027, major economies like France, Singapore, South Korea, the U.K., and the U.S. are projected to see cash transactions fall below 10% of total transaction value. This global shift toward digital payments opens up vast possibilities for innovative startups in areas like mobile wallets, contactless payments, and blockchain-based financial solutions.
For startup founders, this trend signifies a golden opportunity to disrupt traditional financial services and create solutions that cater to the growing demand for seamless, digital payment experiences. The death of cash is not just a statistic—it’s an invitation to innovate and shape the future of global finance.
💡 The Power of a Lean MVP: Launching Your Startup Smart and Fast
➡️ As a startup founder, one of the most crucial decisions you’ll make is how to approach your minimum viable product (MVP). Let me share some insights I’ve gained from years of working with startups and founders.
➡️ First and foremost, remember that an MVP is meant to be ridiculously simple. It’s the first thing you can give to your initial users to see if you’re delivering any value at all. Don’t overcomplicate it.
🔆 When building your MVP, focus on these key goals:
— Launch quickly—aim for weeks, not months
— Get initial customers using your product
— Talk to these users and gather feedback
— Iterate based on what you learn
➡️ Many founders get caught up in the idea of a perfect launch, but here’s the truth: Launches aren’t that special. Google, Facebook, Twitter—do you remember the day they launched? Probably not. What matters is getting customers and learning from them.
➡️ Build a lean MVP with extremely limited functionality. Focus on solving the core problem for a small set of initial users. Don’t try to address all potential users or all their problems right away. Hold your vision loosely—it will likely change as you learn.
🔆 To build your MVP quickly:
— Time box your spec—decide what you can build in, say, three weeks
— Write down your spec to keep yourself accountable
— Be ruthless in cutting features—even important ones if necessary
— Don’t fall in love with your MVP—it’s just step one
➡️ When talking to users, focus on understanding their problems, not asking for features. It’s your job to come up with solutions; their job is to explain their issues clearly. Remember, it’s okay if the problem expands as you learn more. Just focus on solving it for a specific set of users first. You can expand later.
➡️ One of the biggest mistakes I see is founders hiring too fast after raising money. Resist this urge. A smaller team often allows for quicker pivots and more efficient product evolution.
Embrace the lean MVP approach. Launch something quickly, even if it’s imperfect. Focus on delivering value to a small set of users and learning from them. Don’t get caught up in grand visions or perfect features. Be prepared to iterate rapidly based on user feedback. Remember, successful startups like Airbnb, Twitch, and Stripe all started with basic MVPs. Your initial product doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to solve a real problem for real users.
👕 Telegram’s Small Engineering Team Raises Security Concerns
🔗Telegram founder Pavel Durov’s recent revelation that the company operates with “about 30 engineers” has sparked concern among cybersecurity experts. Despite Telegram’s nearly 1 billion users and its popularity among crypto traders, extremists, and hackers, this small team size is seen as a potential security risk. Experts point out several issues:
— Lack of default end-to-end encryption
— Concerns over the quality of Telegram’s proprietary encryption
— Insufficient resources for content moderation and abuse prevention
— Limited capacity to handle legal requests and fight potential attacks
— Inadequate infrastructure for securing vast amounts of user data
Security professionals argue that Telegram's lean operation, while boasted as efficient, may actually make it an attractive target for cybercriminals and state-sponsored hackers.
Telegram’s situation underscores the critical importance of robust security measures, even in lean operations. As you scale, prioritize building a strong security infrastructure and team to protect user data and maintain trust.
💡 The Overhiring Trap: Why Less Is Often More in Startup Growth
➡️ The biggest startup killer after raising money? Hiring too fast. It’s a common mistake, driven by the workload, the belief that successful startups have large teams, and sometimes pressure from VCs. But rapid hiring rarely solves fundamental product issues and often makes them harder to address.
