Archive: venture capitalists
Page:
Startup Insider: How to Evaluate AI Companies
By Early Investing on March 29, 2023
The markets are experiencing an artificial intelligence (AI) gold rush. There are at least 50 AI companies being incubated at Y Combinator. And new AI startups keep cropping up with bigger and bigger valuations. AI company Cohere is reportedly looking to raise money at a $6 billion-plus valuation. Stability AI is reportedly seeking a $4 billion valuation. Mobius AI — founded by four AI researchers from Google — reached a roughly $100 million valuation just one…
Angel Insider: Generative AI Without the Hype
By Early Investing on February 7, 2023
If you’ve been perusing the internet lately, you’ve probably come across generative artificial intelligence (AI). Generative AI technology can “create” artwork, blogs, and other content by drawing from data it ingests from interactions with real users. From viral “magic avatars” on…
FTX and the Crypto Regulations Still to Come
By Vin Narayanan on November 21, 2022
It’s been a crazy couple of weeks in the crypto market as it tries to sort through the fallout of crypto exchange FTX filing for bankruptcy. For a more detailed account of how it happened, please read this update I wrote…
Why Competition Is Critical for Startup Investors
By Vin Narayanan on September 7, 2022
I had a chance to play poker with some founders a few weeks ago at LA Tech Week. I mostly kept my mouth shut at the table. Between the game and flowing drinks, the founders were in a chatty mood. And I didn’t want to interrupt the flow.
What You Can Learn From the Investor Community
By Vin Narayanan on August 16, 2022
As you read this, I’m probably attending an LA Tech Week event. Tech weeks have become increasingly popular over the past few years. They’re like an industry conference on steroids. Tech weeks are designed to bring a community’s tech industry together…
Now Is the Best Time to Be a Startup Investor
By Vin Narayanan on April 13, 2022
Andy Gordon and I recommend a startup for our First Stage Investor members to invest in every two weeks (click here to sign up). When Andy and I first started working on startups together in 2018, we couldn’t do…
Take Advantage of the Golden Age of Medtech Investing
By Vin Narayanan on February 8, 2022
A basic market inefficiency has created a massive opportunity for startup investors interested in medical technology and drug development startups. And angel investors savvy enough to understand what’s going on have a rare opportunity to invest in medtech startups with massive upside that have been significantly…
The Real Reason VCs Are Investing So Much In Startups
By Vin Narayanan on January 25, 2022
Last month, I flew out to Seattle for an event to meet up with angel investors, venture capitalists and some of the largest players in wealth management and private equity. The people in the room represented firms that had more than $10 trillion in assets under management combined.
Startup Valuations Remain High, But There Are Exceptions
By Adam Sharp on January 18, 2022
I had hoped that the dramatic startup valuation increases in seed and Series A rounds would start slowing late last year. Unfortunately I haven’t seen much evidence of that so far. I’d guess that seed stage startup valuations are still up around 2.5x since I started…
Crypto Startups Keep Attracting Massive Investments
By Adam Sharp on December 21, 2021
NYDIG is a startup that specializes in solutions for institutional bitcoin investors. And it recently raised a whopping $1 billion at a $7 billion valuation. Here’s an excerpt from CoinDesk’s reporting: NYDIG said Tuesday it raised…
Startup Insider: Filling the Biopharma Funding Gap
By Early Investing on July 12, 2021
There’s a funding gap in medical research known as the “valley of death.” When research begins, it’s funded by government grants and nonprofits. But drug research and development is very time-intensive. It typically takes around 10 years to bring a drug to market — and nine…
Startup Insider: Crowdfunders Poised to Beat VCs
By Early Investing on January 4, 2021
2021 is here and the startup investing landscape is changing! This year, the limit on how much a startup can raise through crowdfunding increases from $1.07 million to $5 million. That’s great news for investors like us. And venture capitalists (VCs) don’t know…
Beware Hot Tech Stocks
By Adam Sharp on December 11, 2020
As you might have heard, Airbnb had its long-awaited IPO (initial public offering) yesterday. Like a lot of hot public offerings this year, it was pure insanity. Airbnb’s IPO shares were initially priced at $68 — so that’s the price that a small group of well-connected…
The Biggest Change to Venture Capital Since Crowdfunding
By Adam Sharp on December 4, 2020
Note: In May, I wrote an article titled “The New Work From Home Economy.” Then in August, I wrote a piece called “Tech Companies Flee California (Finally).” I recommend reading those first if you haven’t.
Startup Insider: The Need for Equal Access
By Early Investing on November 9, 2020
We’re entering a new era in startup investing. Starting next year, startups will be able to raise $5 million from investors like you and me (instead of $1.07 million). That means we’re going to see even more high quality startups to invest in. But the new…
Silver Linings
By Adam Sharp on March 31, 2020
There’s not much to like about this situation, but there are a few silver linings. Namely, the fact that we’re likely to see some very impressive deal flow over the next year...