Today's Venture Capital Pulse
Clip raises $500M to expand fintech platform
Mexican fintech Clip secured a $500 million funding round, lifting its valuation above $2.5 billion. The capital will fund the rollout of a consumer‑focused wallet and broaden its suite of financial‑services tools.
Also developing:
By the numbers: OpenAI raises $122B in private financing
Seeing The Future From AI Companions to Personal Software
In this episode, Eugenia Kuyda, the founder of Replika and CEO of Wabi, discusses how AI‑driven personal software will shift from a developer‑only tool to a creative medium accessible to anyone, likening command‑line AI interfaces to the early days of MS‑DOS. She explains the rise of shareable mini‑apps—comparable to TikTok videos—and how her platform lets users, even non‑technical people like a mother, build custom AI apps in minutes. Kuyda also shares behind‑the‑scenes stories from OpenAI’s early days and critiques voice‑only devices for missing the broader potential of interactive AI companions.
#173 STAG: The Tesla of Construction Equipment?!
In this episode, founders Adam and Patrik pitch STAG, an electric mini skid‑steer they describe as the "Tesla of construction equipment," highlighting its multi‑function design, Made‑in‑USA manufacturing, and early traction with major dealers like Bobcat. They explain the market opportunity...
Roelof Reviews Track Record Before Passing the Keys
Roelof looking at his track record as he hands over the keys https://t.co/qIh43tCXE3
Roelof Botha’s Bold Bets Built Tech Giants
Don’t forget square, instagram, Nu bank, YouTube, Airbnb, MongoDB, unity and WhatsApp — @roelofbotha was responsible for those crazy bets as well!
E646 | Alper, Agave Games & Enis Hulli, E2vc: Pivoting Models & Building Global Gaming Success From Turkey
In this episode Alper Oner, co‑founder of Agave Games, and VC Enis Hulli discuss Agave’s evolution from a publisher to an in‑house studio that struck global success with the hidden‑object hit “Find the Cat” and is now scaling its next...
Sanabil Launches Founder University in Riyadh, US Partnership
Sanabil Founder University in Riyadh 🇸🇦 🇺🇸 🤝 https://t.co/lLAXJ4kpHB
ElevenLabs CEO: Why Voice Is the Next AI Interface
In this episode, ElevenLabs CEO Mati Staniszewski explains how his small, autonomous, globally‑hired team ships research‑grade AI—text‑to‑speech, licensed AI music, and real‑time voice agents—at lightning speed, arguing that voice will become the primary human‑computer interface. He details the Voice Marketplace’s creator‑centric...
NVIDIA, Qualcomm Join U.S., Indian VCs to Help Build India’s Next Deep Tech Startups
NVIDIA has joined the India Deep Tech Alliance (IDTA) as a strategic technical advisor, while Qualcomm Ventures is contributing over $850 million in new capital alongside six Indian venture firms. The IDTA, launched in September with more than $1 billion in pledged...
All Raise Summit Launches with Top Tech Storytellers
The All Raise summit kicks off tomorrow with 3 of the smartest, most insightful, connected, respected & kickass storytellers in tech: (and also some of my favorite people on the planet 🌏 - Nairi Tashjian Hourdajian ( Figma , ex...
Showcase Your Weekend Hack Projects at Floodgate Event
We’re hosting our Floodgate Friends & Family event soon — and we want to spotlight builders doing something cool on the side. If you’re hacking on a project nights & weekends (no matter how rough!), drop a link or DM me. We’ll...
Roelof Botha on Sequoia, Startup Building, and Washington — Days Before Stepping Down
In a live TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 podcast, Sequoia partner Roelof Botha outlines the firm’s method for spotting and backing outlier companies, emphasizing fierce internal debates and consensus voting on investments. He argues that venture capital is not a conventional asset...
VCs Prioritize Destination Over Execution, Even Without License
Funding a startup founder before they have a driver's license is proof that some VCs care more about where you are going than how you will get there :).
Early Financial Discipline Predicts Billion‑dollar Stewardship
The startup founders who treasure your $25K like $25M today will steward $2B the same way tomorrow; financial discipline is muscle memory.
Sequoia Names Alfred Lin and Pat Grady as New Co-Stewards as Roelof Botha Steps Down
Sequoia Capital announced that partners Alfred Lin and Pat Grady will replace Roelof Botha as co‑Stewards, ending Botha’s three‑year tenure as senior steward. Lin, who joined in 2010, has led investments in Airbnb, DoorDash and Kalshi, while Grady, a 19‑year...
AI Sales Agents Do the Work Humans Won’t
$495 is a tough price point to hire a human sales rep for But an AI agent? 🤖They don't mind. They don't mind -- at all. If nothing else, put AI agents + AI SDRs and AEs on the deals...
Ceres AI Lands New Financing
Ceres AI, a San Francisco‑based data and artificial‑intelligence firm that provides high‑resolution agricultural and environmental risk insights, announced a new financing round led by Remus Capital. The company’s platform integrates advanced satellite imagery, AI analytics, and field‑scale data to serve...
