🎯Today's Venture Capital Pulse
Updated 38m agoWhat's happening: AI fuels record $119.5B venture fundraising despite fewer rounds
Venture capital fundraising jumped 16.9% to $119.5 billion in 2025, the strongest recovery since the 2022 market reset. The total number of rounds fell 41% to 4,859, concentrating capital in larger AI‑focused financings, with AI startups capturing 58% of Series D cash and median valuations rising across all stages.
Also developing:
By the numbers: OpenAI raises $110B in corporate funding
News•Dec 3, 2025
This VC Charges $0 for PR, and Has 12 Unicorns to Show for It
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 hands‑on approach has helped twelve of its early investments reach unicorn status, accelerating growth and follow‑on funding. By aligning its success with brand visibility, Day One redefines the value‑add expectations of modern venture capital firms.
By TechCrunch Venture Feed
Social•Dec 3, 2025
Only Top Firms Thrive Raising Capital Now
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...
By Elizabeth Yin
News•Dec 3, 2025
Antithesis Banks $105 Million Series A Funding
TYSONS CORNER, VA, Antithesis announced a $105 million Series A round led by Jane Street.
By VC News Daily
Social•Dec 3, 2025
Annualizing Prediction Market Revenue Misleads: It's Not Recurring
You can just annualize anything these days, you guys… The latest “ARR” crime I’m seeing is in the prediction markets. When talking about the break neck growth of platforms like @Kalshi and @Polymarket , which let you “bet” on anything,...
By CJ Gustafson
News•Dec 3, 2025
Aether Biomachines Raises $15M in Funding
Aether Biomachines, a San Francisco‑based synthetic‑biology startup, announced a $15 million financing round led by Tribe Capital. The round also attracted new and existing backers such as Natural Capital, Henkel, Resilience Reserve, Shrug Capital, 4DX Ventures, Unless Partners and Radicle Impact,...
By FinSMEs
Social•Dec 3, 2025
Apply Now: 2026 NextGen AI Fellowship for Student Founders
We are in the midst of one of the most exciting moments in history and the next generation of AI founders are just getting started. Today, we're opening applications for Notable Capital ’s 2026 NextGen AI Fellowship, an 8-week summer...
By Hans Tung
Social•Dec 3, 2025
Cheap Frontier Models Challenge Trillion-Dollar Compute Race
While OpenAI signed $1.15 trillion in compute contracts through 2035, DeepSeek trained a frontier model for $6 million. This was 2025’s central question : are we building on bedrock or quicksand? The top 10 posts of 2025 examined some of these...
By Tomasz Tunguz
News•Dec 3, 2025
Carbonova Raises C$5.1M in Equity Financing
Carbonova, a Calgary cleantech firm that transforms greenhouse emissions into carbon nanofibers, announced a C$5.1 million equity financing round. The capital follows a C$4.38 million grant from Emissions Reduction Alberta. The funds will be used to build the company’s first commercial demonstration...
By FinSMEs
Social•Dec 3, 2025
Founder Shares Bank Selection Insight for Leap Recap
We're grateful for founders like Patrick Fingles who rival us in the amount of energy they bring to a transaction. Special thanks, Patrick, for sharing your firsthand account of selecting a bank to represent you and the executive team at...
By Michael Lyon
Social•Dec 3, 2025
Choosing Ethical AI Quests with Trae Stephens
This week on Uncapped I had Trae Stephens , partner at Founders Fund and co-founder of Anduril. We talked about choosing good quests in the AI era, ethics in tech, Anduril and the future of warfare, how Founders Fund operates,...
By Jack Altman
Blog•Dec 3, 2025
Top 10 Posts of 2025
The 2025 "Top 10 Posts" roundup highlights a paradox in AI: OpenAI pledged $1.15 trillion in compute contracts through 2035 while DeepSeek demonstrated a 90%+ drop in training costs with its V3 and R1 models. Nvidia’s $110 billion vendor‑financing scheme dwarfs the...
