Brent Xu

✨ Breaking: Cadenza Announces New Fund.- Cadenza Cadenza AI Venture Fund, an early-stage venture capital firm, closed a $50 million fund on December 3, 2024. The fund targets pre-seed and seed investments in the artificial intelligence sector, focusing on infrastructure and enterprise applications. Cadenza aims to invest in companies that enhance workforce efficiencies and disrupt incumbent enterprise software providers. https://cadenza.vc Please share to let other #Founders know For the ❤️ of Startups #Fusion42 #Startups #Venturecapital

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Exciting to see startups aiming to use AI to discover chemicals, materials, drugs, etc. Semi companies have taken notice: AMD is investing in and Cadence is acquiring them. Semi/EDA companies have broken out by becoming critical path, whether it’s through critical software, packaging, IP, design kits from foundries, or user communities. Aside from just making it easy to make new materials, these “AI for making X” companies also need to articulate a vision as to how they can establish monopolistic positions in their industries.

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Bringing Securitization Into the Digital Age: Why We Invested in Tranched.👇 Despite its critical role in modern finance, securitization is still burdened by… • unnecessary complexity, • high fees, • and limited transparency that excludes smaller players and stifles innovation. At Blockwall, we believe that moving securitization onchain addresses all these challenges. We view the team at Tranched as exceptionally equipped to lead this shift - 👋 Michaël Elalouf and Clément Larrue 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 Tranched is building a protocol designed to cut out the middlemen, connecting credit originators directly with institutional investors. Their approach significantly reduces operational costs - by up to 90% - while enhancing speed and transparency. This makes securitization… • more accessible, • more efficient, • and more transparent This is why we invested in Tranched's recent €3.4 million seed round, joining an outstanding group of investors including a16z crypto, Speedinvest, OVNI Capital and Kima Ventures To learn more about our investment and our vision for a more inclusive financial ecosystem, read our latest blog post by Damien Roch (𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸). #web3 #crypto #blockchain #innovation #venturecapital #startups

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How Focus Drives Early Startup Success Listen to Alon Cinamon, VC at Ibex Investors:

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ŌURA closed a $200 Million Series D funding round, raising its valuation to $5.2 Billion. The round included participation from Fidelity Investments and Dexcom, which invested $75 million. Oura has sold over 2.5 million rings, with its member base and revenue doubling in the past year. In 2024, the company expanded to Amazon and Target and collaborated with the Naval Health Research Center, Air Force, and Defense Innovation Unit to deploy its smart rings for service members. Recent acquisitions include Sparta Science in October and Veri in September. For the latest secondary coverage and trading SaxonWeber | ShareWell #secondaries #saxonweber

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A new era of deep tech has emerged. First time funds will raise “unheard of” amounts of capital to fuel next gen deep tech startups - producing outsized, superior returns for LP’s compared to the rest. Prudent investors will act on this data and shift investment strategy as LP’s or risk being left behind savvy wealth managers and CIO’s / FO’s who saw this trend begin 4 years ago.

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As the Shasta Ventures approval deadline approaches, we're presented with a unique opportunity to observe the complexities and inherent conflicts in GP-led secondary transactions. This scenario sheds light on the considerable leverage GPs hold within the private equity infrastructure. According to the article, proposed continuation fund requires LPs to approve the transaction if they wish to roll their interests into the new structure—a stipulation that could be seen as putting undue pressure on LPs. This raises critical questions about the balance of power in private equity deals and the alignment of interests between GPs and LPs. What are your thoughts? Is it appropriate for GPs to demand such conditions for LPs to participate in a continuation fund? How do you see this impacting the broader private equity landscape and the perception of GP-led secondary transactions? Looking forward to hearing your insights and perspectives on this pivotal issue. #PrivateEquity #VentureCapital #InvestmentTrends #ShastaVentures #GPledSecondaries

