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☆ How Shruti Gandhi, a solo venture capitalist with 15 exits in 5 years, went from underestimated to unstoppable
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Melia Russell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Shruti Gandhi has a simple rule for meeting founders: She only takes the meeting if she wants to invest. Being the solo general partner of her firm, the early-stage outfit Array Ventures, also means she can get deals done quickly. Over the past five years, she's returned most of her maiden $7 million fund to limited partners at a net multiple of almost four. For founders, by foundersThe founders Gandhi has backed like working with her because of her technical chops and hands-on approach. We will back you if you raise a fund,'" Gandhi said.

Persons: Shruti Gandhi, Gandhi, Nikhil Teja Kolli, Kolli, she's, wasn't, Dumbledore, Harry Potter, Champ Bennett, Zimperium's Zuk Avraham, Mehul Nariyawala, Google —, Doktor Gurson, Gurson Organizations: Ventures, Business, PayPal, IBM, Columbia University, True Ventures, Samsung, Google, University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Rad Locations: India, Poughkeepsie , New York, She's

Brown’s agreement will let students make their case and then have the Brown Corporation, the university’s governing body, vote on the matter in October. But Dr. Paxson’s initial offer did not include bringing a divestment proposal to a vote. That came after two university negotiators and six students involved with the Brown Divest Coalition, one of the groups behind the movement, reached a deal on Tuesday, the university and several students said. The agreement immediately gave the university control of its facilities in time to allow students to finish classes and hold in-person graduation ceremonies and an alumni reunion this month. One donor, an investor who has made sizable contributions to the university and describes himself as a supporter of Israel, said members of the administration had assured him that Brown wouldn’t ultimately divest from Israel.

Persons: William A, Marc Rowan, Christina H, Paxson, Brown, Brown wouldn’t Organizations: Wall Street titans, Democratic Party, Republican, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, Brown Corporation, Coalition Locations: Israel, Gaza

☆ What is divestment? And does it work?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

From Princeton University in New Jersey to the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, the same chant can be heard: “Disclose! The specifics of student protesters’ divestment demands vary in scope from school to school. Other students, like those at Cornell University and Yale, are asking their schools to stop investing in weapons manufacturers. Other common threads include demanding universities disclose their investments, sever academic ties with Israeli universities and support a ceasefire in Gaza. Proponents for divestment counter that its value lies in raising awareness and stigmatizing partnerships with targeted regimes or industries.

Persons: “, ” Israel, Witold Henisz, Henisz, ”, Nicholas Dirks, ” Dirks, Dirks, “ They’ll, Anna Cooban, Michelle Bowman, Eli Lilly, Estee Lauder, Jerome Powell Organizations: New, New York CNN, Palestinian, Princeton University, University of Southern, Columbia University Apartheid, Columbia, Cornell University and Yale, Research, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, CNN, University of California, Columbia’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Dallas Fed, Samsung, AMD, Starbucks, Benz Group, Volkswagen, PayPal, adidas, Diamondback Energy, Restaurant Brands, Pinterest, Caesars Entertainment, PMI, Conference Board, Mastercard, Qualcomm, Pfizer, Marriott, eBay, US Commerce Department, Apple, Novo Nordisk, Shell, ConocoPhillips, Cigna, Universal Music Group, Hershey, US Labor Department Locations: New York, New Jersey, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Columbia, Palestine, Israel, Gaza, South Africa, Berkeley, United States, Europe, DoorDash

☆ More Gen Zers could ditch college this fall — and some schools are worried they might never fully recover
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A college enrollment crisis is likely coming this fall. It's a result of complications with the FAFSA form, along with a lower supply of high school seniors. There's also a limited supply of high school seniors right now due to lower birth rates during the Great Recession. But the immediate enrollment shock will likely come this fall — and both students and colleges will feel the impact. AdvertisementAre you a recent high school graduate not going to college?

