Another week, another pulse check on venture.
From top insights and reports to new funds, VC jobs, resources, and the hottest deals, here’s everything you need to stay ahead.
Let’s dive in 👇
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In-Depth Insights 🔍
The 100-Hour AI Hustle in Silicon Valley ⏰
Engineers at top AI labs are pushing past human limits to ship smarter, faster products. The new status symbol in tech is endurance and output, not perks or balance. [WSJ]Elon’s Grokipedia Shakes Up the Knowledge Game ⚡
Elon Musk launched Grokipedia ahead of schedule, rewarding early backers and surprising critics. The new knowledge platform is already challenging Wikipedia’s two-decade reign. [Polymarket]
1000 Angels Powering the Next Wave of Global Innovation 💸
A new generation of angels is funding startups from idea to scale across every major hub. Their capital and conviction are fueling the next decade of global venture creation. [VCArchive]
The Ultimate ChatGPT Setup Guide (2025) 🤖
Configure GPT-5 in minutes using three expert prompts that lock in tone, accuracy, and depth. It is the playbook for anyone using ChatGPT to think, write, or build at speed. [Kamil Banc]
Inside Synthesia: The Startup That Said No to $3B (sharing their deck)🚨
Synthesia rejected takeover offers from Adobe and Meta to stay independent and grow on its own terms. After 100 rejections and a $180M raise, conviction became its greatest asset. [Ruben Dominguez, @guiller ]The Multiplier Effect: How One Founder Can Spark an Entire Ecosystem 🌍
When successful founders reinvest time and capital into others, ecosystems ignite. From Careem to Mercado Libre, one breakout can inspire hundreds of new ventures. [endeavor]AI Backfills Are Quietly Reshaping the Tech Workforce 🤖
Companies are replacing roles through attrition, not layoffs. As people leave, AI agents fill gaps with 70 to 80 percent of human output at a fraction of the cost. [SaaStr]Sequoia’s $10 Trillion AI Revolution 💰
Sequoia views AI as the next industrial revolution built on cognition instead of machinery. The firm predicts this decade will mint the largest fortunes in modern history. [Guillermo Flor]
The Great Startup Concentration of 2025 📊
Funding, talent, and attention are clustering around fewer companies than ever. AI and Bay Area startups dominate the flow while smaller markets struggle to stay visible. [Peter Walker]
Tools 🧰
Attio: the CRM built for startups and VCs (like me). Try it for FREE here
Harmonic: the AI agent made for VCs, then finds the startups that best fit your thesis and ranks them by relevance
live demo to learn how startups use Vanta’s Vendor Risk Management
Notion: work faster with your AI team
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build you website with Framer and their FREE full year Launch Plan
Carta - discover how VCs evaluate funds in their Q2 2025 VC Fund Performance Report
Kalshi - Prediction Market for Trading the Future
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Interesting Reports 📊
The State of Impact 2025: Growth Meets a Turning Point 🌱
Impact investing has grown into a $3.6T market, but funding momentum is slowing. Climate tech leads while social and circular innovations risk being left behind as capital flows toward resilience and AI-driven solutions.
Are Enterprises Really Ready for AI? 🤖
Enterprise AI demand is rising, but skepticism remains high. The companies that succeed will solve actual operational pain instead of selling flashy AI solutions.
Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2025 Unveils Shifting Power Centers 📈
GSER 2025 tracks 5 million companies across 350+ ecosystems. London falls to #3, Boston returns to the Top 5, and hubs in Paris, Hong Kong, Bengaluru, and China are surging, signaling a realignment of global innovation.
RIP SEO: The GEO Playbook for 2025
We’re entering the next revolution in organic traffic and almost nobody is ready for it
Recently Launched Funds 💸
The T1D Fund, launching a new raise to fast-track investments in Type 1 diabetes therapies.
Emerald Global Water Fund II, securing €60M first close to back water sustainability tech.
Insight Partners, planning a fresh investment in 3Ventures Group to deepen tech growth bets.
Sequoia, rolling out $950M in new venture and seed funds to fuel next-gen startups.
Maple Bridge Ventures, closing the first round of its debut fund at CAD $10.2M to support Canadian founders.
Encoded Ventures, debuting to invest in early-stage biotech and genomics innovators.
Novagria Ventures, launched with an initial €5.65M to back startups driving innovation in sustainable agriculture and biotech.
