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☆ 'I just wanted to take a break:' Some early-stage founders are putting their startup dreams on hold in the tech downturn to try corporate life
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Ben Bergman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewMehak Vohra has been a startup founder ever since she dropped out of college in 2016. But earlier this year, she shut down Skillbank and joined a bigger tech company as its head of marketing. That has early-stage startup founders who founded companies during the free-flowing boom cycle that ended in 2022 rethinking whether they want to be founders after all. I have a much bigger social life now, and I don't feel bad about going out."

Persons: —, you've, Ishita Arora, Arora, Jacek Prus, Prus, Sri Chandrasekar, Chandrasekar, I've Organizations: Service, Jamocha Media, Business, Instrumentl, Animal, Point72 Ventures Locations: San Francisco

Andreessen and Horowitz are the latest and most prominent members of the startup investing community to publicly support Trump. Up until now, there have been pockets of vocal Trump support within Silicon Valley, including conservative provocateur Peter Thiel, the pugnacious hosts of the All-In podcast, and Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale. WE HAVE A FORMER TECH VC IN THE WHITE HOUSE. Most of the VCs Business Insider spoke to were unanimously against Kahn. "If it is Biden vs. Trump officially, I think many '"never Trumpers" will go with Trump," said a Bay Area VC.

Persons: —, Andreessen Horowitz, Ben Horowitz, Marc Andreessen, Donald Trump, Sen, JD Vance, Peter Thiel's, Steve Case, Andreessen, Horowitz, provocateur Peter Thiel, Palantir, Joe Lonsdale, Elon Musk, who's, Joe Biden, Vance, Trump, IT'S JD VANCE, WE, MAGA, he's, Bradley Tusk, Chuck Schumer, Tusk, Lina Khan, That's, what's, Kahn, Lina Kahn, Khan, Biden, they're, David Hornik Organizations: Service, The Little, Business, Trump, Wall Street, Founder's Fund, TECH, Democratic, Biden, FTC, SEC, Bay, Republican, Sequoia Capital, Lobby Locations: America, Silicon Valley, New York, Delian, San Francisco, Silicon, There's

☆ AI startup Abnormal Security is set to be valued at $5 billion in new funding round, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-01 | by ( Ben Bergman | Sri Muppidi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Abnormal Security uses AI to guard users from cyber threats across email and apps. It is set to be valued at $5 billion in a fresh funding round, according to two sources. The company was valued at $4 billion in a 2022 funding round led by Greylock Partners. AdvertisementAbnormal Security, a startup that uses artificial intelligence to guard users from cyber threats across email and apps, is set to be valued at $5 billion in a fresh funding round, according to two sources familiar with the deal. The company has raised a total of $374 million in venture funding.

Persons: — Organizations: Security, Greylock Partners, Service, Insight Partners, Menlo Ventures, The Syndicate Group, Business

☆ Nvidia challenger Groq is set to double its valuation to $2.5 billion in fresh funding round led by Blackrock
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-26 | by ( Ben Bergman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

It is set to be valued at $2.5 billion in a funding round led by Blackrock, according to sources. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementGroq, a scrappy challenger to Nvidia that is developing chips powering artificial intelligence, is set to be valued at $2.5 billion in a new funding round led by Blackrock, according to multiple sources. Groq has been rumored to be raising a new round and recently hired Morgan Stanley to help raise $300 million in new funding, the Information previously reported last month. The valuation and lead investor have not been previously reported.

Persons: Groq, —, Morgan Stanley Organizations: Blackrock, Service, Nvidia

☆ Joshua Kushner's Thrive Capital makes a further push into entertainment, backing A24, the studio behind Euphoria and Uncut Gems
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-26 | by ( Ben Bergman | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Thrive Capital backs A24, adding Hollywood to its diverse investment portfolio. A24 is famous for hits like "Everything Everywhere All At Once" and HBO's "Euphoria." Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: Joshua Kushner, —, Slack, Hims, Bird Organizations: Hollywood, Service, Spotify, Plaid, Business Locations: New York

☆ Artificial intelligence is coming for venture firms. VCs predict it could reduce headcount by more than 50%.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-24 | by ( Ben Bergman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Firms like Correlation Ventures, 645 Ventures, and Fly Ventures have long used data and AI to help guide investment decisions. AdvertisementEarlier this year, Sri Chandrasekar, a partner at Point72 Ventures, noticed a startup in his portfolio was having a breakout week. Related stories"If you go to any venture firm's website, you'll find that half the names are not doing anything to do with investing," Chandrasekar said. Advertisement"If you look at the large firms, they got very, very large in the last few years," said Andy McLoughlin, managing partner at Uncork Capital. Venture firms will have to remake themselves into a combination of people and A.I."