By Tomasz Tunguz
Social•Dec 3, 2025
Selling to Startups Beats Investor‑Favored Big‑Company Deals
A startup told me that one of their investors didn't like it that they were selling to newly founded startups, and wanted them to sell to bigger companies, who have more money. If investors tell you this, write them off...
By Paul Graham
Social•Dec 3, 2025
Money only Threatens You when It Buys All Ads
Don't fear competitors who've raised a lot, unless you can say precisely how all that extra money is going to make them beat you. E.g. if ads are the only way to acquire users, and they can buy all the...
By Paul Graham
News•Dec 2, 2025
SelectFI Inks New Financing Round
SelectFI, an automotive AI firm that streamlines dealership financing, announced a new funding round led by StartFast Ventures. The capital infusion brings together a mix of venture firms, university partners, and seasoned automotive investors. SelectFI’s platform uses predictive intelligence to...
By VC News Daily
Social•Dec 3, 2025
Voice Interfaces Replace Keyboards for All Users
A few months ago, I wrote about being voicepilled after experiencing the magic of AI-powered voice-to-text. Today, I sit down with @WisprFlow Founder @tankots to ask the question: “What if we could get rid of keyboards?" Tanay is ushering in...
By Reid Hoffman
Social•Dec 3, 2025
From Founder to CEO: AI Reset Drives Amplitude’s Revival
.@SpenserSkates has spent more than a decade building Amplitude from a YC startup into a public company, and in that time, he's had to reinvent himself just as much as the product. Joining the @LightconePod, he talks through the shift from...
By YCombinator
News•Dec 2, 2025
Ripple Foods Nabs $17M Funding Round
Ripple Foods announced a $17 million financing round led by new investors Material Impact and Rich Products Ventures, alongside existing backers. The capital will be used to scale its pea‑protein based, high‑protein, allergen‑free plant milks and expand distribution. Ripple, a certified...
By VC News Daily
Social•Dec 3, 2025
Respect Entrepreneurs' Time: Plan, Punctuality Essential
@bhorowitz: ...bldg a co is xtremely hard & culturally, we want to have the ultimate respect...we don't want to waste any entrepreneur's time & so that's your most important thing... every time I have to like go to the meeting,...
By Ben Horowitz
Social•Dec 3, 2025
Founder Credit Card Points: Integrity Test or Fraud?
Is using company credit card points for personal travel a perk of the job? Or is it FRAUD?! A lot of founders see spending the points accrued from a company card on a personal vacay as essentially innocent, a way...
By Jason Calacanis
Podcast•Dec 2, 2025•1h 4m
He Launched a Tiny Ice Cream Factory, Now It’s a National Brand Ft. Alec Jaffe
In this episode, Mike Gelb talks with Alec Jaffe, founder and CEO of Alec’s Ice Cream, about creating a premium, gut‑friendly ice cream brand using A2 dairy and regenerative farming. Alec explains how he built a supply chain with family...
By The Consumer VC
Social•Dec 3, 2025
Success Doesn't Require 80-Hour Weeks, Balance Wins
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...
By Elizabeth Yin
Social•Dec 3, 2025
Investing in Unlimited: Backing a Powerful Team
Stoked to announce our investment in Unlimited. Alex and Tara and team are a force. Watch this space.
By Erik Torenberg
Podcast•Dec 2, 2025•34 min
VC10X - Why Fundraising Is Now a Numbers Game (And How to Win) - Braughm Ricke, Founder, Aduro Advisors
In this episode, Braughm Ricke of Aduro Advisors explains how venture capital fundraising has shifted from relationship‑driven to a volume‑based numbers game, driven by data from over 650 firms managing $131 B+. He highlights the growing polarization between well‑capitalized “haves” and...