Persons: It's, —, aren't, Katharine Meyer, Gen Zers, MorraLee Keller, Keller, There's, Meyer, They're, they're, there's, Hodges University —, Zers Organizations: Service, Brown Center, Education, Brookings Institution, National Center for Education Statistics, Federal Student Aid, Education Department, National College, Hodges University Locations: Florida, New York, Texas

☆ What the pro-Palestinian protesters on college campuses actually want
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Matt Egan | Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

“We are not going anywhere until our demands are met,” Khymani James, a student at Columbia University, said during a news briefing Wednesday. Student demonstrators occupy the pro-Palestinian "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" on the West Lawn of Columbia University on April 24, 2024 in New York City. The Columbia protesters are also calling for the university to “disclose and sever all ties” with the New York Police Department. For example, Columbia protesters want the university to sever ties with the school’s center in Tel Aviv and a dual degree program with Tel Aviv University. New York University protesters use the school’s Tel Aviv center as a rallying cry as well.

Persons: ” Khymani James, Michael M, “, Mike Johnson, Charlie Eaton, ”, It’s, Mark Yudof, it’s, ” Yudof, Yudof, he’s, Jonathan Macey, Macey, ” Lauren Post, don’t, Cary Krosinsky, Lockheed Martin, Basil Rodriguez, Rodriguez, ” Rodriguez, John Towfighi Organizations: New, New York CNN — College, Hamas, Universities, Columbia University, Student, Lawn of Columbia University, Getty, University of Southern, ”, Princeton University, Ivy League, Columbia University Apartheid, Columbia, New York Police Department, Students, Tel Aviv University . New York University, Republican, University of California, “ Bankers, Yale Law School, Defamation League, Post, ADL, Yudof, BDS, Universities don’t, Yale, Lockheed, Raytheon, CNN Locations: New York, America, Israel, Gaza, Palestinian, New York City, University of Southern California, Harlem, Columbia, Tel Aviv, South Africa, Merced, Ivory, Iran, Russia

☆ Investing in sports teams is trendy now — but is it headed toward bubble territory? New research provides a playbook.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Tiara White | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The simmering topic has been up for debate, in part because prices for NFL teams have risen so high that they threaten to restrict who can be a lead owner. This raises the question: Are investments in sports teams actually a good investment, especially for risk-averse investors like pensions and endowments? According to new research published in Investments & Wealth Publications in November, the answer is a resounding yes. For the article, he teamed up with his father, Arun Muralidhar, the chairman and founder of Mcube Investment Technologies, which develops decision-support products for institutional investment managers. "They themselves are investing globally to make sure that their brand is increasing, and they found great success with that."

Persons: —, Sid Muralidhar, Muralidhar, Risktyle, Arun Muralidhar, Sachin Muralidhar, Sachin, Arun, Sid Muralidhar Sid Muralidhar, homed, it's Organizations: Service, NFL, Dallas Cowboys, Forbes, Business, Investments, Wealth, NHL, Citigroup, Mcube Investment Technologies, The University of Virginia, National Hockey League, NBA, MLB, BI

Ten nonprofits serving young people in Detroit will get an unusual, lasting gift as part of a campaign started by Lisa Ford and her husband, Bill Ford, the executive chairman of Ford Motor Co. Endowments are funds a nonprofit can invest and the annual financial returns from those investments can go into the nonprofit’s budget. Detroit-area nonprofits may apply in June, when Michigan Central Station will reopen, and ten selected organizations will each receive $500,000 to launch an endowment. The Children's Foundation will manage the nonprofits’ endowments and offer them guidance and technical support over two years. Lisa Ford said the idea for creating endowments for youth nonprofits evolved out of their commitment to supporting a robust and vibrant future for the city and the automotive industry.

Persons: Lisa Ford, Bill Ford, ’ ”, Andrew Stein, ”, ” Ford, Todd Ely, Ely, ” Ely, Meadow Didier, Stein Organizations: Ford Motor Co, Children’s Foundation, Michigan Central, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Harvard, Foundation, Children’s, Endowments, Internal Revenue Service, University of Colorado, Nonprofit Finance Fund, Children's, Ford, Associated, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: Detroit, Michigan, University of Colorado Denver

Palestinians told CNN the war has crushed hopes of observing a peaceful month of fasting, festivities and worship this year. “Many of our friends and loved ones were buried alive under the rubble,” Mohammed Hamouda, a displaced health worker in Rafah, told CNN. “There are many people who (already) fast like it’s Ramadan,” he told CNN in late February, as the celebrations approached. Palestinians told CNN they resort to eating water-based soup mixed with herbs, custard or finger-sized biscuits because they have no access to nutrient-rich foods. I don’t remember.”Muslims in Gaza told CNN they are determined to perform daily rituals to try and find moments of relief among colossal devastation.