Persons: —, Matt Krna, Krna, Sri, Chandrasekar, Christina Melas, Andreeseen Horowitz, Andy McLoughlin, James Currier, Currier, McLoughlin Organizations: Service, Business, Ventures, Fly Ventures, Point72 Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures, Bain Capital, Catalyst, Lightspeed, Uncork, Venture, Deloitte, San Locations: San Francisco, Sri Chandrasekar

☆ Venture firms could be the latest target for AI disruption, and that's not the only threat to VCs
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-24 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

In today's big story, we're looking at how AI could completely upend venture capitalism amid a wider shakeup for the industry . The generative AI boom was a welcome change for a venture industry looking for a new trend to back (and hopefully profit from). Some of the adjustments aren't novel to the VC industry. ACME Capital; Getty Images, Chelsea Jia Feng/BIThe VC industry might be doomed with or without AI. AdvertisementScott Stanford, a cofounder and partner at early-stage VC firm ACME Capital, told BI's Blake Dodge that half of today's VC firms will shutter in the next decade .

Persons: —, VCs zentilia, Jenny Chang, Rodriguez, Insider's Ben Bergman, Ben, Long, Scott Stanford, Chelsea Jia Feng, BI's Blake Dodge, Hany Nada, Jared Siskin, Bobby Jain's, Jonathan Barton, Jain, Rebecca Zisser, OpenAI, Apple, Elif, Jeff Bezos, Robert Winnett, Will Lewis, Dan DeFrancesco, Jordan Parker Erb, Hallam Bullock, Annie Smith, Grace Lett, Amanda Yen Organizations: Service, Business, ACME, Getty, ACME Capital, Stanford, BI, Madison, Conservancy, Jain, EV, Ford, European, Regulators, Anadolu Agency, Getty Images, Washington, Harvard, Leagues Locations: today's, Wall, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Europe, Brazil, Southeast Asia, London, American, Paris, New York, Chicago

☆ Sequoia-backed security startup Vanta will see its valuation soar past $2 billion in new funding round, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Ben Bergman | Sri Muppidi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

It will be valued at more than $2 billion in a new funding round, Business Insider has learned. AdvertisementVanta, a startup that helps companies comply with security standards, is set to be valued at more than $2 billion in a new insider funding round, multiple sources told Business Insider. Vanta was last valued at $1.6 billion in a 2022 funding round led by Craft Ventures on October 12, 2022, according to Forbes. CrowdStrike Holdings, Atlassian Ventures, HubSpot Ventures, Workday Ventures, Acrew Capital, Pioneer Fund, ASDF Ventures, Zag Capital, Sequoia Capital, Frontline Ventures, Y Combinator and LAUNCH Fund also participated in the last round. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: —, Vanta Organizations: Sequoia, Craft Ventures, Service, Business, Forbes, CrowdStrike Holdings, Atlassian Ventures, HubSpot Ventures, Acrew, Pioneer Fund, ASDF Ventures, Zag, Sequoia Capital, Frontline Ventures Locations: Acrew Capital

☆ Exclusive: AI video generator Pika is seeking a valuation as high as $700 million in new funding round
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Ben Bergman | Rebecca Torrence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

AI video generation startup Pika is raising a new round of funding, Business Insider has learned. The raise could value Pika at more than $500 million, and up to $700 million, per sources. It's facing fierce competition by OpenAI, Google, and other startups launching AI video tech. AdvertisementHot AI startup Pika is raising fresh funding to power its text-to-video generator, Business Insider has learned. The raise could value Pika at up to $700 million, per one of those sources.

