European Women in VC’s Post

Welcome to this week's #FTF focused on mega-funds in the VC world! Capital continues to flow to established fund managers, with Kleiner Perkins' recent $2B raise highlighting the trend. Additionally, Index Ventures, HongShan and Flagship Pioneering have also raised significant funds recently. 🇬🇧&🇺🇸 Index Ventures 𝟭𝟮𝘁𝗵 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱, 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗶𝘇𝗲 $𝟴𝟬𝟬𝗠; 𝟳𝘁𝗵 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱, 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗶𝘇𝗲 $𝟭.𝟱𝗕 Index Ventures has raised $2.3 billion across two new funds to support the next generation of tech startups globally. This includes their twelfth Venture Fund of $800 million for early-stage investments and their seventh Growth Fund of $1.5 billion for late-stage companies. These new funds are strategically sized to meet the current market needs, with a focus on AI, enterprise software, vertical SaaS, and infrastructure security. Raised in just a few weeks from existing LPs, this support reflects Index Ventures' strong relationships and proven track record. Over the past 28 years, Index Ventures has backed 108 unicorns, 23 decacorns, and 57 companies that have gone public, including Wiz, Figma, Revolut, Roblox, Adyen, and Scale AI. The firm remains committed to partnering with exceptional entrepreneurs worldwide, helping them from seed to scale and beyond. 🇨🇳 HongShan 𝗩𝗜𝗜, 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗶𝘇𝗲 $𝟮.𝟱𝗕 Neil Shen’s former China unit of Sequoia Capital, HongShan, has reportdely raised $2.5 billion (18 billion yuan) in its latest fund, making it one of the largest fundraisings by a privately owned VC firm in China over the past year. This significant achievement underscores the firm's dedication to investing in early-stage technology companies in China. This fund reflects the firm's strategic vision of fostering technological advancements and supporting forward-thinking entrepreneurs. Shen has played a pivotal role in some of the most profitable Chinese tech investments, such as ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, DJI a drone manufacturer, and e-commerce giants like Meituan, Alibaba Group, and Pinduoduo. 🇺🇸 Flagship Pioneering 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗩𝗜𝗜𝗜, 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗶𝘇𝗲 $𝟯.𝟰𝗕 Flagship Pioneering, the bioplatform innovation company founded by Noubar Afeyan, announced it has expanded its capital base by $3.6 billion to support the creation and development of an estimated 25 breakthrough companies in human health, sustainability, and artificial intelligence. The firm raised $2.6 billion for Fund VIII, in addition to side funds totaling $1 billion, which will be invested in specific sectors such as diagnostics and therapeutics. Flagship Fund VIII is backed by a diverse group of investors globally, including both new and longstanding Limited Partners. The firm has founded over 100 companies, including Moderna, and has taken over 30 companies public. If you want to stay updated on more fund announcements, sign up for our monthly newsletter here > https://lnkd.in/dUDMPTZx

Index Ventures announces $2.3 billion in new venture and growth funds #IndexVentures has just announced a significant milestone, unveiling $2.3 billion in new funds, which includes an $800 million #VC fund and a $1.5 billion growth fund. This new injection of capital brings the total amount raised by Index since its founding to an impressive $15 billion. Founded nearly three decades ago, Index Ventures has been instrumental in the success of 108 companies that have reached valuations of $1 billion or more, with 23 surpassing $10 billion, and 57 becoming publicly traded. Their portfolio companies, including prominent names like Figma, Revolut, Roblox, Scale AI, and Wiz, have collectively created over 200,000 jobs, with plans to add 20,000 more in the coming year. The firm’s new funds will enable it to continue partnering with transformative startups across the globe. With a strong presence in key innovation hubs from San Francisco to Tel Aviv, and a new office in New York, Index Ventures is well-positioned to support category leaders and emerging startups alike. Shardul Shah, a partner at Index Ventures, highlighted the transformative potential of AI, stating that it will revolutionize virtually every sector of the economy. This new era presents unique opportunities to solve some of the world's most challenging problems, and Index Ventures is excited to partner with entrepreneurs to drive this change. The article on Yahoo Finance in the first comment. Want to stay up to date with the market? Here my newsletter: - Linkedin: https://lnkd.in/d4h8zqKA  - Substack: https://lnkd.in/dzfGJzmW

