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Fei‑Fei Li and her former student Justin Johnson discuss their new model Marble, which creates explorable 3D worlds from text or images, highlighting how spatial intelligence differs fundamentally from language and why current world models lack physics understanding. They argue that transformers function as set models rather than sequence models, a key architectural insight for building richer multimodal systems. Their expertise—Li as the creator of ImageNet and a leader in human‑centered AI, and Johnson as a former Meta researcher and co‑founder of World Labs—frames a vision of AI that moves beyond language to embodied, physics‑aware perception.
Helmet Security, a Washington, DC‑based provider of end‑to‑end security platforms, announced a $9 million funding round. The round was led by SYN Ventures with participation from WhiteRabbit Ventures. CEO Fred Kneip and CTO Kaushik Shanadi said the capital will fuel operational...
This week’s State of AI Report x London AI @airstreet meetup was something special. 150 people building across big tech, AI labs, startups, and academia packed the space with sharp ideas and real momentum. Highlights from the night: • @rosstaylor90 (@GenReasoning) on...
I responded to an investor re optical computing: More optical interconnects which we funded and sold. Have thus far been skeptical as optics for comms and moving data are amazing. But for computing/processing data very hard. Semiconductors work as switches and...
Kalshi ’s new CNN and CNBC deals are making headlines. But the more interesting story is its connections across finance and politics. I mapped the entire network here:
https://t.co/rmhdBlvLJa
Any American tech or defense company should be as wary of any investor with ties to or money from Qatar as much as Russia or Iran or the CCP. It will NOT end well. Funds surely took money years ago...
We took a week off to celebrate Thanksgiving, but we are back with a new episode of The Learning Corner by Precursor Ventures . We are thankful for all of your who have listened, liked, and subscribed to episodes this...
this is a great piece on why europe has fallen behind on driving ai progress and what we might do to rectify this
At @fiftyyears, nothing matters more than the mission. So we don't operate like most investors. Not many OOO auto replies over the holidays. No weeks long trips to Aspen. No long summer vacations. We try to match the pace of our founders....
If you told me five years ago that I could see my ARR, Burn Rate, and Churn in an ERP, I would have told you to go back to bed. Sounds like fiction. It's all possible now with Prism. CONGRATS...
A quick summary of what you can and can’t replace with AI today: - Outbound SDRs: you can replace most SDRs with AI today, possibly 100% … but you still need humans managing it and training it. Every day. IF...
In this episode, Federico Simionato, a product lead at Bending Spoons, walks through the company’s rapid growth from a small game studio to an $11 billion acquisition powerhouse, sharing how they evaluate and test new product ideas and build a coveted...
As a first time founder, it can be exhilarating to want to sell a company. As a second time founder, you know that results compound and it only gets better the longer you hold. I will never sell my business...
Regulators across the U.S. and Europe are tightening oversight of online betting, prompting operators to overhaul their technology stacks. The heightened compliance burden is spurring rapid investment in fintech, regtech, and advanced data infrastructure. Companies are deploying real‑time identity verification,...
Two days ago, we Version One Ventures mentioned that this year we made 9 new investments, of which 8 (!!) have hardware. Proof that we LOVE the world of atoms, robotics, and physical AI. Here’s a quick refresher of our...
In this episode, a16z GP Anish Acharya explains why consumer tech is resurging, highlighting how AI now enables products to reach 100 million users at unprecedented speed. He outlines the distribution shifts and founder mindsets required for success through 2026, emphasizing...
WindRose Health Investors announced the closing of its seventh private‑equity fund, WindRose Health Investors VII, L.P., with total commitments of $2.6 billion from limited partners and the firm’s general partner. The NYC‑based firm said the new vehicle will focus on healthcare...
etaily, a Philippines‑based digital‑native retail platform, secured a new investment round led by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation’s SMBC Asia Rising Fund. While the exact amount was not disclosed, the financing pushes the company’s total capital raised above $24 million. Existing backers...
if you told me in January that 'we should look to do a deal this year,' and we haven't, well, you have 28 days left to consummate
Someone asked me, "Why do you think YC demo day is far better than most tech events?" Me: "It feels more like a reunion, with far fewer aggressive pitches and requests to connect on LinkedIn." FWIW, I respect the hustle, but feel...
Vulcan Elements, a rare‑earth magnet startup backed by Donald Trump Jr.’s 1789 Capital, secured a $620 million contract from the U.S. Department of Defense. The award is part of a broader $1.4 billion partnership with ReElement Technologies to expand domestic magnet production. It...