Persons: — Organizations: Business, OpenAI, Google, Service

☆ Adam Neumann is now in the publishing business, with his residential real estate company buying a quirky Montauk surfing magazine
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Ben Bergman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Adam Neumann founded Flow in 2022 to transform residential real estate. Flow has acquired Whalebone, which bills itself as the "The Ninth-Best Magazine in the World." The magazine is being renamed as the Flow Trip and looks to serve as an in-house content arm. Flow has acquired Whalebone, a quirky bimonthly Montauk lifestyle publication that bills itself as the "The Ninth-Best Magazine in the World," according to an announcement on the magazine's website. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: Adam Neumann, —, WeWork, he's, Neumann Organizations: Magazine, Service, Business

☆ How Bloomberg Beta's James Cham finds the tech founders making a 'dent in the universe'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Ben Bergman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Cham ended up writing one of the first checks to Weights & Biases after he was convinced Biewald fulfilled his lofty criteria for backing founders. "I am looking for people who are trying to make a dent in the universe," Cham said. Instead of asking founders how they plan to make that dent, Cham prefers to spend lots of time observing them to see what makes them tick. Cham began making his own dent in the world after majoring in computer science at Harvard and becoming a consultant at Accenture. "The reality that the money that we make goes towards Bloomberg Philanthropies is something founders oftentimes find appealing," Cham said.

Persons: James Cham, Lukas Biewald, Cham, Biewald, Jeff Lawson, It's, Bloomberg Philanthropies, who've, James, Shreya Rajpal, who's, Rajpal Organizations: Bloomberg Beta, Business, Harvard, Accenture, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Bessemer Venture Partners, Trinity Ventures, Bloomberg

Behind most startup founders is an early-stage investor who saw their potential, nurtured their ambition, and backed their ideas. The end of a record bull run in tech rebooted the startup landscape, and now early-stage investors are embracing the change. Founders have gone back to basics, staying lean and mean from the start and harnessing tailwinds of the artificial intelligence boom. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.

Organizations: Business

Early-stage investing is a delicate dance. It demands an understanding of markets, a knack for recognizing potential, and sheer tenacity to weather the cyclical storms of the startup world. Now in its fourth year, our Seed 40 list illuminates the women who have mastered this craft. They are on the front lines, locking arms with visionary founders to transform ideas into full-fledged businesses, often putting money and support behind those builders before others see the opportunity. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Organizations: Business

Steve Bowsher, In-Q-TelSteve Bowsher, president and CEO of In-Q-Tel. He made an early bet on Palantir, blowing the doors open for Silicon Valley techies to go after federal contracts. The son of a federal employee who grew up devouring spy novels, Bowsher has always been interested in the work of the government but actually cut his teeth in Silicon Valley. After graduating from Stanford, he worked for three startups and spent eight years at venture fund InterWest Partners. By combining Silicon Valley's swashbuckling ethos with a government agency's mission-driven mentality, Bowsher has helped shepherd some of the biggest defense tech success stories of the past two decades.

Persons: Steve Bowsher, Bowsher Organizations: Magazine, Stanford, InterWest Partners Locations: Menlo Park , California, Silicon Valley

☆ A tax compliance startup raised millions. Then it abruptly shut down, and the founder cut off contact.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Ben Bergman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Even the human-resources firm retained to help employees with offboarding, Tandem, quit soon after the layoffs because it never got paid. Shannon Flynn Bevers, Tandem's president and founder, said that she tried to help employees but that Johnson stopped responding. "When startups go out of business, they will pay employees their final paycheck. Johnson told employees to take a weeklong furlough and blamed the issue on a technical snafu. She also told employees they could file a claim with their state labor department or hire an employment lawyer.