New York, USA based Thrive Capital ("Thrive") recently closed its ninth flagship fund. 💸 $5 billion Thrive IX features $1 billion designated for early-stage investments and $4 billion designated for growth-stage investments. 💡 Thrive Capital focuses on internet, software and technology-enabled companies.     🌍 Thrive Capital primarily invests in companies based in North America, with a particular focus on regions like New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles 📈 Founded in 2009, the VC has backed over 350+ start-ups incl. OpenAI, Stripe, SKIMS, Airtable, Robinhood, Plaid, Affirm, among others. 💭 “The technological breakthroughs that will occur over the next years will be unlike anything we have ever experienced before.” - Josh Kushner, Thrive Capital founder 🗞️PYMNTS https://lnkd.in/emEDiDhY 👏 For the #AudaciousInvestors unleashing innovation and empowering tomorrow🚀 Joshua I Nitin I Miles I Jared I Vince I Nabil I Jed I Kareem I Kelly I Katie I Ashwin I Rachel I Barbara I Team Thrive Capital … #venturecapital #vc #funds #startups #entrepreneurs #funding #tech #usa #entrepreneurship #technology #innovation #NewYork #venture #fund

Benjamin Sun has invested in some of the best startups of the last 10 years, including Coupang, Jet, Chief, Noom, and others. That track record has made him a multi Midas List awardee and turned Primary Venture Partners into a genuine force in New York's venture ecosystem with its first fund reportedly surpassing 11x in returns. I learned a lot from our conversation -- three particular highlights I'm going to hang on to: 1. "Wait for great." That's a mantra Ben keeps in mind, forcing himself to adhere to a high bar and be super selective when it comes to backing startups. Over the last 12 years, he's only invested in 40 companies -- quite reserved for a seed investor. Of those, *8* have gone on to become unicorns. 2. "Your margin is my opportunity." That's a quote from Jeff Bezos. It's also how Ben thinks about venture management fees. While other firms may take a profit from their fees, Primary invests its fees into building a large platform team designed to assist its portfolio. 3. “If they’re passing a plate of cookies around, take one.” Ben got that advice from an investor during the dot-com boom. It prepared him for the hype cycle of 2021/22. When prices were sky high in venture, Primary used the opportunity to sell some secondary stakes and lock in profits. To learn more about Ben and Primary's successful investing approach, jump in:

Toronto, Canada based Radical Ventures recently raised its later-stage fund. 💸 US$800-million, with LP backing from Eric Schmidt’s family office, CPP Investments, TD Bank, PSP Investments, notable individual investors such as Fei-Fei Li, and Geoffrey Hinton, and others. 💡 Focused on later-stage #machinelearning and #artificialintelligence startups run by exceptional entrepreneurs with global ambition to build enduring companies. The VCs investments span multiple sectors including #healthcare, #finance, #infrastructure, #semiconductors, #manufacturing, among others. 🌍 #NorthAmerica 📈 Launched in 2017, Radical Ventures has backed AI start-ups including Cohere, Waabi, Untether AI, Xanadu, among others. 💭 “This new fund complements our early stage funds and enables us to partner with existing portfolio companies and new founders as they transform industries and build global businesses. We are fueling the next chapter of growth for scaling AI companies.” - Aaron Brindle, Radical Ventures partner 🗞️BetaKit https://lnkd.in/dRZtJhtZ 👏 For the #AudaciousInvestors unleashing innovation and empowering tomorrow🚀 Jordan I Tomi I Aaron I Aaron I Richa I Molly I Kristin I David I Rob I Salim I Sanjana I Ryan I Daniel I Blair I Team Radical Ventures …   #venturecapital #vc #funds #startups #entrepreneurs #funding #tech #ai #entrepreneurship #technology #innovation #canada #toronto #venture

Exciting news from the heart of Europe: Full Speed Ventures launches a €50M Fund #FullSpeed Ventures, a #VC based in Luxembourg, has just unveiled its latest endeavor—a robust €50M fund dedicated to propelling early-stage technology companies to new heights. Founded by tech visionaries Wojciech Fedorowicz and Daniel Star Ⓥ, Full Speed Ventures is on a mission to back bold tech entrepreneurs ready to dominate their sectors. What sets Full Speed Ventures apart is the substantial new fund but its distinctive approach to investment. With a focus on making a select number of meaningful investments, Full Speed Ventures commits to being more than just a financier; it aims to be an integral part of its portfolio companies' journeys. This execution-focused support ranges from strategic guidance to practical, hands-on assistance, ensuring that startups not only survive but thrive. This second technology fund is specifically targeted at early-stage companies that have begun generating initial revenues and are poised for sectoral conquest. Full Speed Ventures is looking for companies where it can make a significant impact, investing anywhere from €1M to €4M as a first ticket and maintaining substantial reserves for ongoing support. Having invested in a variety of sectors including cybersecurity, medtech, AI, and consumer tech, Full Speed Ventures has a proven track record of identifying and nurturing high-potential startups. Some of these investments have even achieved the coveted unicorn status, marking them as companies valued at over $1 billion. This new fund highlights Luxembourg's emerging role as a tech hub and represents a significant opportunity for tech startups across Europe and beyond. Full Speed Ventures' commitment to deep, meaningful engagement with its portfolio companies could set a new standard for venture capital, emphasizing quality and strategic growth over mere financial transactions. The article on Silicon Canals - European Technology News in the first comment. Want to stay up to date with the market? Here my newsletter: - Linkedin: https://t.ly/s541W   - Substack: https://lnkd.in/dzfGJzmW