Fundraising?
If you're raising a round,
and I can help. We gather startup fundraising data and share it with our audience of 300k+ investors and startup operators. Fill out this form and we’ll will do our best to connect you with the right investors! 🚀VC Jobs 💼
ERA (New York City, NY): VC Associate (apply here)
Intuit Ventures (Mountain View, CA): Senior VC Principal (apply here)
M13 (San Francisco, CA): VC Analyst (apply here)
Caltech (Los Angeles, CA): Senior VC Associate (apply here)
Curiosity VC (Amsterdam, Netherlands): VC Principal (apply here)
H/L Ventures (Remote): VC Fellowship (apply here)
Amex Ventures (New York City, NY): VC Manager (apply here)
FTV Capital (New York City, NY): IR Associate (apply here)
Unity Growth (Washington, DC): VC Partner (apply here)
Wellington Management (Boston, MA): VC Associate (apply here)
Hottest Deals 💥
Archy, raised $20M in Series B to modernize how dental practices run with smarter, simpler tools. (read more)
Legora, raised $150M in Series C to push enterprise AI beyond the buzzwords. (read more)
Vammo, raised $45M in Series B to expand EV subscriptions and battery-swapping across Brazil. (read more)
Bending Spoons, raised $710M in equity funding to power its next wave of digital innovation. (read more)
Cue Labs, raised over $10M in early funding to ignite AI-driven creativity. (read more)
Wealthsimple, raised CAD $750M at a $10B valuation to cement its place as Canada’s fintech leader. (read more)
iOrganBio, raised $2M to advance lab-grown organ regeneration technology. (read more)
Recess, raised $30M in Series B to grow its functional beverage brand. (read more)
CyberRidge, raised $26M to strengthen its AI-powered cybersecurity platform. (read more)
SweatPals, raised $12M in seed funding to grow its social fitness app. (read more)
ConductorOne, raised $79M in Series B to simplify identity security automation. (read more)
Polygraf AI, closed $9.5M in seed funding to advance its AI truth verification tech. (read more)
Honey Health, raised $7.8M in seed funding to scale digital health tools for women. (read more)
WorkHero, raised $5M in seed funding to build AI productivity tools for remote teams. (read more)
Wild Moose, raised $7M in seed funding to grow its outdoor adventure platform. (read more)
RESOURCES 🛠️
✅ Synthesia’s deck (got them $180M)
✅ FREE AI Fundraising Kit for founders
✅ 129 Startups Fundraising Right Now (And Their DECKS)
✅ RIP SEO: the GEO Playbook for 2025
✅ The Venture Capital Method: How Investors Really Value Startups
✅ IRR vs Return Multiple Explained + Template
✅ The Headcount Planning Module
✅ CLTV vs CAC Ratio Excel Model
✅ 100+ Pitch Decks That Raised Over $2B
✅ VCs Due Diligence Excel Template
✅ SaaS Financial Model
✅ 10k Investors List
✅ Cap Table at Series A & B
✅ The Startup MIS Template: A Excel Dashboard to Track Your Key Metrics
✅ The Go-To Pricing Guide for Early-Stage Founders + Toolkit
✅ DCF Valuation Method Template: A Practical Guide for Founders
✅ How Much Are Your Startup Stock Options Really Worth?
✅ How VCs Value Startups: The VC Method + Excel Template
✅ 2,500+ Angel Investors Backing AI & SaaS Startups
✅ Cap Table Mastery: How to Manage Startup Equity from Seed to Series C
✅ 300+ VCs That Accept Cold Pitches — No Warm Intro Needed
✅ 50 Game-Changing AI Agent Startup Ideas for 2025
✅ 144 Family Offices That Cut Pre-Seed Checks
✅ 89 Best Startup Essays by Top VCs and Founders (Paul Graham, Naval, Altman…)
✅ The Ultimate Startup Data Room Template (VC-Ready & Founder-Proven)
✅ The Startup Founder’s Guide to Financial Modeling (7 templates included)
✅ SAFE Note Dilution: How to Calculate & Protect Your Equity (+ Cap Table Template)
✅ 400+ Seed VCs Backing Startups in the US & Europe
✅ The Best 23 Accelerators Worldwide for Rapid Growth
✅ AI Co-Pilots Every Startup & VC Needs in Their Toolbox