Persons: Slack, Shiloh Johnson, Johnson, they'd, Benjamin Matthews, Shannon Flynn Bevers, I've, Flynn Bevers, VCs, Josh Felser, Aerin Paulo, ComplYant's, I'd, ComplYant, podcaster David Sacks, Michael Tam, Tam, Matthews, Ryan Cady, Lusely Martinez, Martinez, Cady, paychecks, wasn't, Taliah McGuire, McGuire, what's, Shiloh Luckey, Penelope, We've Organizations: Business, offboarding, . Venture, BI, Craft Ventures, ComplYant, Mucker, Slauson, — Mucker, Fika Ventures, Employees Locations: Los Angeles, Shiloh, San Francisco, Colorado, New York, TikTok

☆ Exclusive: Navan is targeting an April 2025 IPO as it projects to end next year with around $1 billion in annual revenue
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Ben Bergman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Navan is a travel and expense platform backed by a16z that was last valued at $9.2 billion. The company is targeting an April 2025 IPO, according to a source with direct knowledge. It is projecting to end 2025 with ARR in the billion dollar range, according to the source. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementNavan, a travel and expense platform last valued at $9.2 billion, is targeting an April 2025 initial public offering, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter not authorized to speak publicly.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Navan, EBITA

☆ Caviar, champagne, and IPOs: At the Jefferies Private Internet Conference, tech dealmaking was back
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Ben Bergman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Jefferies hosted a conference to bring together late-stage tech founders, investors and bankers. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementAs bankers and venture capitalists nibbled on caviar sushi and sipped champagne and sake this week at Nobu Malibu, there was a gleeful mood at the beachside closing dinner of the Jefferies Private Internet Conference. After a Covid pause, Jefferies resumed this conference in 2022 to bring together late-stage tech founders, investors, and bankers. Related story"Beyond typical deal considerations, AI has emerged as the single biggest new influence today in tech M&A," according to Greenberg.

Persons: Jefferies, —, Cameron Jefferies, Jason Greenberg, Greenberg, Goldman Sachs, David Solomon, Reddit, Marc Andreessen, Rich Handler, Andreessen Horowitz, Neerav, Goldman, JP Morgan Chase, we've, Lester Organizations: Service, Jefferies Private Internet Conference, Technology, Media, Telecom Investment Banking, Jefferies, Global Technology, Informatica, Epic, Venture, Jefferies Private Locations: Neerav Kingsland

☆ Trump's hush-money trial is set to heat up
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In today's newsletter, we're looking at the first week of former President Donald Trump's criminal trial and what's at stake. What's on deck:This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. AdvertisementFormer President Donald Trump's hush-money trial — the first-ever criminal trial of a former president — got underway this week with jury selection . We did get a preview of Trump's potential defense: " Some accountant " handled the paperwork he's on trial for, Trump told reporters. AdvertisementThe trial is focused on 34 felonies alleging the Trump Organization's business records were falsified to hide other crimes.

Persons: —, Donald Trump's, CHARLY TRIBALLEAU, Drew Angerer, Tyler Le, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Daniels, Zelei, Loretta Mester, John Williams, Rebecca Zisser, David Lieb, Sundar Pichai, Demis, Google's, BI's Ben Bergman, Eddie Mulholland, Alyssa Powell, Samsung execs, Taylor Swift's, Dan DeFrancesco, Jordan Parker Erb, Hallam Bullock, George Glover Organizations: Service, Business, Getty, Trump, Cleveland Fed, York Fed, …, Bank of America, Google, Android, Bankers, Jefferies, Investor Conference, Samsung, Korea Economic, Disney, Warner Bros, American Express, Procter, Gamble, Poets Department Locations: Israeli, Iran, Israel, Florida, Korea, New York, London

☆ Inside Andy Jassy's plan for Amazon in the generative AI era
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. By the way, we're wrapping up voting for the championship matchup in our business, tech, and innovation bracket. In today's big story, we're looking at Amazon CEO Andy Jassy's letter to shareholders, which details the tech giant's plan in the age of generative AI . What's on deck:AdvertisementBut first, Amazon, AI, and a letter. The big storyAmazon in the AI ageMichael M. Santiago/Getty Images; Chelsea Jia Feng/BIThe generative AI revolution is coming, and Amazon wants in on the ground floor.

