ISSUE 012 - March 2024
The AI fervor continues with Lambda valued at $1.5bn
The cloud computing startup, Lambda, achieved unicorn status after it raised more than $320 million in a Series C funding round led by US Innovative Technology Fund.
Lambda offers cloud computing services and hardware for training large language models and generative AI, and is one of many AI startups with big funding rounds recently.
It’s evident that Investor interest in generative AI remains high—both within their portfolios and their deal workflows. For instance, 84% of the 700+ private capital investors we surveyed plan to integrate AI into their tech stacks this year in order to become more data-driven.
Crunchbase has more here
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Valuation growth slows for late-stage startups
The growth in valuations for late-stage startups slowed significantly last year, with median valuation growth falling by 61.6% year-over-year. This trend also affected venture growth companies, suggesting a potential shift in investor sentiment.
However, there are signs of improvement for venture growth, and we have three best practices for sourcing growth equity deals to help you navigate today’s market.
Pitchbook has more here
Exit options: IPOs and M&A are making a comeback
Given increasing confidence in the US economy and potential central bank interest rate cuts, investment bankers expect an uptick in IPO and M&A activity this year—which is good news for private markets, since this increased activity can favorably shift valuation dynamics.
Data from our recent M&A outlook affirms growing optimism, with almost 70% of the 160+ bankers surveyed expecting more M&A activity this year.
Goldman Sachs has more here
Press Play
Building a VC Tech Stack like Future Planet Capital
As competition in private capital intensifies, dealmakers who invest in agile tech stacks are gaining a distinct advantage.
Check out our exclusive webinar featuring Peter Mitchell, Head of Origination at Future Planet Capital, as he shares valuable insights into building a tech stack that drives success.
Discover:
- How Future Planet’s lead scoring system identifies the most promising opportunities, saving time and resources
- Strategies for using AI, automation, and data-enrichment to make informed investment decisions
- How Future Planet uses relationships to effectively engage with potential LPs and Co-Investors
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