Fantastic article on private to private M&A from Bob Moore and First Round Capital with a level of detail and insight that you rarely find. https://lnkd.in/e9icT7sS
Congrats to the Flex team on their raise!
Day One Ventures, led by former PR executive Masha Bucher, offers portfolio companies free public‑relations services alongside capital. The firm’s zero‑fee PR model leverages Bucher’s agency network to secure high‑impact media coverage that startups typically pay six figures for. This...
Institutional investors are channeling unprecedented capital into digital assets, deepening liquidity and prompting a shift in market structure. Sophisticated trading venues—ranging from regulated exchanges to prime brokerage platforms—are replacing fragmented over‑the‑counter networks. Enhanced custody solutions and clearer compliance frameworks are...
Why we started succession planning as an emerging fund manager and congrats @haleymbryant ! https://t.co/TuBWR76gm5
TYSONS CORNER, VA, Antithesis announced a $105 million Series A round led by Jane Street.
Day One Ventures partner Masha Bucher argues that venture capital and storytelling are inseparable. She has built an integrated investment model that couples capital deployment with narrative development, aligning founder and investor incentives from the outset. By focusing on the...
Founders building in stealth mode: https://t.co/PBn8AtWJ4s
We are live dissecting a pitch right now with @haleymbryant ! https://t.co/zpbdJFaHfL
1/ Foretell is out of stealth Backed by Lux, Thrive, Founders Fund, Valor + @patrick_oshag + @GavinSBaker WIRED: "Want This Hearing Aid? Well, Who Do You Know?
A lot of emerging fund managers think they would like to start a fund because they enjoy investing in startups. But as a fund manager, investing is probably only 20% of the job. The bulk of it is fundraising, portfolio...
Excited to have incubated @goautolane… which is going to orchestrate the dozens of self driving cars as they coming in and out of your local mall and box box retailer’s parking lot!
Highly recommend investing in the next Coinbase at YC Demo Day A+++++ incredible experience
F25 Demo Day in the books https://t.co/5FZPjXbLpS
When does Product Market Fit turn into Product Market PULL? We all know how to spot Product Market Fit… there are real customers who are saving time and money by using your product, and they’re even evangelizing to their friends...
How to overcome the “Cardinal Sins of Delegation” and start saving more time for yourself. On TWiST, we’re joined by Jonathan Swanson of Athena, the startup that wants to pair you with remote assistants who can tackle all the tasks,...
How Thumbtack became “The $AMZN for Services” The iconic marketplace for home services started life as a simple idea… What if you could make the equivalent of Amazon for your random household tasks, not just products. Of course, there was...
OceanSaver, a Leeds‑based ecological cleaning brand, secured £1.9 million in a funding round led by NPIF II – Mercia Equity Finance. The capital will fund the company’s expansion across the UK and accelerate product development. Founded in 2018, the firm specialises in...
CoreWeave might be the most interesting company in the public markets right now. They’re growing 134% quarter-over-quarter - an absolutely insane rate - and rewriting the playbook for scaling a multi-billion-dollar AI infrastructure business. Tomorrow, my interview with their CFO...
I'll take the counter. If you're a strong company, anytime is a great time to raise. I've had companies successfully raise at this time. But, if you're good but not great, deals go to die during this time. I've seen it...
Am in the process of closing 4 this week. And probably another 2 next week.
Congrats to @haleymbryant for making Partner at Hustle Fund! Haley is one of the best operators and one of the most helpful investors I know. Easy decision to make her the first Partner at Hustle Fund outside of the...
Today I interviewed a $50BN founder for 20VC. In the post interview chat, I mentioned a company we are leading the seed round for. The $50BN founder asked to angel invest and be a lighthouse customer for them. How media...
Congrats to @phindsearch on their $10.4M round! Walls of text are so 2022. On Phind, every answer is now an interactive mini-app. It’s a step towards their vision of creating a personal internet just for you. https://t.co/JO0vbeF5BO https://t.co/t3R3dsQ4Yp
In the early days, momentum is your only unfair advantage. You do not have brand, you do not have money, you only have motion.
Founders to other founders after getting acquired on @acquiredotcom: https://t.co/jNNJMByjik
Jason @ Sequoia in SF, Polymarket comes to US https://t.co/G3OCHJBvEI
When I was a founder, I got conflicting advice about startup work hours. "You must work 80-hour weeks to succeed!" vs "Work-life balance is possible! But, it's nuanced. After years as a founder and now as an investor, here's what I've...