Persons: it’s, ” Aseel, Israel, ” Mohammed Hamouda, ” Rasmi Abu, ”, Mohammed Talatene, Ahmad Hijazi, Al Barakat, reigniting, Hamouda, Belal Khaled, Jihad Abu Watfa, Ali Jadallah, Al Shati, Khader, AbdulQader, ” Ahmed Zaida, hafiz, Said Khatib, Akbar ’ Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Ministry of Health, AFP, Getty, “, Israel Defense Forces, UN, Wafa, Endowments, Religious Affairs, Residents Locations: Deir al, Gaza, Rafah, Gaza City, Territories, Farouq, Junaina, Israeli, Hamad, Israel, Hamouda, Beit Lahia, ”, Anadolu, Sheikh Radwan, “, AFP

☆ Opinion | How to Fix the Crisis of Trust in Higher Education
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Jessica Grose | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Since the beginning of the year, I’ve been keeping track of every report I see about major budget shortfalls at universities. Here’s a sampling:“SUNY Warns of Future $1B Deficit Without Higher Tuition or More Aid” — The Times Union, Jan. 2. “Penn State Plans Nearly $100M in Cuts for FY26 Budget” — Higher Ed Dive, Jan. 24. “As U. of Arizona Confronts Budget Cuts, Workers and Students Brace for the Worst” — The New York Times, Feb. 21. The other is the decline in Americans’ confidence in higher education.

Persons: I’ve, Brace, Sharon Otterman, Josh Moody, Ed Organizations: The Times Union, UConn, Connecticut, “ Penn, Workers, New York Times, Gallup Locations: Arizona, New York

☆ '2024 will be the year of the zombie VC reckoning.' The first wave of dying venture firms is here and it's already causing headaches for tech founders.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Ben Bergman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

AdvertisementUnlike other businesses, venture firms do not suddenly go out of business. Why it is so difficult to spot a dying fundOpenView Venture Partners announced in December it was suspending new investments and laying off staff. With the help of Pitchbook, BI looked through data for hundreds of venture firms. Hinge last raised a $19 million fund in 2021 but has not made an investment since November 2022, according to Pitchbook. Do you know of a venture firm no longer actively investing?

Persons: —, VCs, Anna Barber, they'll, they're, Roy Bahat, Brian Brackeen, they're reallocating, Beezer Clarkson, Clarkson, Jake Saper, Bahat, Jordan Fudge, Zachary White, Carlos Adame, Fudge, We're, Paul Weinstein, Weinstein, Cofounders Ryan Swager, Brandon Zeuner, Louie, Alsop Louie Partners, Partners Gilman Louie, Stewart Alsop, Jason Preston, Partners Tyler Peterson, Mike Morgan, Robert Patterson, DEFTA, George Hara, Martin Gedalin, Kevin Ober, Hone, Ben Bergman Organizations: Service, Business, Bloomberg Beta, Lightship, Sapphire Partners, BI, Sapphire Ventures, Venture Partners, Foundry Group, Sinai Ventures, Sinai Capital Partners, Capital, San, Louie Partners, Partners, Ventures Peninsula Ventures, LinkedIn Locations: Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Mateo , California, Seattle, Alto, bbergman@insider.com

☆ '2024 will be the year of the zombie VC reckoning.' The first wave of walking-dead venture firms is here and it's already causing headaches for tech founders.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Ben Bergman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Unlike other businesses, venture firms do not suddenly go out of business. Limited partners such as pensions and endowments that fund venture firms have been choosier, cutting off capital to firms that have not generated acceptable returns. Why it is so difficult to spot a dying fundOpenView Venture Partners announced in December that it was suspending new investments and laying off staff. In a written statement, he later explained that Sinai Ventures has been rebranded to Sinai Capital Partners. Do you know of a venture firm no longer actively investing?