♻️ Many founders tell themselves they need to hire in order to grow. However, most err on the side of overestimating this need. There are several reasons for this:
1. The sheer amount of work to be done can be overwhelming.
2. Successful startups have large teams, so it seems like the path to success.
3. Slow growth may lead founders to hire instead of facing the real issue: an insufficiently appealing product.
➡️ Remember, at the early stage, your product needs to evolve more than be “built out.” This is usually easier with a smaller team. Focus on making your product truly appealing rather than just throwing more people at the problem.
🔗Consider Airbnb’s approach: They waited four months after their initial funding before making their first hire. The founders were overworked but focused on evolving their product into the success it is today.
❗️ Instead of rapid hiring, seek growth through other means. This might involve doing things that don’t scale or redesigning the product in ways that only founders can. For many startups, these are the paths that actually lead to significant growth.
Resist the urge to overhire, even when it seems like the logical solution to your growth challenges. A lean team allows for quicker pivots, more efficient product evolution, and often leads to more sustainable growth. Focus on making your product irresistible to your target market.
💡 Default Alive or Dead: The Crucial Question Every Startup Founder Must Answer
➡️ As a startup founder, one of the most critical questions you need to ask yourself is whether your company is “default alive” or “default dead.” This concept is simple yet often overlooked.
➡️ Default alive means that, assuming your current expenses and revenue growth remain constant, you’ll reach profitability with the money you have left. Default dead is the opposite—you’ll run out of funds before becoming profitable.
➡️ Surprisingly, many founders don’t know their status. If you’re unsure, it’s time to calculate this immediately. The answer fundamentally changes how you should approach your business strategy.
For default alive startups, we can explore ambitious new directions. But if you're default dead, it's time for serious discussions about survival and changing your trajectory.
♻️ Start asking this question early—even if it seems premature. It’s far less dangerous to worry too soon than too late. The worst scenario is the “fatal pinch”: being default dead with slow growth and not enough time to fix it.
➡️ Never assume it’ll be easy to raise more money. Separate facts from hopes. If you’re counting on investors to save you, be explicit about it. This clarity might set off necessary alarm bells in your head.
➡️ Investor interest typically correlates with growth. Steep revenue growth (over 5x annually) can attract investors even if you’re not profitable. But never rely solely on fundraising. Always have a clear, written Plan B for survival if you can’t raise more money.
Regularly assessing your default alive/dead status is crucial. Don’t shy away from this question, even if it’s uncomfortable. It’s the foundation for making informed decisions about your startup’s future. Remember, being aware of your status allows you to take proactive measures, whether it’s optimizing for growth or planning for survival.
📎 The Rise and Fall of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs: A Cautionary Tale for Entrepreneurs
➡️ Sean “Diddy” Combs, once a hip-hop mogul and business titan, built an empire spanning music, fashion, spirits, and media. Starting as an intern at Uptown Records, Combs founded Bad Boy Records in 1992, launching the careers of iconic artists such as The Notorious B.I.G. and Faith Evans.
➡️ Combs’ entrepreneurial spirit led him to expand beyond music. He launched the Sean John fashion line, partnered with Diageo for Cîroc Vodka, and founded Revolt TV. At his peak in 2019, Forbes estimated his net worth at $740 million.
➡️ However, Combs’ empire has crumbled amid sexual assault allegations and lawsuits. Key partnerships dissolved, including the lucrative Diageo deal that once earned him $66 million annually. Combs sold his stake in Revolt TV, and his Sean John brand lost major retail partnerships.
➡️ The fall was swift and severe. Forbes now estimates Combs’ net worth at $400 million, a significant drop from his near-billionaire status. Federal investigations and multiple civil lawsuits threaten what remains of his fortune and reputation.
📚 Conclusion for startup founders:
🎥 Diversification isn’t foolproof: While Combs successfully expanded into various industries, his personal brand became the linchpin. When his reputation suffered, it affected all his ventures.
