Steve King’s Post

Hello, Community! Even with hot artificial intelligence startups scoring hefty investment rounds at massive valuations, the broader venture funding environment remains ice cold: https://lnkd.in/efhzy_PE #informationtechnology #innovation #artificialintelligence #technology #digitaltransformation #technews #itnews #digital #startups #investments

Research Institution Proof of Concept, Startup Accelerator, and Venture Fund Gap Fund and Accelerator Programs (GAP for short) #innovation #university #research #gapfunding #proofofconcept #startup #accelerator #venture #commercialization

𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 - Q1 2024 🔹 Global startups raised $82.1B in venture capital in Q1 2024.  Startups raised more investment in Q1 than in the three previous quarters, and just shy of Q1 2023 at $86.2B, which included a $10B round for OpenAI, and $6.5B round for Stripe. 🔹Global venture capital investment is tracking a similar path to 2019 and 2020, behind only the outlier years of 2021/22. 🔹Over 3.2K venture rounds have been raised by global startups in Q1 2024. In terms of number of rounds, the venture industry is more active than any time pre 2021. 🔹Energy is closing in on the top three startup sectors by VC raised.  Energy has gone from the eighth ranked sector by VC in 2014-2021, to fourth in 2023 and 2024.  🔹GenAI, Semiconductors and drug discovery are the most funded frontier tech segments in Q1 2024. 🔹The US, China and the UK remain the top three countries by venture capital in 2024. 🔹Seven of the top 10 tech hubs by venture capital in Q1 2024 are in the US. Source: Dealroom Interested in startups and venture capital? Check my free newsletter for more insights: https://lnkd.in/da_7Pbkv

Here's a list of some of the most influential UK-based venture capital firms that are actively investing in AI: The UK has become a hotbed for AI innovation, thanks to the vibrant ecosystem of venture capital firms backing these startups. These VCs are key in supporting and funding AI companies, helping them expand and advance technology. 1. Playfair Focus: Pre-Seed Ventures Investment Size: £100K-£1.5M Top Portcos: Orca AI, Protex AI, sprout.AI 2. 7percent Ventures Focus: Angel, Pre-Seed and Seed Ventures Investment Size: $250K-$2M (with angel checks $5K-$100K depending on the stage) Top Portcos: Gensyn, BreezeAI, PlumerAI 3. Crane Venture Partners Focus: Pre-Seed and Seed Ventures Investment Size: $1M-$5M Top Portcos: SeeChange, Deta, h2o.ai 4. Concept Ventures Focus: Pre-Seed Ventures Investment Size: £750K Top Portcos: SCliff.ai, Browse AI 5. SFC Capital Focus: Angel, Pre-Seed and Seed Ventures Investment Size: £124K Top Portcos: Cognism, Magic AI, TrainThis.AI 6. BGF Focus: Early, Growth and Late Stage Ventures Investment Size: £1M-£20M Top Portcos: Machine Discovery, Aimbrain, Celaton 7. Atomico Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B and Series C Ventures Investment Size: $1M-$20M Top Portcos: DeepL, Corti 8. Hoxton Ventures Focus: Pre-Seed, Seed and Series A Ventures Investment Size: $250K-$5M Top Portcos: biotx.ai, BioCorteX, Darktrace 9. Notion Capital Focus: Pre-seed, Seed and Series A+ Ventures Investment Size: $5M Top Portcos: Five AI, Protex AI 10. IQ Capital Focus: Seed and Series A Ventures Investment Size: £500K–£10M Top Portcos: Mindgard, AI Build, Myrtle 12. Episode 1 Ventures Focus: Seed and Series A Ventures Investment Size: £500K–£2M Top Portcos: kleene.ai, Auquan, PandasAI Who’s your favorite AI VC firm in the UK? Did I miss someone? Give them a shoutout in the comments! Ready to connect with the perfect investor for your AI startup? Drop a “LIST” in the comments, and I’ll tailor a personalized investor lineup just for you. At Thunder, we specialize in matching your fintech startup with venture capital firms that align with your sector, growth stage, and goals. Let’s find the right partner to fuel your growth!