Persons: VCs, Anna Barber, they'll, they're, Roy Bahat, Brian Brackeen, Brackeen, they're reallocating, Beezer Clarkson, Clarkson, Jake Saper, Bahat, Jordan Fudge, Zachary White, Carlos Adame —, Fudge, We're, Paul Weinstein, Weinstein, Ryan Swager, Brandon Zeuner, Alsop Louie, Alsop Louie Partners, Gilman Louie, Stewart Alsop, Jason Preston, Tyler Peterson, Mike Morgan, Robert Patterson, DEFTA, George Hara, Martin Gedalin, Kevin Ober, Divergent's, Hone, Ben Bergman Organizations: Business, Bloomberg Beta, Lightship Capital, Sapphire Partners, BI, Venture Partners, Foundry Group, Sinai Ventures, Sinai Capital Partners, Capital, San, Alsop Louie Partners, Partners, Ventures Peninsula Ventures, LinkedIn Locations: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Alto , California, San Mateo , California, Lumia, Seattle, bbergman@insider.com

☆ Inside Smashmallow, Silicon Valley's Failed Marshmallow Startup
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +20 min

"We wanted a marshmallow to have a little bite to it, not just be a foamy air," he says. Jon Sebastiani, Smashmallow founderSmashmallow had a killer brand — but the product was still basically being made one batch at a time, on kitchen counters. If Smashmallow couldn't produce enough marshmallows, Tanis wouldn't get its dough. The thing is, even though Smashmallow failed, Sebastiani didn't. "In that industry, a snackable marshmallow is a Smashmallow, like a copy machine is a Xerox," says Kwasniewski.

Persons: Jon Sebastiani, Sebastiani, Krave, jonesing, marshmallows, Liam Eisenberg, aerated, Cook, Jens Hoj, Hoj, Smashmallow, he'd, It's, Theranos, wasn't, Elizabeth Holmes, Tanis, Wolfgang Confectioners, Smashmallow Smashmallow, Wolfgang, Tanis wouldn't, Smashmallow couldn't, Richard Hartel, Sebastiani didn't, David Kwasniewski, Kwasniewski, Smashmallows, it's, Adam Rogers Organizations: Hershey, Michelin, BI, Kraft, Target, Walmart, Doumak, Workers, University of Wisconsin, Area, Xerox, marshmallows, Business Locations: Paris, California, Sonoma, Hershey, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, Hobart, Chicago, Las Vegas, Netherlands, Tanis, Pennsylvania, America, Sonoma Capital, Smashmallow, Santa Rosa, San Francisco, Colorado, North America

☆ Venture capital firm's plan to buy nonprofit hospital system has Ohio community on edge
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Ashley Capoot | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +17 min

In late 2022, Harrison joined venture firm General Catalyst, which has backed tech highfliers like Stripe, Snap and Airbnb . This is the first holistic transformation of a health system to a thoughtful combination of digital and in-person care." "It just makes people a little nervous, and it doesn't feel quite aligned with this concept of health care being a human right." To revolutionize how we care for patients, we in health care are doing the same." "This is not like a turnaround, this is not a distressed system," Harrison said.

Persons: Marc Harrison, who's, Astrid Stawiarz, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, He's, screeds, Harrison, Catalyst, HATCo, Fitch, Ceci Connolly, Connolly, She's, Freddy Krueger, John Bass, Bass, he's, Chris Bischoff, Bischoff, it's, Harrison isn't, Michael Greeley, Greeley, Beaumont, Cliff Deveny, hadn't, Deveny, Ben Sutton, Sutton, Shammas Malik, James Hardy, Hardy, Mayor Malik, Malik, we've, Capital's Greeley, Catalyst's Organizations: Healthy, CNBC, Intermountain Healthcare, Catalyst, Summa Health, Health Assurance Transformation Corporation, Summa Health Medina, Urban Institute, Fitch Ratings, Alliance of Community Health, General Catalyst, HCA Healthcare, University of California Davis Health, Intermountain, Flare Capital Partners, Beaumont Health, Health, Akron, Ideastream Public Media, HATCo Locations: New York City, Silicon Valley, Utah, Ohio, Harrison, PitchBook, U.S, Canada, Israel, Michigan, Beaumont, Akron, Summit County, Akron's