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Coming soon on Aug 1: "Transformation to a Fresh Tomorrow." This is theme of our 3rd Annual Web3 Investor Day, as we welcome the innovators and investors convening in Chicago for these discussions around the next generation Internet. Our theme reflects the optimism, determination and commitment investors and innovators have solidified off the depths of the bear markets to drive success in the bull markets. Broader investor optimism suggests that fresh institutional funds into Web3 across both tokens and equity may endure.  Across adoption metrics, customer interest and developer activity, Web3 seems to have normalized. It’s refreshing to see the transformation and next evolution of Web3 and it’s refreshing to meet many of you on August 1.  And yet, even with the improved optimism from last year, there still remain open questions in the development and adoption of our next generation Internet:  1. the balance of speculative versus productive investor capital in this current cycle 2. the productive role of liquid trading capital in fostering Web3 innovation 3. the attractiveness of venture investments in follow on financings 4. the role of policy and regulation that may enhance innovation 5. the continued developer activity to improve the underlying infrastructure 6. other Web3 recovery characteristics in target customer use cases. We remain committed to navigating regulatory shifts, fostering investor optimism, and building the customer use cases for Web3.  Physical spaces enhance our innovation conversations.  In person relationships foster our collaboration.  Relationships drive breakthrough innovations.  Reach out to Rizza Torres at Decasonic if you would like to join us! #web3investorday #web3 #venturecapital

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Summary: Humba Ventures has raised a $40 million fund to invest in deep tech and defense tech startups, as a sister-firm to Susa Ventures. This comes at a time when defense tech is seeing record-high venture investments, and the two firms will work together to share resources and punch above their weight in terms of assets under management. Key takeaways: The $40 million fund will focus on deep tech and defense tech startups, in contrast to Susa Ventures which typically invests in fintech and software companies. Defense tech is a growing sector, with nearly $3 billion already invested in 2021. The sister-firm structure allows for sharing of resources and increased marketing power, even with a smaller fund size. Counter arguments: The defense tech sector is competitive, with established firms like Andreessen Horowitz and Founders Fund also investing in the space. The decision to only take money from certain countries, such as the U.S., may limit potential opportunities for investment. #venturecapital #dualuse #dualusetech #defensetech

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An Explosive Thesis: Why We Led Uranium Digital This investment falls under our current thematic focus of “Crypto Rails for Latent Markets” to improve market efficiency and unlock financial innovations on top of dormant markets—in this case, uranium. The timing is impeccable: nuclear energy is experiencing an unprecedented tailwind from the geopolitical race, AI-driven demand, regulatory catalysts, and major supply shocks. As the dominant fuel, Uranium "yellowcake" is poised to become one of the most valuable commodities of the next century. In many ways, uranium is the "bitcoin" for regular people: volatile price, finite, high growth potential, and non-mainstream. But here's the shocking part: uranium has no liquid market or infrastructure for any financial innovations to build on top of—no spot, no oracle, no derivatives. If you want uranium exposure, either go licensed and buy on OTC, or buy ETF/mining stocks. What?! So much money is being left on the table: it's a well-known fact that most trading volume of commodities comes from derivatives/non-physically settled trades. Here are some stats on other common commodities: The ratio of Total Notional $ of Derivative / Physically Settled Trades: Coal: 7:1 Natural gas: 23:1 Uranium: 0:1 In this thesis, you'll find: 1. A primer on nuclear energy and why it's the most misunderstood and promising energy source 2. Why the time is now to pay attention to uranium 3. The opportunity we see: the least efficient market for the most important commodity of the future 4. How Uranium Digital is creating a new "pie" at the intersection of nuclear energy and crypto 🔗 Full thesis link: https://lnkd.in/ghZabvvy Fundraise Announcement: https://lnkd.in/gB_7mekd Coindesk Coverage: https://lnkd.in/g_BdFjtW

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Riddle: Bancor, Curv, and StarkWare have two things in common. One is that these companies have built groundbreaking innovations that are critical to the web3 industry: Bancor created the first AMM in 2017, Curv pioneered MPC for digital asset custody in 2018, and StarkWare introduced ZKP for blockchain scalability in 2018. Can you guess what the second thing is? #web3 #crypto #blockchain #cryptography #zeroknowledge #startupnation

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Big Opportunities for Emerging Venture Funds The venture capital world is changing fast. Emerging fund managers face tough competition, opening up some great opportunities. Highlights: - More Competition: With over 10,000 funds, emerging managers must stand out. - Smart Strategies: Many are cutting their fund targets and teaming up with big firms to stay in the game. - Niche Focus: Specializing in specific sectors can give emerging funds a big advantage. - Strong Networks: Building relationships with larger VCs is crucial for finding great deals and growing. Even with the challenges, emerging managers can thrive by being innovative and leveraging their unique strengths. This could reshape the venture capital scene for the better. #VentureCapital #EmergingFunds #Investment #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Funding #Opportunity