Pittsburgh, US-based venture firm, Black Tech Nation Ventures recently closed their inaugural fund. 💸 $50M fund backed by a range of blue-chip LPs including Alphabet Inc., First National Bank (FNB Corp), Mark Cuban, First Close Partners, and Bank of America.   💡'#Seed and #preseed stage with cheque sizes in the $250k to $1M range into software companies across sectors including #fintech, #edtech, #healthtech, #climatetech, and #artificialintelligence (#AI) and #machinelearning (#ML). BTN.vc expects to back 20-30 companies led by founders from diverse backgrounds (Black, Latinx, female, indigenous etc entrepreneurs) that have historically been overlooked by venture funding.' 🌍 #USA 📈’The firm has already invested in 10 companies including BrightUp, Hive Wealth, Kloopify, EMTECH, Goodfynd, The Folklore, amongst others. 💭 “We are committed to providing intellectual as well as financial capital to help our founders navigate growing a successful company and opening up opportunities for future venture capitalists who are Black or diverse to participate in the industry." - David Motley, General Partners Black Tech Nation Ventures 🗞️By Opalesque https://lnkd.in/eJiT_R85 👏 For the #AudaciousInvestors unleashing innovation and empowering tomorrow🚀 Kelauni Jasmyn I Sean Sebastian I Maria Ferguson I Ehab H. Elhag I Don Charlton I Hensley S. I Katelyn P. I Taj Ahmad Eldridge I Jeremiah Gordon I Team Black Tech Nation Ventures … #venturecapital #vc #funds #startups #entrepreneurs #funding #tech #usa #entrepreneurship #technology #innovation #fund #america #venture

💼 Pender Ventures Closes $100M Fund to Fuel Canadian Tech Growth 💼 Pender Ventures has announced the final close of its Technology Inflection Fund II LP at over $100 million, with significant support from Alberta Enterprise Corporation (AEC). The fund is set to drive growth for scalable Canadian tech companies, focusing on health tech and B2B sectors. “We’re thrilled to welcome AEC as a valued partner,” shared Maria Pacella, Managing Partner at Pender Ventures. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to empowering Canadian entrepreneurs and strengthening the national tech ecosystem. AEC’s backing aligns with Alberta’s emphasis on health and life sciences, sectors crucial for the province’s innovation landscape. Additional support from Canadian investors, including the Export Development Canada | Exportation et développement Canada, BDC Capital, and CIBC, underscores the national support behind Pender’s mission. With this fund, Pender Ventures is poised to empower transformative companies across Canada, driving impactful growth in technology and healthcare.

The State of Private Capital In 2024 -- Nice report on the Southeast by BIP Ventures -- thank you Mark Buffington & Mark Flickinger. Hypepotamus summarized the report around these seven points : 1. There is a supply-demand imbalance for startups, with the venture-growth ratio hitting its highest level in the last decade. 2. There is an estimated $300 billion of dry powder sitting on the sidelines. 3. In the fiscal year 2023, investors deployed $11.6 billion into Southeast startups over 2,184 deals. 4. Georgia startups received 15% of that total capital ($1.7 billion). 5. In the Southeast, SaaS is still king. 6. Funding into software startups dramatically outpaced other sectors. 7. Early 2024 VC activity is on pace with what we saw in 2023, but still trails behind the highs we say in 2020-2022. But investing remains tricky in 2024, as the average deal size gets bigger and inflation rates remain high. https://lnkd.in/e_TAJ87T The tech IPO market is showing signs of thawing, but valuations remain high. The venture market is described as “peak investor friendly,” as alternative investments are expected to increase from eleven percent to twenty percent of consumer household investable assets.

People, please try to think. We complain that the economy is not doing well. Okay, anyone can do that. But does everyone have the courage to manage independently in the sense of a startup company? We need to try to help ourselves and recognize the potential of many startups. If we as consumers don't give them a chance, then we shouldn't complain. Take a look around here and try to act more as an investor by possibly contributing with financial means. https://lnkd.in/eq5WqWM6 Companisto