☆ The eyes have it: The intriguing history of kohl
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Zahra Hankir | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

A Palestinian woman Hadeya Qudaih applying traditional kohl eyeliner to her granddaughter in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip in March 2020. Hadeya Qudaih makes and sells traditional kohl eyeliner for medical and cosmetic purposes (photograph taken in February 2020). A Bedouin man wearing traditional kohl, photographed in the ancient Jordanian city of Petra. Kohl is so commonly worn in the area that girls are sometimes named or nicknamed Kahla by their parents or friends, roughly meaning “the girl who appears to have kohl around her eyes.” Kohl is also a feature of many millennia-old myths, rituals, and legends. “Even if she doesn’t (make kohl) anymore, I will for sure continue to do this myself,” Abu Issa said.

Persons: CNN — Kohl, kohl, Hadeya, kohl eyeliner, Khan Younis, Majdi, Tamam Farhan Abu Issa, Deir al Balah, “, Abu Issa, ”, ” Abu Issa, Issa, Qudaih, Hassan Jedi, Prophet Muhammad —, Alessandro Bigazzi, Jack Sparrow, eyeliner, Kohl, ” Kohl, Zarqa, TikTok, “ Blinkaria Kohl, tightlining, Eyeliner, Fatima Shbair, “ Kohl, I’ve Organizations: CNN, Crusaders, UNESCO, United, kohl, Quds Net News, ZUMA Press, UAE General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments Locations: East, North Africa, Egypt, Europe, Lebanon, Gaza, Gaza’s, Deir, United Nations, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Palestinian, Petra, Raed, Kohl, Eastern, “

☆ A growing number of colleges are rolling out 'no-loan' policies. ‘They are giving them out like candy,’ Yale professor says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Roughly two dozen schools have introduced "no-loan" policies, which means they are eliminating student loans altogether from their financial aid packages. "They are giving them out like candy now," said Menaka Hampole, an assistant professor of finance at Yale School of Management, of the growing number of no-loan policies. "Post-Covid more schools are rolling out no-loan policies mostly on the back of Princeton, which had the money in its endowment to do something," Hampole said. Even if a school has a no-loan policy, that also does not prevent a student or family from borrowing money to help cover their contribution. "No loan doesn't mean free," said Robert Franek, The Princeton Review's editor in chief and author of "The Best 389 Colleges."

Persons: Menaka Hampole, Hampole, Colin Hatton, Hatton, Robert Franek, Nicole Hurd, Hurd, Biden, Terra Gallo, Gallo, Colby, Jackie Hardwick, Hardwick, Randi Maloney, Franek Organizations: Yale School of Management, Princeton, Nationwide, Lafayette College, Finance, Colby College, Colby, The Princeton Locations: Easton , Pennsylvania, Lafayette, Waterville , Maine, Jacksonville , Florida

Michelle Lujan Grisham has advocated for a more robust spending package, a 10% annual spending increase that would shore up housing opportunities, childhood literacy and health care access. Senate budget amendments apply $75 million in state matching funds to the effort. Under another $1.5 million budget provision, New Mexico would for the first time help compensate landowners and agricultural producers when wolves are confirmed to have killed livestock or working animals. The fund underwrites an array of conservation programs at state natural resources agencies, from soil enhancement programs in agriculture to conservation of threatened and big-game species. The Legislature's budget bill would place $512 million in the trust.

Persons: Michelle Lujan Grisham, Sen, George Muñoz, ” Muñoz, Biden, ”, Nathan Small Organizations: SANTA FE, Texas, New, New Mexico Gov, Democratic, Gallup, ” Locations: SANTA, New Mexico, Las Cruces

☆ China’s VC playbook is undergoing a sea change as U.S. IPO exits get tougher
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

That's far less than in the previous years — the share of U.S. dollars in total VC funds raised was around 15% for the years 2018 to 2021, the data showed. China investments, China exitsWashington and Beijing in 2022 resolved a long-standing audit dispute that reduced the risk of Chinese companies having to delist from U.S. stock exchanges. "With U.S. IPOs no longer being a viable exit strategy for China assets, investors should target local exits in their respective capital markets—in other words, China exits for China assets, and U.S. exits for overseas assets," Liao said. The 20 largest VC deals for China-headquartered companies in 2013 were predominantly in e-commerce and software services, according to PitchBook data. ... the venture capital scene has become even more state-concentrated and focused on government priorities.

