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New Post: AI and robots and climate, oh my! Our most popular stories of 2024 - In 2024, readers of Venture Capital Journal were primarily interested in topics like AI, robots, climate initiatives, women-led funds, and data centers. The journal highlighted 16 popular stories, reflecting reader engagement. Key articles included "Venture Capital’s 2024 Rising Stars," a guide to VC secondaries, insights on women-led funds, and commentary on AI infrastructure's financial potential. Other notable mentions were climate-focused venture funds, investor dissatisfaction in VC, and the opportunities presented by data centers. The list also featured fundraising efforts by firms like Menlo Ventures and Pinegrove, alongside discussions on AI agents and robotics innovations. Read the full article here https://lnkd.in/dh8GVCqH #Venturecapital #VC #investment #LP #Limited Partner

𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐧 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 – 𝐐𝟒 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 We’re excited to share our latest insights from Silicon Valley Investclub! In this report, we spotlight the most impactful developments currently shaping the unicorn ecosystem. ✅ Unicorn Outperformance: 94 Silicon Valley unicorn companies soared by 12.49% in secondary share prices, outpacing Dow Jones, Nasdaq Composite, and S&P 500. ✅ AI Funding Dominates: 31 investment rounds raised $26.66 billion, with 93.44% ($24.91 billion) allocated to AI — highlighting its pivotal role in Silicon Valley innovation. ✅ New Unicorns Emerge: Physical Intelligence, Speak, Writer, poolside, Nimble Robotics, and Ayar Labs joined the unicorn club this quarter, reflecting the sector’s steady growth and unwavering investor confidence. ✅ Success stories like Zip, KoBold Metals, Sierra, and Lightmatter, each achieving impressive valuations and delivering notable returns for investors. Explore our Q4 Digest for a closer look at the latest funding rounds and industry trends — keeping you informed on Silicon Valley’s newest innovations!

One of our exciting portfolio companies - juna.ai just completed their $7.5M seed round, and are on a mission to transform the manufacturing industry through AI-driven autonomous process control. Their technology is applicable across a wide range of industries, including chemical, steel, paper, cement, textile, and food processing. They have already deployed their solutions with early customers, demonstrating real-world effectiveness and tangible savings. 🔊 *They are actively hiring across multiple tech roles and invite passionate individuals to join their journey.* 🔊 *They are open to new customers and design partners in the mentioned industries.* Great opportunity to optimize your processes, and save energy. When I present ellipsis and say we invest only in AI deep-tech, I am often asked whether we invest also in AI applications. My answer is "Yes, but..." - Yes, but only in companies that solve big hard high value problems, and they do so by utilizing unique expertise and data. That'a the only moat in our opinion. juna.ai is the poster child example for such a company. Check out their Blog post - https://lnkd.in/exAMX534, and TechCrunch article -https://lnkd.in/dtyGC5uf 🥇 #ai #innovation #enterprisesoftware #disruption #automation

We are living in a world that embodies our Industrial Transformation & Supply Chain Technology investment thesis at REFASHIOND Ventures: The Industrial Transformation Fund: Escalating Geopolitical Tensions & Great Power Competition; The Climate Crisis & Severe Weather; Consumer Behavior & Demographics. OUR INVESTMENT THESIS: REFASHIOND Ventures: The Industrial Transformation Fund invests in early stage startups refashioning legacy industries through Data & AI, Advanced Materials, Advanced Manufacturing, & Next Generation Supply Chains; Defensible through economic moats. Join us. #IndustrialTransformation #SupplyChain #Innovation #Technology #Startups #VentureCapital

Today marks a pivotal moment for us at juna.ai as we emerge from stealth mode and announce we have raised $7.5 million in seed funding led by Kleiner Perkins in participation from Norrsken VC! 🎉 When we started juna.ai, our mission was to tackle one of the biggest challenges in heavy industries—decarbonizing and optimizing complex industrial processes. We had a strong belief that by leveraging advanced AI, we could transform manufacturing facilities into intelligent, self-learning systems that operate autonomously. The manufacturing sector is responsible for ~40% of the world's total energy consumption, significantly contributing to global carbon emissions. With rising energy prices, disrupted supply chains, and increasing pressure to achieve net-zero emissions, manufacturers are facing unprecedented challenges. We set out to address these issues by creating AI-powered systems that not only optimize operations in real-time but also reduce energy consumption and carbon footprints. Over the past year, we have made incredible strides. We've developed cutting-edge AI-based control systems and have already deployed our product with early customers, demonstrating real-world success and generating tangible savings. But there's still a long journey ahead. We also couldn't be more proud to partner with some of the best investors in the world who are unwavering in their support: Josh from Kleiner Perkins, Tove and Fabian from Norrsken VC, and our angel investors John Doerr and Jürgen, Matthias, Thomas, Yariv & Bilge from ellipsis. As we continue to grow, we're actively hiring across multiple tech roles. If you're passionate about making a real impact by driving efficiency and sustainability in manufacturing, we'd love to hear from you! Read more about our announcement and journey in the blog post linked in the comments below. 👇 ————————————————————— Read our blog post: https://lnkd.in/exAMX534 Read our TechCrunch article: https://lnkd.in/dtyGC5uf —————————————————————

