By Alex Derber, VCJ Correspondent Sparsely populated Scandinavian countries offer a limited market for ambitious entrepreneurs, yet that hasn’t stopped the region from producing a host of well-known startups and, in Stockholm, one of Europe’s top technology hubs. Now, just across the Baltic Sea is Conor Venture Partners, a Helsinki investor currently raising its third […]
Funds from SAIF Partners, Technology Crossover Ventures and Bay Partners lead a portfolio of mid-decade venture funds at California Public Employees’ Retirement System. The portfolio of 2005 and 2006 vintages is diversified among early, late- and multistage strategies, and well balanced among larger, smaller and midsized funds. Three of the eight funds are between $500 […]
On March 8, the world celebrated International Women’s Day, emphasizing the progress women have made and the work that still needs to be done. The venture industry has particularly begun championing women as many firms have committed to Project #MovingForward. [https://wearemovingforward.github.io] Through the initiative, firms can establish external anti-harassment and discrimination policies for entrepreneurs and […]
Fintech investing reached new heights last year and the stage is set for another big year. This could make it again one of venture’s most active sectors and a competitive category for top deals. Behind the rise are several key factors. One, consumers and businesses continue to adopt new products. Second, walled gardens in the […]
Funds from Index Ventures, 5AM Ventures and Battery Ventures top a portfolio of maturing venture funds at the California Public Employees’ Retirement System. The portfolio of 2004 vintages favors early-stage strategies, and mid-sized to smaller funds. Five of the nine funds range from $300 million to $475 million, and two-thirds of the portfolio target early-stage […]
The SEC in recent months has issued subpoenas or requests for information to dozens of blockchain projects, companies and advisers, according to reports, indicating that it may take action against some token sales or initial coin offerings for violating securities laws. The apparent sweep indicates the SEC is increasing its involvement in coin and token offerings. […]
Trident Capital Cybersecurity turned heads a year ago when it raised a hefty $300 million fund with a sole focus on security. The fact that the fund was oversubscribed should not have been a surprise. Domain specialization appears to be an increasing differentiator in the complex world of cybersecurity. This area “really does require specialization […]
Venture and institutional investors are treading carefully as they begin to hold digital assets like those issued in initial coin offerings without clear guidelines from regulators. The SEC has refrained from issuing a bright-line test or set of criteria for whether digital tokens or coins fall under the definition of a security. Instead, U.S. regulators are […]
Ken Hood, managing director at FusionX Ventures, knows how easily good people can fall into the addiction trap. Not long ago, he spent a week in hospital due to complications from knee surgery. “I can’t tell you how many times a nurse came in to ask if I was in pain,” he says. “If I […]
There is no shred of doubt at this point that SoftBank is an investor with big ambitions. In the nine months since it unveiled its $93 billion Vision Fund, the venture arm of the Japanese telecom company has deployed about a third of its capital. And what a ride it’s been. The money has gone […]