Persons: China’s renminbi, Athit Perawongmetha, Kyle Stanford, China —, Liao Ming, Stocks, Liao, Didi, Beijing's, Camille Boullenois Organizations: Reuters, Reuters BEIJING — Venture, Liao Ming, U.S, Sequoia, Prospect, Capital, New York Stock Exchange Locations: U.S, Bangkok, Thailand, Reuters BEIJING, China, Sequoia, Washington, India, Japan, Greater China, Beijing, New York, Hong Kong, U.S . Washington

☆ Voyager Ventures backs climate tech startups. It just raised its second $100 million fund.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewClimate tech VC firm Voyager Ventures has raised another fund hot on the heels of its first, bringing its assets under management to $200 million. The new fund can invest alongside or after Voyager Fund I and independently where it has developed competitive access. AdvertisementThe fund hit final close in May 2023, which was previously undisclosed, just 15 months after closing its first fund. It is also eyeing the second edition of the earlier-stage Voyager Fund, which Peterson and Sclarsic will start raising this year. Voyager Ventures currently has 19 portfolio companies across the two funds.

Persons: —, Sierra Peterson, Sarah Sclarsic, Peterson, Sclarsic Organizations: Service, Voyager Ventures, Business, Voyager, Northwestern University, Novo Holdings Locations: San Francisco and New York, North America, Europe

☆ Will Families Pay Less With Two Students in College? Now, It Depends.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Ron Lieber | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

But on Jan. 1, a new federal law went into effect, and the formula changed. A million families with, say, two or more siblings in college simultaneously could pay thousands of dollars more per year as a result. Now, colleges face a choice: Make up any shortfall with their own money, or cross their fingers and hope that families will borrow more or find some other way to pay. In recent weeks, I examined 20 college and university websites, large and small, public and private, big endowments and not-so-big. Only six were clear on how things would change (or not) for families with multiple members in college.

☆ Met Opera Taps Its Endowment Again to Weather Downturn
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Javier C. Hernández | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The move came after the Met took $30 million from its endowment fund last season to help cover operating expenses amid weak ticket sales and a cash shortfall. Nonprofits usually try to avoid drawing down their endowments, which are meant to grow over time while producing investment income. The Met’s endowment fund is now worth about $255 million, down from $309 million in July. There is light at the end of the tunnel.”The company pointed to several signs that it may be turning the corner. And as the Met presents more contemporary opera, it is attracting younger audiences: The average age of single-ticket buyers for in-person performances has fallen to 44 from 50 before the pandemic.

Persons: we’re, ”, Peter Gelb Organizations: Metropolitan Opera

☆ Founders of Wise and Skype raise $436 million to build tech giants in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The founders of Wise, Skype and Songkick have raised 400 million euros ($436.4 million) for a new fund to back technology startups in Europe. Plural Fund II, the firm's second to date, arrives just 18 months after the firm raised its last fund, a 250 million-euro vehicle. Only 8% of VCs in Europe are former founders, he says, much lower than the 60% in the United States. So, if we look at the track record, and our ability to get the deals done, I think that all seems to say that this is really missing in Europe," Hinrikus added. Plural raised the funds from a mix of limited partners, including British and American university endowments, U.S. foundations and insurers, strategic family offices in Europe and the United States.

Persons: Wise, Taavet Hinrikus, fintech, Ian Hogarth, Sten Tamkivi, Khaled Helioui, Hinrikus, they're, we've, Carina Namih Organizations: Skype, Balderton, Bigpoint, CNBC Locations: Europe, VCs, United States, American

☆ How private credit became one of the hottest investments on Wall Street
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Christian Nunley | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Private credit has quickly become one of Wall Street's most popular investment classes in 2023. It also has roots in the Federal Reserve's monetary policy of holding interest rates near 0% for a decade. You won't find private credit funds on Robinhood. "It comes from pension funds, endowments and foundations, insurance companies, retail investors, sovereign wealth investors," Dwin said. Watch the video above to learn more about what private credit is, how it has changed debt markets and the risks involved.