📊 2023's Biggest VC Bets: A Snapshot of Innovation 🚀 Just came across this chart showcasing the largest venture capital investments of 2023. Some key takeaways: 1. AI Dominance: OpenAI leads the pack with a staggering $10B investment, followed closely by other AI giants like Anthropic and Inflection AI. 2. Fintech Still Strong: Stripe secured a massive $6.5B, showing continued faith in financial technology. 3. Diverse Sectors: From renewable energy (Generate Capital) to autonomous vehicles (Stack AV), investors are backing a wide range of innovative fields. 4. Biotech Boom: Multiple biotech companies feature in the top investments, highlighting the sector's growing importance. 5. Space Race Continues: Companies like Axiom Space and Sierra Space are attracting significant funding, indicating ongoing interest in space technology. What strikes me most is the sheer scale of these investments - we're talking billions, not millions. It's a clear indicator of the high-stakes game being played in tech innovation. What are your thoughts on these investment trends? Which sectors do you think will dominate in 2024? #VentureCapital #Innovation #TechTrends #AI #Fintech

What do VCs actually look for in pre seed deals, particularly given the recent wave of AI startups? As a B2B SaaS focused investor, I have the opportunity to evaluate thousands of software businesses, and invest in 100+ each year. One of my favorite parts of my job is meeting exceptional founders and learning about problem spaces that are completely new to me, but the investment team at Forum Ventures spends a lot of time discussing focus areas and opportunities where we see the most promise and are actively looking to invest. In the coming weeks, I'll be sharing a series of market opportunities where I am looking to back exceptional founders solving challenging problems.  * Automation of complex, legacy workflows within enterprise, particularly across regulatory and compliance use cases. * Application of AI across the defense and broader government sectors, specifically related to operational efficiencies, the infrastructure stack required to leverage cutting edge AI advancements, and the development and adoption of autonomous systems. * Manufacturing/hardware design and production, spotlighting modern manufacturing - robotics, aerospace, alternative energy, medical devices, etc. * Complex manufacturing supply chains- from extraction to processing and refining, and ultimately through manufacturing and distribution.  If any of the above sounds like something you are building, let’s connect. #GenerativeAI #VentureCapital #EarlyStageStartups #Innovation #TechTrends #AI

Record-breaking growth in AI investments! 2021 saw venture capital funding hit $73.4 billion, marking a 34% increase from 2020. This capital influx underscores the accelerating pace of innovation and market confidence in AI technologies. What strategies are you adopting to leverage this trend? #AIInvestment #BusinessGrowth #StrategicInvestment

After analyzing 100+ successful startups that raised funding in Q4 2023, I had a powerful realization. Here's what 2025 investors are REALLY looking for: 1. AI-First Solutions Not just AI features but companies fundamentally reimagining industries through AI. The differentiator? Proprietary data moats. 2. Climate Tech 2.0 Beyond traditional cleantech. Think: AI-powered grid optimization, carbon capture marketplaces, and regenerative agriculture platforms. 3. Healthcare Democratization Solutions making specialized care accessible through hybrid models. Mental health, preventive care, and personalized medicine are leading the charge. 4. Financial Infrastructure Not another fintech app. Infrastructure enables the next wave of financial innovation - especially in emerging markets. 5. Enterprise Automation Tools that deliver 10x productivity gains. Focus shifting from general automation to industry-specific solutions. Pro Tip: The winners won't just chase these trends. They'll find unique intersections between them. Example: AI + Climate Tech = Predictive models for renewable energy optimization Your 2025 startup checklist: • Clear AI/ML advantage • Measurable climate impact • Global scalability • Enterprise-grade security • Strong unit economics from day one The next unicorns will be built at these intersections. Where are you placing your bets? Let's connect if you're building in these spaces! #StartupTrends #VentureCapital #Innovation #FutureOfTech

✨ We're thrilled to celebrate the achievements of these 10 outstanding businesses as they mark the completion of their latest rounds of fundraising! 1. Upvest - $105M - Delivers a powerful investment API enabling fintech companies to embed securities trading, portfolio management, and wealth-building features directly into their platforms, unlocking seamless access to financial markets. 2. Askable - $22M - Revolutionizes product development by connecting businesses with highly-targeted participants for user testing, offering fast, actionable insights to refine apps, websites, and digital tools. 3. RapidCanvas - $16M - Provides an innovative no-code platform powered by AI, allowing enterprises to rapidly create bespoke data analytics solutions and applications, transforming raw data into business intelligence. 4. Copabet - $535K - Redefines the sports betting landscape with a transparent, user-friendly platform that integrates cutting-edge analytics for smarter, more enjoyable wagering experiences. 5. Nanoramic, Inc. - $44M - Pioneers advanced energy storage solutions, including next-generation ultracapacitors and battery systems, to enhance performance and efficiency in automotive, aerospace, and renewable energy sectors. 6. embotech - $26M - Develops high-performance software for autonomous vehicles and robotics, specializing in real-time decision-making and optimization for industrial automation and mobility applications. 7. Hyperbolic - $12M - Combines machine learning and automation to build advanced research tools, accelerating breakthroughs in fields like biotech, materials science, and climate technology. 8. WaterWipes - $153M - Produces eco-conscious, chemical-free baby wipes using purified water and natural ingredients, prioritizing sustainability and gentle care for sensitive skin. 9. CarbonX - $4.2M - Innovates sustainable nanomaterials like carbon additives, enhancing the durability, efficiency, and sustainability of products across energy, automotive, and construction industries. 10. Particle Health - $10M - Offers a cutting-edge API platform that bridges gaps in healthcare data interoperability, empowering providers with real-time access to comprehensive patient records for better outcomes. 🚀 Stay tuned with Growth List for further updates on startup funding and join us to gain complete access to data and contact information.