By VC10X
Social•Dec 3, 2025
Prioritize Startups Now; Future Cohorts Secure Growth
As long as all newly founded startups prefer your product, don't worry about competitors who can convince larger customers. You'll own all future cohorts of companies, and that's more than enough. Plus in practice you'll eventually convert the old cohorts...
By Paul Graham
Social•Dec 3, 2025
Describe Startups with Verbs, Not Nouns, for Clarity
When describing a startup it's usually better to use verbs rather than nouns. Say what you do rather than what you are. Not because it sounds more dynamic, but simply because it's clearer.
By Paul Graham
Social•Dec 3, 2025
Remember Past Peaks to Fuel Future Leadership
As the CEO, it can be easy to stress about the next mountain to climb. Take a look back every now and then to remind yourself (and your team) about all the mountains you've already climbed.
By Elizabeth Yin
Social•Dec 3, 2025
Startup Rebounds: From Stalled Growth to Resurgence
A year of smoothly exponential growth, and then suddenly it stops working. That has to be demoralizing. But the startup toughs it out, and five months later growth is back. https://t.co/tQM44KNJXY
By Paul Graham
Social•Dec 3, 2025
David Meline Joins Lux Board, Brings Global CFO Expertise
Absolutely stoked to announce that David Meline has joined us on the Board of Lux family co @EikonTX David was: CFO Moderna CFO Amgen (2014-2020) CFO 3M (2011-2014) CFO GM (on 5 continents) and serves on the Board of HP, ABB, Lonza Group + the...
By Josh Wolfe
Social•Dec 3, 2025
Build Apps on Your Phone with Simple Prompts
We seeded a company literally called @vibecodeapp - a mobile-first way to build apps with simple text prompts, on iOS or Android. Access to creating software on your phone is about to look nothing like what my generation learned. The shift...
By Alexis Ohanian
Social•Dec 3, 2025
Fast Experimentation Signals High-Performing Teams
How quick a team experiments is a good indicator of team quality.
By Elizabeth Yin
Social•Dec 2, 2025
Never Ignore Random Big‑co Acquisition Calls—There’s Strategic Value
So one of the weirdest calls you'll get as a founder is when a BigCo out of the blue wants to talk about acquiring you. Literally out of nowhere. Now, sometimes it's for real. Sometimes, it's the start of something. But if...
By Jason Lemkin
Social•Dec 2, 2025
Record Year: 9 New Investments, LP Liquidity, Two Funds
While we at Version One Ventures have been around for 13+ years, 2025 was definitely one of the most fun: 9 new companies (8 of which have hardware!), liquidity for LPs, and 2 new funds 👀 to back even more...
By Angela Tran Kingyens
Social•Dec 2, 2025
Kid's South Park Arbitrage Exposed Legal Gap, Birthed Billion‑dollar Market
The biggest prediction market in America just raised a billion dollars. The real story didn’t start in a boardroom. It started with a kid in New York arbitraging a 28-second delay in a South Park episode. That moment exposed something...
By Hiten Shah
Social•Dec 2, 2025
Finite Markets Burn Quickly: Beware Exhausting Your Leads
I was talking with a CFO last week who had what most GTM leaders would kill for: a perfectly defined market. Their company sells software to independent financial advisors. Not the ones at Merrill or Goldman... the 76,000 registered with...
By CJ Gustafson
Social•Dec 2, 2025
Vista Point Advisors Launches New NYC Office
I’m excited to share that Vista Point Advisors is opening a new office right in the heart of New York City! This is a big step for us as we keep growing and getting closer to the amazing founders, investors,...
By Michael Lyon
Social•Dec 2, 2025
Excited Launch: Dive Into Wealthfront Investing Platform
BOOM let's go Wealthfront https://lnkd.in/gF5iacam
By Hunter Walk
Social•Dec 2, 2025
Nova AI Automates Hiring From Calls to Coding Interviews
Nova from @peopleboxai is a human-like AI that makes sourcing calls, screens resumes, conducts two-way video interviews, and runs live coding rounds in a single automated workflow. https://t.co/0z8WkpN7qX https://t.co/onTGhWMmAZ
By YCombinator
Social•Dec 2, 2025
Growth Depends on Uncontrollable Calendar Time, Not Just Action
There's 2 types of time in startups: 1) time to do something (you control that) and 2) Calendar time - the time required for a customer to buy and be successful. You can't control the latter, and this is a...