Thursday's VC Deep Dive: IPOs, Valuations, Ownership Shifts
Coming Thursday with @HarryStebbings @rodriscoll + me: - The Navan IPO, and What It Really Takes Now - Why You Have to Have Reaccelerated by Thanksgiving - Why Harvey at $8B could be cheap - AgentForce is really good. What That Means. - Single...
Fintech Winners Atlas and Basis Theory Gain Recognition
Very cool to see Atlas , probably my favorite consumer product right now, and Basis Theory , which I see as *inevitable* infrastructure for the future of commerce, recognized by The Information here. Fintech markets are endless and essential, and...
The Three Sales Frameworks Every Early-Stage Founder Needs. | Template-Tips: Everything You Need to Raise a Successful Seed Round
The article presents three story‑centric sales frameworks that early‑stage founders should adopt – crafting a compelling founder narrative, leveraging concrete customer success stories, and structuring sales calls around those stories – each backed by simple templates and real examples. Sahil...
Treat Attention Like Capital: Manage It Rigorously
Attention is the real balance sheet. Most companies know where the money went. Few can say where the attention went. Yet that’s what decides everything. Every company budgets for headcount and spend. Almost none budget for attention. It feels infinite, so...
The Startup Building Edible Insulation to Tackle a 1.4 Gigaton CO2 Problem
In this episode, host Tom Britton talks with Theresa Hoffmann, founder of Nanoplume, about their bio‑aerogel insulation that is three times more effective and 60% thinner than conventional materials, a non‑toxic product so safe she even eats it during demos....
VC10X - What Is A Continuum Fund? - Michelle Urben, Managing & General Partner, Synergos Fund
In this episode, Michelle Urben explains Synergos Fund’s "continuum fund" model, which provides patient, evergreen capital to companies from seed through commercialization, rejecting the traditional exit‑focused VC mindset. She highlights how the fund aligns with conscious capitalism, offering flexible, transparent...
OpenAI Plans $1.15 Trillion Infrastructure Investment by 2035
OpenAI has committed to spending $1.15 trillion on hardware & cloud infrastructure between 2025 & 2035. 1 The spending breaks down across seven major vendors: Broadcom ($350B), Oracle ($300B), Microsoft ($250B), Nvidia ($100B), AMD ($90B), Amazon AWS ($38B), & CoreWeave...
Space Data Centers: Starcloud’s Path to Cosmic Compute
Why does Starcloud have Alex Wilhelm SO EXCITED about the future of the space economy? In this TWiST highlight, Alex and I examine Starcloud, the company aiming to build data centers in space. For now, they’re starting small, putting just...
A16z Pauses Its Famed TxO Fund for Underserved Founders, Lays Off Staff
Andreessen Horowitz announced it is pausing its Talent x Opportunity (TxO) fund, a program launched in 2020 to support underrepresented founders with a 16‑week curriculum and a $175,000 investment via a donor‑advised fund. The pause follows an email from partner Kofi Ampadu...
Sam Altman's Spicy Clip: Tension or Playful Banter?
Was Sam Altman getting a little testy with AltCap on that Bg2 pod clip? Or was this all in good fun? In this TWiST highlight, Alex Wilhelm and I check out Sam Altman’s appearance (with Satya Nadella ) on Brad...
Get Real Fundability Scores by Uploading Your Deck
How fundable are you -- really? How well are you doing -- really? Just upload your deck here to SaaStr AI VC -> https://t.co/S5UFYzofhC And don't guess anymore https://t.co/80nrRXLnXb
Elad Gil on Which AI Markets Have Winners — and Which Are Still Wide Open
Elad Gil, a veteran solo VC, told TechCrunch Disrupt that while AI’s rapid evolution makes many segments unpredictable, several markets now have clear leaders. Foundational model providers such as OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, Meta, xAI and Mistral dominate the model space,...
Fireside Chat with Ro CEO Z Reitano Inspires
Dropped by Ro HQ today to fireside with my friend & Ro CEO @ZReitano — I could chop it up with this guy for hours. https://t.co/6UwXiEVXum
Investing From Spero Fund II, Seeking Founders Building Sustainable Future
Excited to share that we are investing out of Spero Fund II. If you're a founder creating a healthy, sustainable, and fulfilling future for everyone, we'd love to hear from you.
Popai Health Nabs $11M
Popai Health, a patient‑conversation intelligence startup, announced an $11 million financing round led by Team8 and NEA with participation from strategic investors. The capital will be used to strengthen go‑to‑market efforts, accelerate adoption across health systems, medical groups, health plans and...