🎥 Ethical leadership is crucial: Allegations of misconduct can destroy years of business success overnight. Maintaining high ethical standards is not just moral, but a business imperative.
🎥 Brand value is fragile: Combs’ personal brand was once his greatest asset. Now, it’s a liability. Founders should build companies that can outlast their personal involvement.
🎥 Success doesn’t guarantee continued growth: Past achievements don’t ensure future success. Continuous innovation and adaptation are necessary to stay relevant and profitable.
🎥 Legal and reputational risks are real: Founders must be aware of potential legal and PR pitfalls that can derail even the most successful businesses.
The story of Diddy’s rise and fall serves as a stark reminder that in the world of startups and venture capital, success can be fleeting, and a strong ethical foundation is essential for long-term sustainability.
💬 Source #VentureStories
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💻 Zepto’s $665M Raise: Quick Commerce Thrives in India
🤖 Zepto, a 10-minute delivery startup in India, has secured $665 million in Series F funding, skyrocketing its valuation to $3.6 billion. This Mumbai-based company is capitalizing on India’s unique culture of hyper-local, frequent purchasing, a model that has struggled in developed markets.
🤖 Zepto’s success is evident in its 140% year-over-year revenue growth and plans to expand its network of “dark stores” to over 700 by 2025. The startup’s focus on lower-stake purchases and its ability to achieve profitability in dark stores within six months has attracted major investors. As Zepto eyes expansion into smaller cities and a potential public listing, it’s poised to challenge major e-commerce players in India’s estimated $150-billion quick commerce market.
Zepto’s meteoric rise showcases the potential in adapting business models to local consumer behaviors. As you build your ventures, consider how cultural nuances and market-specific needs can drive innovation and growth, even in sectors that may seem saturated globally.
📎 CuspAI: Revolutionizing Material Science With AI-Powered Search
➡️ CuspAI, a Cambridge-based startup, is making waves in the world of material science by leveraging generative AI to create a search engine for new materials. The company recently secured an impressive $30-million seed round led by Hoxton Ventures, with significant backing from Basis Set Ventures and Lightspeed Venture Partners.
➡️ Founded by Chad Edwards and professor Max Welling, CuspAI aims to flip the traditional material development process on its head. Instead of creating materials and then using computers to verify their properties, CuspAI’s platform allows researchers to input desired properties and receive potential materials and molecules as output.
➡️ The startup’s innovative approach has attracted attention from industry giants and renowned AI experts. Geoffrey Hinton, known as the “Godfather of AI,” has joined as a board adviser, while Meta’s FAIR team is collaborating with CuspAI on open science projects to discover new materials for addressing climate change.
➡️ One of CuspAI’s promising applications is in carbon capture and storage. The company is working on designing molecular sponges that can selectively absorb carbon dioxide from the air, potentially offering a significant breakthrough in climate change mitigation efforts.
CuspAI’s success demonstrates the power of applying cutting-edge AI technology to solve real-world problems in established industries. By reimagining traditional processes and leveraging AI’s capabilities, startups can create innovative solutions that attract significant investor interest and partnerships with industry leaders.
💡 Mastering the SAFE: A Founder’s Guide to Raising Early Capital
➡️ As a founder, raising capital is a crucial step in your startup journey. One of the most common instruments used in early-stage fundraising is the SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity). This investment vehicle allows investors to provide funding to your company in exchange for future equity once you raise a priced round.
➡️ The beauty of the SAFE lies in its simplicity. Unlike priced rounds, where numerous terms need to be negotiated, the SAFE typically involves just two key points: the amount of investment and the valuation cap. This streamlined process makes it easier for founders to secure early capital and focus on building their venture.
➡️ However, it’s essential to understand the mechanics of SAFEs to avoid potential pitfalls. One of the most important considerations is understanding how much of your company you’re selling to investors through SAFEs. While the capitalization table (cap table) may not immediately reflect the dilution, it’s crucial to track the ownership percentages you’ve committed to investors.