Startups saw a 7% decline in venture capital funding in July, reflecting the tough environment for raising capital. This selective investment approach is pushing startups to be more capital-efficient and focus on high-growth sectors like AI. A potential decrease in interest rates could boost funding, but the lack of profitable exits remains a critical challenge for sustainable growth. #VentureCapital

VC funding to U.S. startups decreased from $242.2 billion for 17,592 companies in 2022 to $170.6 billion for 15,766 companies in 2023, according to the annual Venture Monitor report from PitchBook and the National Venture Capital Association. While most industries were down year over year, AI was the largest sector to show an increase. Global funding to AI startups reached close to $50 billion last year, up 9% from the $45.8 billion invested in 2022. OpenAI, Anthropic, and Inflection AI were the largest recipients of funding, collectively raising $18 billion in 2023. #VC #AI #funding #startups https://lnkd.in/grnqTWgU.

Artificial intelligence has evolved from a hot investment sector to a key tool for venture capital decision-making, enabling the rapid analysis of extensive data on startups and market trends. This advancement is revolutionizing how funds are allocated, shaping the future of startup financing. #vc #startups #ai https://lnkd.in/e5QB2Exy

Per @Crunchbase, Q1 startup investment was slightly up on Q4 2023. Investment in early stage startups grew in Q1, led by large Series B fundings in AI, EVs and green energy. #investors #investing #startup #venturecapital #viaduct #viaductventures #tech #ai https://lnkd.in/daBr_kyC

🗞️ Today's Startups & VC Updates - 19/02 Alphabet's venture arm, CapitalG, has managed $7 billion in assets since 2013, focusing on AI and cybersecurity investments ranging from $50 million to $200 million per company. Sequoia Capital reportedly urges former partner Michael Moritz to step down from his personal board position at buy-now-pay-later company Klarna, with partner Matthew Miller seeking shareholder support for the move. 💰 Startup Fundraising New Zealand-based food tech company Miruku raises $5 million in a pre-Series A round led by Motion Capital. Conversational AI platform Rasa secures $30 million in Series C round co-led by StepStone Group Capital and PayPal Ventures. Toronto-based data analytics provider Helika raises $8 million in Series A funding led by Pantera Capital. Amsterdam-based construction tech startup Monumental raises $25 million round led by Plural and Hummingbird Ventures. NYC-based workforce relocation company Pivt raises undisclosed funding with participation from Randi Zuckerberg and others. Denver-based Dapple Security raises $2.3 million in Pre-Seed funding led by First In. NYC-based BioNeex secures $500,000 in Seed funding led by former executives at Pfizer and Amgen. London-based cyber risk management provider KYND raises undisclosed funding with participation from Verisk and BGF. San Francisco-based tech-enabled vacation rental platform Overmoon raises $80 million in Equity and Debt funding. San Francisco-based Flower Labs raises $20 million in Series A funding for federated and decentralized AI adoption. NYC-based generative AI company Rogo raises $7 million in Seed funding led by AlleyCorp. Toronto-based Armilla AI secures $4.5 million in Seed funding led by Mistral Venture Partners. Sunnyvale-based Kairos Aerospace raises $52 million to detect methane leaks for oil and gas companies. Beijing-based Orienspace raises $83.5 million in Series B round for building and launching rockets. 📰 Want to receive daily updates on startups, venture capital and tech. Subscribed to Venture Daily Digest Newsletter: https://lnkd.in/dQuvt5xR #startups #business #venturecapital #startupnews

In the world of venture capital, the trends are shifting rapidly. According to data from Dealroom, global VC funding has seen a pullback from the pandemic-fueled boom, but what stands out is how capital is being allocated more strategically. Investors are looking for startups that can demonstrate not just potential, but resilience and adaptability in a volatile market. In a time of unprecedented disruption, agility and speed are crucial. Startups, with their ability to adapt quickly, are thriving in areas where larger, more established companies struggle to keep pace. Sectors like Generative AI, which has raised over $20 billion in 2023 alone, and Electric Mobility, EV Battery Tech and Space Tech, with more than $30 billion invested globally, are seeing the strongest interest. In this context, the ability to pivot and iterate is more valuable than ever. Startups that offer innovative solutions in sectors like the ones mentioned before are securing funding because they meet the demand for scalable, long-term impact. The focus has shifted from short-term gains to sustainable business models capable of weathering economic shifts. As @Sam Altman suggested during ITW24, we are in a moment where traditional rules are suspended, and startups that can move fast and innovate are poised to lead the way. The future is being shaped by those who are ready to embrace change and seize the opportunities of this dynamic landscape, and we can’t wait to meet and welcome on next year’s stage these people.