Persons: Damien Dwin, Dwin Organizations: Apollo, Ares Management, Federal, Fed, Lafayette Capital Locations: Robinhood

☆ House takes aim at Harvard, MIT and UPenn’s tax-exempt status over antisemitism
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The powerful House Ways and Means Committee is threatening to reconsider the tax-exempt status of Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Pennsylvania and Cornell University amid allegations the elite schools have failed to fight antisemitism on campus. Rep. Jason Smith, the Republican chair of the committee, sent a letter on Wednesday to the four schools expressing alarm at their responses to antisemitism. The controversy has fueled a backlash from donors and politicians and helped contribute to the ousters of former Harvard President Claudine Gay and former UPenn President Liz Magill. The Ways and Means chairman noted that the universities’ tax-exempt status provides “lucrative financial benefits” and “advantageous tax treatment” of their endowments. Harvard is also under pressure to respond to wide-ranging document requests from another House panel, the Committee on Education and the Workforce, on both antisemitism and plagiarism.

Persons: Jason Smith, ” Smith, Claudine Gay, Liz Magill, Smith, ” Cornell, Rebecca Valli, ”, UPenn, “ Penn, ” UPenn, Sally Kornbluth, Martha Pollack Organizations: CNN, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, US, Harvard, UPenn, MIT, Cornell, Education, ” Locations: Israel

☆ Harvard's president resigning means more drama for other universities
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-03 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In today's big story, we're looking at the resignation of another Ivy League president and the knock-on effect it'll have on education in the US. The big storyIvy League issuesBrian Snyder/ReutersClaudine Gay's tenure as Harvard president wasn't long, but it won't be forgotten. Alan Garber, Harvard's provost and chief academic officer, will serve as interim president, the school's board announced. Gay is the second Ivy League president to step down in less than a month, following in the footsteps of former Penn president Elizabeth Magill. Harvard president Claudine Gay Kevin Dietsch/Getty ImagesGay and Magill's departures highlight the tension between businesses and prestigious universities and the former's influence over the latter.

Persons: —, Bob Marley, John Wick, Brian Snyder, Claudine Gay's, wasn't, Gay, Alan Garber, Harvard's, Elizabeth Magill, Magill, Sally Kornbluth, Bill Ackman, Claudine Gay Kevin Dietsch, Business Insider's Paul Squire, Lucas Jackson, Tesla, Goldman, Tyler Le, it's, Warren Buffett, Greta Thunberg, Florence Pugh, Mel Gibson, J.R.R, Tolkien, Eli Manning, Max Willcocks, Dan DeFrancesco, Diamond Naga Siu, Hallam Bullock, Jordan Parker Erb, Hayley Hudson, Lisa Ryan Organizations: Service, Ivy League, Business, Harvard, Ivy, Penn, Gay, MIT, GOP, Big Tech, Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Meta, Boston Consulting Group, Cushman & Wakefield, LinkedIn, SAP, Verizon Consumer Group, EV, Elon, Jiji Press, Japan Airlines, New York Locations: China, Jisoo, New York, San Diego, London, Edinburgh

The Ms. Foundation published research last week advocating for more financial support for women and gender nonconforming people of color leading nonprofits on the frontlines of social justices issues. “At this moment, when women and women’s bodies and gender nonconforming folks are being attacked on a daily basis, are they willing to move 10% to us?” Teresa Younger, Ms. Foundation’s president and CEO, said of other foundations. The Ms. Foundation found that many frontline organizations, like Power Rising, work across issue areas, often in tandem with other groups and in response to unfolding events. The organization advises foundations to build on trust-based giving, to support self-guided capacity building for these organizations, and to diminish grantmaking tied to specific issue areas. ___Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc.

Persons: Alex Soros, George Soros, Trump, ” Alex Soros, Shawnda Chapman, ”, ” Teresa Younger, it’s, Laleh Ispahani, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Leah D, Daughtry, grantmaking, Ispahani, Mark Malloch, Brown Organizations: Open Society, Society, Ms, Foundation for Women, OSF, National Women's Law, Alliance for Youth, U.S, Supreme, Foundation, Associated, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: U.S

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