➡️ By using post-money SAFEs, you can more easily calculate the dilution caused by these early investments. The formula is simple: The ownership percentage of SAFE investors is equal to the amount they invested divided by the post-money valuation cap. For example, if an investor puts in $200,000 at a $4-million post-money valuation cap, they would own 5% of your company.
In conclusion, SAFEs can be a powerful tool for early-stage fundraising, but it's essential to approach them with a solid understanding of the implications for your ownership and future dilution.
By staying on top of the calculations and being mindful of the valuation caps you negotiate, you can ensure that you retain a significant stake in your venture as you progress toward subsequent funding rounds.
💻 Vaire Computing’s $4.5M Seed Round: Reversible Computing to Revolutionize AI Energy Efficiency
🤖 Vaire Computing, a startup based in London and Seattle, has raised $4.5 million in seed funding to develop “reversible computing” technology. This innovative approach aims to drastically reduce energy consumption and heat generation in computer chips, potentially revolutionizing the AI hardware industry. Led by 7percent Ventures and Jude Gomila, the funding will support Vaire’s efforts to build silicon chips that consume negligible energy.
🤖 Reversible computing allows calculations to run in both directions, retaining energy within the chip instead of releasing it as heat. Founded by Rodolfo Rosini and Hannah Earley, Vaire aims to create chips that can be used for generic applications like current CPUs. The company faces significant challenges but believes its technology could be as transformative as the shift from filament bulbs to LEDs. This funding round highlights growing interest in alternative chip architectures to address the increasing energy demands of AI computing.
Vaire Computing’s funding success demonstrates the potential for revolutionary approaches to chip design. The growing concern over energy consumption in AI applications creates opportunities for startups offering innovative solutions. This development suggests that investors are becoming more open to funding unconventional computing technologies that promise significant efficiency gains.
💡 Dynamic Pricing: A New Frontier for Startup Innovation
➡️ Dynamic pricing is emerging as a significant trend in the startup ecosystem, with successful projects already capitalizing on this approach. This pricing strategy, which adjusts prices in real-time based on demand and other factors, is gaining traction across various industries.
➡️ A prime example is Fetcherr, a startup that has developed a platform enabling airlines to automatically adjust ticket prices based on demand. Utilizing algorithms akin to those used in stock trading, Fetcherr’s solution has helped airlines increase revenue by 9%. The company recently secured $90 million in funding, underscoring investor confidence in this technology.
➡️ The application of dynamic pricing extends beyond aviation. Fast food chains like Wendy’s are planning to test this approach from 2025. In the U.K., some bar chains are considering increasing beer prices during peak hours. The railway sector is also exploring this trend, with startups like Seatfrog offering auctions for ticket upgrades.
➡️ Experts predict that dynamic pricing will soon be applied to a wide range of goods and services, presenting significant opportunities for innovative startups. Key areas for potential application include industries with fluctuating demand and limited supply, such as repair services, medical appointments, and even dry cleaning.
❗️ For startups venturing into this space, several strategies could prove beneficial:
1. Identifying niche markets where dynamic pricing can provide substantial value.
2. Combining dynamic pricing with subscription models to enhance customer loyalty and lifetime value.
3. Focusing on robust technological solutions, including advanced algorithms and seamless integration with existing systems.
4. Preparing for rapid scalability as effective solutions could see swift market adoption.
5. Learning from pioneers in the field while developing unique approaches tailored to specific market needs.
➡️ The rise of dynamic pricing represents more than just a passing trend; it’s becoming a new market reality. Startups that can offer effective, innovative solutions in this domain stand to gain significant advantages. The key to success lies in identifying the right niche and developing products that demonstrably boost business profitability.
As this trend continues to evolve, it will be crucial for startup founders to stay informed about market developments, technological advancements, and changing consumer attitudes toward dynamic pricing. Those who can navigate these challenges while delivering value to businesses and consumers alike may find themselves at the forefront of a major shift in pricing strategies across industries.