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Looking beyond #VC funding for your #startup? Aakash Shah of Wyndly (YC W21) reveals how he built a multi-million dollar #healthtech company using creative capital strategies. Learn how he leveraged Y Combinator's network and alternative funding methods to revolutionize allergy treatment. In case you missed it, you can watch the #FundraisingDemystified #podcast here: https://lnkd.in/eZT63YS4

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Block, the parent company of Square and Cash App, aims to leverage its dual ownership to create synergy between its point-of-sale software and peer-to-peer payments app. Jack Dorsey, Block's founder, highlighted the advantage of having relationships with both merchants and consumers, stating it's a rare position in commerce and payments. Ryan Budd, Cash App's head of financial products, hinted at plans to integrate a small business experience into Square and incentivize Cash App users to engage with Square merchants. Block is focused on connecting Cash App's consumer base with Square's merchant network, aiming to transform Cash App into a consumer app for interacting with Square merchants. This move aligns with Block's strategy to dominate various aspects of the consumer ecosystem and potentially monetize consumer spending data for advertising purposes. Read More Here: https://lnkd.in/eh-8KS9V Eugene Tsay Wade Robison John O'Beirne Emily C. Chiu Eileen Wiens Jim McKelvey Branded Hospitality Ventures #innovation #venturecapital #hospitality #technology Owen Jennings (OBJ) Brooke Ellis Jamie (Russo) HicksMing-Tai Huh

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Last month, Uncork Capital celebrated its 20th anniversary with a jubilant gathering attended by 420 guests, marking two decades of success in the venture capital realm. Over the years, the firm, alongside industry peers like First Round Capital and Felicis, has witnessed remarkable growth, now managing billions of dollars in assets. This expansion reflects the flourishing landscape of venture capital, with the industry experiencing exponential growth in investment. Moreover, positive shifts in VC norms, such as the evolving attitudes towards board seats, underscore a commitment to providing tailored support to startups, enhancing their growth prospects. Amidst discussions surrounding sectors like AI, optimism prevails, emphasizing a steadfast dedication to investing in innovative ventures with lasting impact. Read More Here: https://lnkd.in/efN6-Spd Branded Hospitality Ventures Jeff Clavier Susan Liu Ashley Cravens Tripp Jones Sarah Du Andy McLoughlin Amy Saper #innovation #technology #management #venturecapital #startup

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Congratulations to Aim Security of the YL Ventures portfolio for raising your $18 million Series A financing led by Canaan only 4 months after announcing your $10 million Series #Seed round from YL Ventures! We are excited to double down with cofounders Matan G. and Adir Gruss. Read more in Forbes: https://lnkd.in/gyhwEXCc The Age of #GenAI is radically transforming the traditional #security stack. Aim Security is the enterprise-trusted partner to #secure GenAI adoption, equipping #cybersecurity leaders with the ability to drive business productivity while providing the right guardrails and ensuring proactive protection for all use cases across the entire organization, whether #enterprise use or production use. Leading #CISO’s and security practitioners on their secure GenAI journey, Aim empowers enterprises to unlock the full potential of GenAI technology without compromising security.

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Summary: Bolt's CEO has threatened legal action against an investment bank involved in their recent fundraising efforts, claiming they signed a binding term sheet for $200 million but did not follow through. Key takeaways: Bolt's CEO believes there was miscommunication at Silverbear Capital, one of their lead investors, leading to confusion about the fundraising deal. A leaked term sheet showed Bolt trying to raise $200 million in equity and $250 million in marketing credits, with a unique pay-to-play structure. The involvement of Silverbear Capital and The London Fund in the deal remains unclear. Counter arguments: Silverbear Capital's partner insists there was no miscommunication and the deal was never discussed or approved. The London Fund has confirmed discussions with Bolt's management but denies any finalized transaction. #venturecapital

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What if you want more details about funding rounds (e.g. for comparisons)? See the original source of funding news on shipshape.vc We aggregate data from the web to save you time, and we've just released a feature that lets you read the original news story. #capitalraising #startups #fundraising #founders #venturecapital #investors #vc #vcfunding #technology #startup #tech

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