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☆ A 72-year-old VC who started running at 54 does 4 marathons a year. Here's how he fits running into his busy workday.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-02 | by ( Serafina Kenny | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Now 72, Greg Ho has run 43 marathons and plans to make that 100 before he turns 100. He had very little time to devote to exercise due to what he described to Business Insider as his "high-stress job" as the president of Spring Mountain Capital. Spring Mountain Capital and West Harlem Innovation NetworkThe marathon training program Ho embarked on "was miserable, and it hurt," he said. Running helps Ho to maintain his lifestyle"Physically and mentally, running enables me to perform while I get little sleep," he said. Spring Mountain, Ho's firm, backs the West Harlem Innovation Network, which develops new businesses and entrepreneurial talent in the underserved NYC neighborhood.

Persons: Greg Ho, —, Ho, he'd, Robin Hood, Ho didn't, he's, we're Organizations: New York VC, Service, Business, Spring, Robin Hood Foundation, York, Robin, West Harlem Innovation, West Harlem Innovation Network, PLoS Medicine Locations: New York, Capital

TOKYO, June 27 (Reuters) - State-backed Japan Investment Corp (JIC) sees potential for more mergers and acquisitions in high-end corners of the chipmaking industry following its planned $6.4 billion buyout of materials maker JSR (4185.T), the head of its private equity arm said. "We see potential in some speciality materials markets where JSR can win dominant positions by combining with other materials makers," Ikeuchi said in an interview. "We believe that we can boost Japanese chip materials makers' global competitiveness by spurring industry consolidation," he added. In the chemicals industry, for example, Japan has "too many players making similar products that were once competitive but are now commoditised," Ikeuchi said. JIC, overseen by the powerful trade ministry, was set up in 2018 to invest in Japanese companies to boost the nation's competitiveness.

Persons: Shogo, Ikeuchi, JIC, Makiko Yamazaki, Ritsuko Shimizu, Jamie Freed Organizations: Japan Investment Corp, JIC Capital, Japan, Innovation Network Corp of Japan, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, chipmaking, Japan

☆ Factbox: Japan ramps up efforts to strengthen its chip industry
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Below are investments in Japan announced by chipmakers and measures the government is taking to revive its semiconductor industry. Sony Group (6758.T) and auto parts maker Denso (6902.T), which will use the chips TSMC makes, are also investors. It said it would be the first chipmaker to bring EUV technology to Japan for production. It has offered TSMC a 476 billion yen subsidy, or about half the expected cost of the factory. Rapidus secured an initial 70 billion yen of funding from the government, and local media reported in April that the government was finalising a plan to provide an additional 300 billion yen.

Persons: TW, Rapidus, JIC, Makiko Yamazaki, Sam Nussey, Tim Kelly, Miho Uranaka, Miyoung Kim, Jamie Freed Organizations: Semiconductor, chipmakers, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Sony Group, Micron Technology, Samsung Electronics, Reuters, Business Machines, IBM, Samsung, Nikon, Tokyo, Japan Investment Corp, Innovation Network Corp of Japan, Toshiba, Japan Industrial Partners, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Japan, Kyushu, Denso, KS, Yokohama, Japan's, Chitose, Hokkaido, Rapidus, U.S, China, State

☆ Here's an exclusive look at the pitch deck that Kira Learning, a startup that provides AI-powered software to help teach computer science to K-12 students, raise $15 million from investors like NEA
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Madeline Renbarger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Edtech startup Kira Learning uses AI-powered software to help K-12 students learn computer science. The idea was to help students become familiar with computer science before they get into college. Teachers in these schools had never taught computer science before, and many were new to learning coding skills themselves. The partnership will make Kira Learning's computer science courses available to all public middle and high schools in the state, at no cost to schools, Pasinetti said. Check out the 16-slide pitch deck that Kira Learning used to raise $15 million in Series A funding from NEA and the AI Fund:

Persons: Andrea Pasinetti, Andrew Ng, Pasinetti, Ng, Kira, Jagriti Agrawal, Kira Learning's, Kira Learning Organizations: Stanford University, Stanford, NASA, NEA, AI, AI Fund, Innovation Network Locations: Tennessee

The move comes as global infrastructure funds are pouring huge sums of money to acquire capital-intensive telecom infrastructure assets in Southeast Asia, seeing strong growth opportunities. The sources said discussions are taking place for a minority stake to be sold in the decade-old Edotco, which is 63% owned by Axiata. However, three of the sources said there was a possibility that Axiata could even consider giving majority control in order to secure a deal. The sources said the bulk of the proceeds from the share sales will likely fund Edotco's business expansion. While broader dealmaking activity has fallen sharply over the past year due to weak equity markets and rising interest rates, telecom tower assets have been a bright spot.

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