🔵 AI Giants Lead S&P 500 Rally: Startup Opportunities in Tech and Healthcare
➡️ The S&P 500 has seen a 15% year-to-date return as of June 26, 2024, with a small group of tech stocks driving the rally. Nvidia leads the pack, contributing 4.94% to the index’s return, followed by Microsoft, Alphabet, Meta, and Apple. These top five stocks account for about 60% of the S&P 500’s returns, highlighting the dominance of AI-focused companies.
➡️ Nvidia’s success is particularly notable, with its share price soaring 162% year-to-date. The surge in AI chip demand and cloud services has fueled this growth. Interestingly, Eli Lilly stands out as a non-tech company in the top 10, driven by the success of its weight loss drug Zepbound. This trend underscores the immense potential for startups in AI technologies, cloud computing, and innovative healthcare solutions.
For startup founders, this market trend signals lucrative opportunities in AI, cloud services, and breakthrough healthcare technologies. The success of giants like Nvidia and Eli Lilly demonstrates that there’s substantial investor appetite for companies driving innovation in these sectors. Startups that can tap into the AI revolution or develop groundbreaking healthcare solutions could potentially capture significant market attention and investment.
💡 The Art of Equity Splits: Maximizing Motivation in Startup Co-Founders
📚 As a seasoned entrepreneur and startup advisor, I’ve seen countless founders grapple with the question of how to split equity among co-founders. It’s a critical decision that can significantly impact a startup’s success. After years of experience and observing thousands of startups, I’ve come to a conclusion that might surprise you: Generous, often equal (or near-equal) equity splits are often the best approach.
➡️ Many founders make the mistake of dividing equity based on early contributions or perceived value. They cite reasons like coming up with the initial idea, starting work earlier, or having more experience. However, this approach is fundamentally flawed.
➡️ The key point many miss is that equity splits should maximize motivation. Building a successful startup takes 7–10 years of hard work. Your equity split needs to motivate your co-founders to stick with the company through these challenging years.
➡️ As a CEO, your primary goal should be creating an equity split that maximizes your team’s motivation, not just negotiating the best deal for yourself. Remember, a larger slice of pie means nothing if the company fails due to an unmotivated team.
➡️ To protect yourself while being generous, use vesting and a cliff. Typically, this means four-year vesting with a one-year cliff. If a co-founder leaves or is fired within the first year, they get nothing. This is your safety net if you’ve misjudged a co-founder.
➡️ Because you have this protection, it often benefits you to be more generous with equity, not less. You want your co-founders’ equity stake to be what gets them up at night, working weekends, and recruiting friends. You want them to feel like true owners, not just employees.
➡️ While I’ve advocated for equal splits in the past, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. The key is to be considerate about your co-founders’ future motivation. If you don’t think they’re worth a generous equity grant, why are they co-founders at all?
When splitting equity, think long-term about motivation. Be generous while protecting yourself with vesting and a cliff. Remember, your startup’s success depends on having a fully committed, motivated team. A slightly smaller piece of a successful company is far more valuable than a huge slice of a failed venture. If you’re not willing to give your partners a generous share, perhaps you’re choosing the wrong partners.
💻 Hebbia’s $100M Series B: AI Document Search Startup Catches Investors’ Eye
🤖 Hebbia, an AI-powered document search startup, has secured a nearly $100-million Series B funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz. The company’s valuation is estimated between $700 million and $800 million, highlighting the growing investor interest in AI-driven solutions.
🤖 Founded in 2020 by George Sivulka, Hebbia’s AI technology can analyze billions of documents simultaneously, providing specific answers from various file types. The startup primarily targets financial service firms but has potential applications in legal and other professional sectors. This funding round brings Hebbia’s total capital raised to over $120 million, following a $30-million Series A in 2022 led by Index Ventures. The investment underscores the increasing demand for efficient, AI-powered information retrieval tools in data-intensive industries.