Persons: —, We've, Andy Jassy's, Michael M, Chelsea Jia Feng, Andy Jassy, Ana Altchek, Jassy, that's, Andy Jassy Mike Blake, Eugene Kim, Jassy's, Phillip Faraone, Gregor Fischer, Noam Galai, Here's, it's, Morgan Stanley, Ben Bergman, Rebecca Zisser, Adam Neumann, Neumann, Samantha Lee, Bon Appétit, Dan DeFrancesco, Jordan Parker Erb, Hallam Bullock, George Glover Organizations: Business, Service, Amazon, Getty, AWS, Bridgewater Associates, Pfizer, Reuters, Prime, TechCrunch, Games, New York Times, Visual China, BI, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Coachella Locations: Wells Fargo, New York, London

☆ Adam Neumann opens up about his billion-dollar plan to transform apartment living and explains why he wants to buy back WeWork
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Ben Bergman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In August 2022, former WeWork cofounder Adam Neumann announced he was back, starting a new company called Flow to transform apartment living. I spoke with residents and staff, but my many requests to speak on the record with Neumann himself were always rebuffed. Whatever happens with Flow, Neumann will always be remembered for WeWork, which he resigned from in 2019. The launch occurs as Neumann is trying to buy back his bankrupt former company for more than $500 million. I think people are skeptical of how Flow is a tech company.

Persons: Adam Neumann, Andreessen Horowitz, Neumann, Neumann's WeWork, it's, We're, we're, It's, WeWork, You've, Ben, Horowitz Organizations: Business Locations: Fort Lauderdale , Florida, South Florida, Fort Lauderdale, Miami

☆ Cybersecurity startup Cyera is set to triple its valuation to as high as $1.55 billion in a new funding round, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Ben Bergman | Melia Russell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Cyera is a cybersecurity startup founded in 2021 by two veterans of The Israel Defence Forces. It is raising funding that values the company at as much as $1.55 billion, three sources told BI. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementCyera, a New York-based data security startup founded in 2021, is raising a new funding round that values the company at as much as $1.55 billion, three sources familiar with the matter told Business Insider. The startup is raising $150 to $200 million in this latest round, according to multiple sources.

Persons: Douglas Leone, — Organizations: Israel Defence Forces, Sequoia Capital, Service, Accel, Business Locations: New York

☆ '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

☆ '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

☆ The rise of 'zombie' VCs puts startups that took funding from them in a difficult spot
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

What's on deckAdvertisementBut first, zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie-ie. AdvertisementThat's why zombie VCs pose such a problem for the industry. Sussing out the prudent investor from the penniless one takes time and effort, two things startups can't necessarily afford when times are tough. AdvertisementIs having a zombie VC as an investor the equivalent of a scarlet letter? If a partner jumps ship from a zombie VC, startups they backed will be in a tough spot.

Persons: —, here's, Insider's Ben Bergman, Ben, it's, Alyssa Powell, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Ray Dalio isn't, Sundar Pichai, Marissa Mayer, Yahoo's, Cory Doctorow, He's, Smashmallow, they've, Jack Teixeira, Dan DeFrancesco, Jordan Parker Erb, Hallam Bullock, George Glover, Grace Lett Organizations: Service, BI, Bridgewater, Bank of America, Trading, Google, Canadian, Singapore Locations: There's, Silicon Valley, British, Singapore, Israel, New York, London, Chicago

☆ It's becoming insane again in venture capital: A tiny AI startup wants investors to pay $100 to book a meeting with its founder.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Melia Russell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A couple of days ago, startup founder Dan Siroker set his sights on meeting new investors. Siroker closed the process with 170 bids to sift through. Siroker told Business Insider this week that he isn't actively fundraising. Advertisement"When deals get hot, there is extreme interest," Ben Lerer, managing partner of Lerer Hippeau, an early-stage venture firm, told Business Insider's Ben Bergman late last year. "If you're not there long before the raising, you're not part of the conversation."

Persons: —, Dan Siroker, clamoring, whittle, Siroker, isn't, Andreessen Horowitz, they'd, Pavlo Gonchar, Ben Lerer, Lerer, Insider's Ben Bergman, there's, Dick Costolo, they're, Costolo, he'd Organizations: Service, Business, Getty, Twitter, Google, Nvidia, Boys & Girls Locations: haves, Silicon Valley

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