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Y Combinator founders raising less money signals a ‘vibe shift,’ VC says
Y Combinator startups are now raising smaller seed rounds, signaling a shift in the venture capital landscape. By seeking less funding, founders retain larger ownership stakes in their companies, aligning with a trend toward more sustainable growth.
Saudi Arabia buys ‘Pokémon Go’ for $3.5 billion
Niantic, the creator of Pokémon Go, is selling its gaming division to Scopely, a company owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, for $3.5 billion. This deal includes popular games like Pokémon Go, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now. Niantic will retain its augmented reality technology and form a new company, Niantic Spatial, to focus on geospatial AI. This move aligns with Saudi Arabia’s strategy to expand its presence in the gaming industry.
Australian man survives 100 days with artificial heart in world-first success
An Australian man with severe heart failure became the first person worldwide to leave the hospital with a total artificial heart implant. The BiVACOR device, invented by Dr. Daniel Timms, uses magnetic levitation to mimic natural blood flow. After living with it for over 100 days, he successfully received a donor heart transplant in early March.
Unicorn startups—private companies valued over $1 billion—have become more common in recent years. In 2021 alone, over 580 new unicorns emerged, bringing the global total to 1,409 active unicorns as of September 3, 2024. The United States leads with 720 unicorns, followed by China with 317, India with 61, and the United Kingdom with 47. Notable unicorns include ByteDance, Ant Group, Stripe, and SpaceX.
Russia Central Bank Proposes Allowing Rich Investors to Buy and Sell Crypto
Russia’s central bank has proposed a three-year experiment allowing wealthy investors to trade cryptocurrencies. To qualify, individuals must have over 100 million roubles (approximately $1.15 million) in investments or an annual income exceeding 50 million roubles. This marks a shift from the bank’s previous strong opposition to cryptocurrencies. However, using cryptocurrency as a form of payment will remain prohibited in Russia.
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The glossary demystifies key concepts such as “AI agent,” which refers to tools using AI technologies to perform tasks autonomously, and “chain-of-thought,” a reasoning approach where AI models break down problems into smaller steps to improve accuracy. Additionally, it explains “deep learning,” a subset of machine learning involving multi-layered neural networks that enable more complex correlations compared to simpler systems.
Raising capital is challenging for founders, requiring careful timing, balancing investor interest with funding needs, and choosing the right partners. Each stage of fundraising—from seed to late-stage—has unique expectations and strategies. Understanding these nuances is crucial for securing favorable terms and maintaining control over your company’s future.