Hebbia’s substantial funding round demonstrates the immense potential for AI-driven document search solutions in the startup ecosystem. For founders in the AI and enterprise software space, this news highlights the significant opportunities in developing tools that enhance productivity and decision-making in data-heavy industries.
🔍 Dissecting Feel Therapeutics’ $3.5M Mental Health Tech Pitch: The Good, The Bad, and The Fuzzy
Feel Therapeutics, a startup developing wearable devices and apps for mental health tracking, recently raised $3.5 million. Let’s break down their 11-slide pitch deck:
💫 Strengths:
✔️ Compelling problem framing: Slide 3 effectively questions why we don’t track mental health like other health metrics, instantly grabbing attention.
✔️ Clear solution overview: Slide 5 provides an excellent high-level view of Feel’s platform, smartly setting context before diving into details.
✔️ Solid traction data: 2,700 patients across nine countries demonstrates meaningful scale and market validation.
💫 Areas for improvement:
🔆 Missing competitive analysis: No mention of how Feel stacks up against alternatives or potential competitors.
🔆 Vague go-to-market strategy: Lacks clear plans for scaling, target customer segments, and pricing model.
🔆 Fuzzy use of funds: Slide 10’s allocation is too vague. Investors need specific, time-bound goals for capital deployment.
🔆 Cluttered team slide: While impressive credentials are listed, roles and relevance to company success are unclear.
Inclusion of investment terms on the ask slide is unusual but may work, given a lead investor is in place.
The deck doesn’t address Feel’s extensive prior funding history ($30 million raised over eight rounds per PitchBook).
With tighter go-to-market strategy, clearer use of funds, and better context around team and funding history, this could be a much stronger pitch. The fact they secured $3.5 million suggests investors see significant potential in Feel’s approach to quantifying mental health, but future raises may require more comprehensive storytelling.
🔵 DTCP’s $450M Raise: Bridging the European Growth Capital Gap
➡️ DTCP, a German investment firm, has raised $450 million across two funds, addressing the scarcity of growth capital in Europe. The company closed its third growth fund at $330 million, slightly below its initial target due to challenging market conditions. This fund aims to invest $20 million–$25 million in Series B to late-stage rounds, focusing on AI and automation. Additionally, DTCP launched a $125-million early-stage fund, Incharge Capital, in partnership with Porsche, targeting mobility startups.
➡️ DTCP’s unique “upside down investment approach” uses proprietary software to evaluate companies based on KPIs before meeting entrepreneurs. The firm’s track record includes 36 enterprise software investments, with one IPO and 13 acquisitions. Notably, DTCP has developed an M&A playbook to prepare portfolio companies for strategic or private equity acquisitions.
DTCP’s successful fundraise and expansion into early-stage investing highlight the evolving European VC landscape. The firm’s data-driven approach and focus on acquisitive market segments offer valuable insights for scaling companies. Consider how aligning with funds like DTCP, which bridge early and growth stages, could provide strategic advantages for your venture’s long-term growth and exit potential.
⚡️ We recently shared a TechCrunch article discussing Telegram's security. A member of the Telegram team has responded with the following clarification:
Hi,
The TechCrunch article is based entirely on a misunderstanding of a quote of Pavel's. While Telegram has 30 engineers working directly on the apps and infrastructure, Telegram's core team is around 60.
This team is intentionally small and filled with experts in their fields. As a result, Telegram can respond much faster than companies with huge teams and long chains of command.
Cheers,
Remi
🔵 AI Startup Landscape: Global Distribution and Investment Trends
➡️ The global AI startup scene is experiencing significant growth, with the U.S. leading the charge. Between 2013 and 2023, the U.S. saw 5,509 newly funded AI startups, followed by China with 1,446 and the U.K. with 727. This dominance is reflected in investment figures, with the U.S. attracting $335 billion in private AI investment over the decade, compared to China’s $104 billion and the U.K.’s $22 billion.