By Elizabeth Yin
Social•Dec 2, 2025
Bootstrapped SaaS Sold for $1.25M in 65 Days
We just helped a founder exit for $1,250,000 on @acquiredotcom. Business was a bootstrapped SaaS. Multiple 4.7x profit. Took about 65 days from listing to close. Another life changing outcome. https://t.co/z3cU78jzi5
By Andrew Gazdecki
Social•Dec 2, 2025
Prep, Docs, Communication Accelerate M&A Deals
Another awesome @acquiredotcom webinar tomorrow. We'll be showing buyers and sellers how preparation, documentation, and clear communication make deals move faster. Register here (you'll get the recording): https://t.co/9GxFHTo3dz https://t.co/tAD5US18j5
By Andrew Gazdecki
Social•Dec 2, 2025
Reid Hoffman Confirms He's Ruling
"You're ruling out a bubble bursting?" @reidhoffman: "Yes" https://t.co/LfVBBbZfsf
By Eric Newcomer
Social•Dec 2, 2025
Excited to Lead $300M Round for Standout Infra Company
This is the most interesting infra company I have met in a long time Exciting to be leading their $300M round via Elad Gil & Co https://t.co/MQuO3ksdrk
By Elad Gil
Social•Dec 2, 2025
AirGarage Seeks Head of Finance for Series B Growth
Any Heads of Finance looking for a new role? AirGarage, Series B stage portfolio co building a big business in an overlooked market, is looking. DM the CEO, @jonathonbarkl, if that's you. :)
By Ryan Hoover
Social•Dec 2, 2025
Ignoring Low Standards Creates a New Normal
"If you see something below the standard, and don't correct it, you've set a new standard." ht: @bhorowitz
By Ben Horowitz
Social•Dec 2, 2025
Prediction Markets Go Mainstream with Kalshi’s New Asset Class
From fringe to mainstream, prediction markets are now part of everyday culture. @Kalshi has created a new asset class and fundamentally changed how people engage with future events. Congrats to @mansourtarek_, @luanalopeslara & team. @Sequoia is proud to be on your...
By Sequoia Capital
Social•Dec 2, 2025
Avoid Nonprofits for AI Products: Simplify Legal Structures
another reminder folks - plz don’t start a non-profit if you want to build ai products, it literally makes no sense, you will have to do the awks conversion or spin out a newco don’t invent complicated legal structures that add...
By Nathan Benaich
Social•Dec 2, 2025
VCs Inflate Ownership Stakes with Optimistic Rounding
When a VC tells me they own 10% It's usually like 6%-7% It's the VC version of optimistically rounding up
By Jason Lemkin
Social•Dec 2, 2025
Custom Weekend Code Will Outpace Pricey SaaS
Zoho’s business would be first to be competed away by people building their own custom software built by people using @Replit @emergentlabs and @Taskade Why pay $30/seat/month for over bundled SaaS when soon even nontech ops ppl can vibe-code a...
By Garry Tan
Social•Dec 2, 2025
Software Will Be Free; Value Moves to Scarce Hardware
One-to-many software companies might not exist in 3 to 5 years. Software production is en route to becoming abundant and free. When one component of production becomes abundant and cheap, value accrues to what remains scarce scarce and difficult (e.g. those...
By Seth Bannon
Social•Dec 1, 2025
Airport Lounge Club Could Tap $500M Market
Huge opportunity for someone to create a membership club like SOHO house for airports There are 100,000 people who would pay $5,000 a year — $500m — in the USA to have lounges at the top 100 airports I guess...
By Jason Calacanis