Profitable D2C Fitness Brand Shows 92% Margins
VC backed D2C fitness sportswear drop on @acquiredotcom. > $50K TTM revenue > $46K TTM profit > 49% YoY growth > 92% margins Love seeing clean, profitable brands like this one. Listing: https://t.co/bObD9JzryK https://t.co/GzdQgFAduh
Clarity, Not Headcount, Drives True Founder Leverage
Most founders think leverage comes from headcount. It comes from clarity.
Few Dared, Now AI‑bio Partnerships Finally Thrive
Many biologists called hubris on entrepreneurs looking to reinvent bio with AI. Many in AI deemed bio too messy, refusing to touch wet labs. A small few saw the potential and built. Grateful to be partners to many now hitting their stride.
Remix Any Song Instantly—No DJ Skills Required
Mixy lets anyone remix music without knowing how to DJ. Choose your songs, instantly blend beats and vocals, and play and share your mashup anywhere. https://t.co/uB98UyblMy Congrats on the launch, @joekndy & @jonahsiegle! https://t.co/HV39qUuEn7
Founders Must Master Sales, Branding, Marketing, Distribution
Your job as a startup founder is to learn sales, branding, marketing, and distribution because it isn’t just about the product.
Fast Capital Reallocation Fuels National Success in Tech Shifts
This is a MUST READ from @tylercowen on why robust capital markets and fast re-allocation of capital creates winning countries when technology shifts. https://t.co/Lx7EE8vK4y
Chat with AI to Build Mobile Apps Instantly
Fastshot (@fastshot_ai) lets you build and ship beautiful mobile apps in minutes, just by chatting with AI. No code required. https://t.co/286QpARLak Congrats on the launch, @elvirafortune and @dmitryfatkhi! https://t.co/7r3uEFxGBe
China Keeps Subsidizing AI, Robotics, and Auto Sectors
China continues to subsidize its major industries (AI, robotics, cars) https://t.co/DtS4d3MvGH
Accelerator Overload Floods Me with Spam Offers
There are now so many "accelerators" that I get spam from people making products for them. Very weird. I wrote all YC's original software, so every spam is either offering something I wrote, or something I didn't think was worth...
Ops Become Startup’s Competitive Edge in Commoditized Tech Era
We're entering the age of better startup ops. In software, tech has largely become a commodity. Distribution is also becoming commoditized. Ops is the way to stand out today. How? More >>
Founders: Join Investor Panel Batter Up NYC & SF
NYC and SF Founders, this is your moment. Batter Up SF and Batter Up NYC are happening Nov 10 with an amazing panel of investors. ⚾ SF (6pm PT): https://t.co/cAqJ85ttH0 ⚾ NYC (6pm ET): https://t.co/vmE3f0YDPo Come and check it out! https://t.co/XYYvyB8D2H
Genetic Insights for All: Empowering Family Health Decisions
I invested in @nucleusgenomics because they’re building something EVERYONE should have access to - genetic insights that empower families to make better health decisions. That kind of awareness should be universal. https://t.co/2y3SBIRiC5
Tiny Budgets Teach Founders Faster Than $10M VC
$10K budgets are teaching startup founders what $10M VC rounds never could; ship fast!
AI Cold Email SaaS Generates $495K Revenue, 100% Growth
This founder is basically giving it away to move onto a new startup. Live on @acquiredotcom: VC backed cold email SaaS with AI-powered outreach and smart inbox management. > $495K TTM revenue > $155K TTM profit > 100% YoY growth Full listing: https://t.co/iY13bIBtfn https://t.co/ID2m72SOGo
Mecha Health Secures $4.1M Seed for AI Imaging
Congrats to Mecha Health on their $4.1M seed! They’re building next-gen foundation models for healthcare, starting with medical imaging. Mecha Health's systems help radiologists work faster and with greater accuracy, without feeling like they’re doing more work. https://t.co/bSUYgKkf5h
ManifoldBio Lands $55M AI‑bio Deal with Roche
What AI x bio winter? @ManifoldBio inked the largest AI bio platform deal in ~4 years. $55M upfront, potential for $2B in milestones and royalties. With Roche. Using their massively scaled in vivo tech to find shuttles to bring therapeutics across the...
Cerebral Valley AI Summit to Shape 2026 Startup Strategies
The Cerebral Valley AI Summit is next week! Conversations on stage and in our discussion groups will help shape the strategies for many AI startups in 2026 https://t.co/9rRg7IPjvb
From Reddit to Sports Investing: Backing Fan‑Fervent Teams
Had a great time on Portfolio Players talking about my journey from Reddit to sports investing. I shared why I backed @weareangelcity and @ChelseaFCW, two teams with massive, passionate fanbases that were clearly worthy of investment... https://t.co/88GaHJKajo
Moss Delivers Sub‑10 Ms Semantic Search for Natural AI Conversations
Moss (@usemoss) is the real-time semantic search for conversational AI. By bringing retrieval latency under 10 ms, Moss makes AI conversations feel natural, as fluid and instant as talking to a human. https://t.co/UtnwaJZVNY Congrats on the launch, @srimalireddi & @ImHarshaNalluru!