➡️ Notably, while U.S. investment grew by 22% in 2023, China and the U.K. saw declines of 44% and 14.1%, respectively. Investment focus areas reveal AI infrastructure, research, and governance as the top recipients ($18.3 billion in 2023), followed by natural language processing ($8.1 billion) and data management ($5.5 billion).
The AI landscape presents vast opportunities, particularly in the U.S. market. However, the rapid growth and shifting investment trends underscore the need for strategic positioning and innovation.
Consider how your ventures can tap into high-growth areas like AI infrastructure or natural language processing while also exploring underserved markets beyond the top three countries.
🔵 TikTok’s Rise As a Global News Source: Opportunities and Challenges
➡️ TikTok is emerging as a significant news source globally, particularly in the Global South. According to the Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2024, Thailand leads with 39% of respondents using TikTok for news, followed by Kenya (36%), Malaysia (31%), and Indonesia (29%). This trend is less pronounced in Western countries, with the U.S. at 9% and several European countries below 5%. However, the platform’s growing influence comes with concerns about users’ ability to distinguish fake news from truth.
➡️ Politicians are recognizing TikTok’s potential, with figures like Argentine President Javier Milei amassing 2.2 million followers. This shift in news consumption patterns presents both opportunities and challenges for content creators and information disseminators.
TikTok’s rise as a news platform highlights the evolving landscape of information dissemination. While this presents new opportunities for reaching audiences, especially in emerging markets, it also underscores the need for responsible content creation and fact-checking mechanisms. Consider how your ventures can innovate in this space, balancing engagement with credibility in the fast-paced world of social media news.
🔵 US Tech IPOs: A Four-Decade Rollercoaster Ride
➡️ The landscape of U.S. tech IPOs has seen dramatic shifts over the past four decades. From the dotcom boom’s peak of over 350 IPOs in 1999 to recent fluctuations, the tech IPO market reflects broader economic trends and investor sentiment.
➡️ After two decades of mostly double-digit annual IPOs, 2021 saw a significant surge with 126 tech companies going public, driven by pandemic-fueled demand for digital services. This boom was short-lived, however, with numbers dropping to single digits in 2022 and 2023 due to rising interest rates and market uncertainties.
➡️ Despite these fluctuations, tech giants continue to dominate the stock market, with five of the “Magnificent Seven” companies being major tech players. This underscores the enduring impact of successful tech IPOs on the broader economy.
The tech IPO landscape’s volatility highlights the importance of timing and market conditions for going public. While the potential rewards are significant, as seen with the “Magnificent Seven,” it’s crucial to build resilient businesses that can weather market fluctuations and attract investor interest even in challenging times.
💡 Navigating the Startup Landscape: Lessons From the ZIRP Era
➡️ Let’s talk about a crucial period in recent startup history—the Zero Interest Rate Phenomenon (ZIRP) era. This time taught us valuable lessons about building sustainable businesses in fluctuating economic conditions.
➡️ During ZIRP, money was cheap and plentiful. Banks and investors, desperate for yield, poured funds into venture capital. Suddenly, startups were awash with cash. Valuations skyrocketed, and “unicorns” became commonplace.
➡️ But here’s the catch: Easy money isn’t always good money. Many founders fell into the trap of prioritizing fundraising over building solid businesses. They scaled prematurely, ignored unit economics, and assumed the capital flow would never end.
➡️ When interest rates rose and the market corrected, reality hit hard. Companies built on unsustainable models struggled. Those who had used the influx of capital wisely—to build robust, profitable businesses—weathered the storm much better.
❗️ Key takeaways for founders:
— Balance optimism with realism. Dream big, but keep your feet on the ground.
— Don’t build your business model around temporary economic conditions.
— Focus on creating real value and achieving product-market fit, not just raising money.
— Use capital efficiently. Aim for sustainability and profitability, not just growth at all costs.
— Be prepared for different economic climates. Build a business that can thrive in both good and bad times.
— Don’t get caught up in keeping up with other startups. Your journey is unique.
Remember: Having money doesn't guarantee success. How you use it matters more.
As founders, our job is to build enduring companies that solve real problems. Economic conditions will always fluctuate, but great businesses stand the test of time. Stay focused on your mission, be adaptable, and always strive for that perfect balance of optimism and realism.
🔗 The startup world is challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Keep pushing forward, learn from both successes and failures, and never lose sight of why you started this journey in the first place.
💬 Source #StartupAdvice
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🔵 Apple’s iOS 18 Update: A $400M Threat to App Developers
➡️ Apple’s upcoming iOS 18 release is set to incorporate features that could potentially “sherlock” an estimated $393 million in annual revenue from third-party apps. This practice of integrating popular app functionalities into its operating system poses a significant challenge for developers, particularly those in categories like trail apps, grammar helpers, math solvers, and password managers.
➡️ While established apps with dedicated user bases may weather the storm, the move could stifle growth opportunities for emerging startups in these spaces. The impact is far-reaching, affecting apps that have seen 58 million downloads in the past year. As Apple continues to expand its native offerings, developers face the ongoing challenge of innovating beyond Apple’s “good enough” solutions to maintain relevance and attract users.
Apple’s “sherlocking” trend underscores the importance of diversification and unique value propositions. To thrive in this ecosystem, focus on creating features that are difficult to replicate and consider expanding beyond single-platform dependency. Stay agile and ready to pivot as the tech landscape evolves.
🔍 Unpacking Lupiya’s $8.3M Neobank Pitch: Hits and Misses
Zambian neobank Lupiya recently raised $8.3 million in Series A funding. Let’s dissect their compact 10-slide pitch deck to see what worked and what could use improvement:
💫 Strengths:
✔️ Data-driven problem statement: Slide 2 effectively uses statistics to illustrate the scope of financial access issues in Africa. Smart way to combine problem framing with market sizing.
✔️ Clear business model: Slide 5 succinctly outlines Lupiya’s revenue streams with specific fee and interest rate information. Transparent and easy to grasp.
✔️ Focused product overview: The solution slide (3) avoids feature overload, summarizing key offerings in just three bullet points and screenshots. Concise and impactful.
💫 Areas for improvement:
🔆 Questionable market sizing: The TAM-SAM-SOM breakdown on slide 4 raises red flags. The math seems off, and assuming 100% market capture for Zambia is unrealistic.
🔆 Vague use of funds: Expressing fund allocation as percentages without specifics fails to paint a clear picture of growth plans.
🔆 Missing future vision: The deck focuses heavily on past achievements without outlining future goals, product roadmap, or expansion plans.
Claiming Google/Mastercard backing on the cover slide without further explanation is confusing.
Including a 2021 “Best Series A Startup” award for a 2023 raise is odd and unnecessary.
With tightened market analysis and more forward-looking elements, this could be a truly compelling pitch. The fact it secured $8.3 million shows investors saw significant potential in Lupiya’s mission to expand financial access in Africa.
🔵 Adobe’s Subscription Success Faces AI Backlash
➡️ Adobe reported booming subscription revenue with record $5.3B quarterly sales, boosted by its generative AI tool Firefly. However, the company faced backlash over terms that appeared to allow using customer content to train AI models. Although Adobe clarified users own their work, concerns remain over AI’s impact on intellectual property and privacy.
➡️ Adding to challenges, the U.S. sued Adobe, alleging difficult subscription cancellation processes despite its subscription model driving immense growth. As AI disrupts industries, startups must prioritize transparency and user trust.
Adobe highlights the need for clear AI policies and open communication as disruptive technologies reshape businesses. Ethical AI adoption fostering user trust will be crucial for long-term success.