Chris Gonzales’ Post

Harry Stebbings' 20VC closes new $400M fund to ‘make Europe great again,’ Harry Stebbings Harry Stebbings, a former podcaster turned venture capitalist, has raised a $400 million fund under his firm 20VC to back European startups. The fund will focus on seed and Series A investments. Stebbings uses his media influence and connections to attract attention to the region and has secured significant U.S. investor support. Despite not being a technologist, Stebbings focuses on identifying great founders rather than following specific tech trends. His firm operates sub-funds led by experienced operators to help startups with practical advice. Stebbings believes that while venture returns may decline overall, top firms can still achieve outsized gains. One promising investment is Tripledot, a gaming company valued at over $1 billion. https://lnkd.in/esJAXuft

Summary: The article reflects on the changes in the venture capital industry over the past 20 years, as seen through the lens of Uncork Capital's 20th anniversary celebration. Key takeaways: The industry has become significantly larger over the years, with billions of dollars being invested in startups compared to only millions. The rules and norms around VC practices have also shifted, with more flexibility for VCs to invest their own money and back competing companies. Board seats, once seen as valuable investments, are now viewed as potentially hindering a company's growth, with some VCs choosing not to take them. Counter arguments: Some argue that VCs have a fiduciary duty to be actively involved in board meetings and help companies, making the trend of not taking board seats questionable. There is also the concern that founders have limited control over their company's choices, and may have to accept funding from VCs with competing investments. #venturecapital #vc #startups

TechCrunch just published an insightful article on the venture capital industry, featuring interviews with Jeff Clavier and Andy McLoughlin from Uncork Capital. Here are some key takeaways that caught my attention: - Massive Growth: In 2004, venture firms invested around $20 billion in startups. By 2021, that figure had skyrocketed to an astonishing $350 billion. - Shrinking Seed Funds: Andy McLoughlin predicts a reduction in active seed funds in North America from 2,500 today to 1,500, citing a lack of market liquidity: "Until we start seeing real cash coming back – beyond the highlights here and there – it’s just going to be hard." - AI Investments: Despite the current surge in venture capital funding for AI, this trend does not necessarily support sustainable growth for these businesses. Long-term success requires companies to be large and profitable, but many enterprise AI budgets remain limited. I can't help but wonder if we'll see similar trends in the German and European venture capital scene. What will be the lasting impact of the 2021 venture capital boom? 🧐 Gründerszene, Startup Insider, Startup-Verband - are you looking into this?

Bling Capital: Fueling the Growth of Young Startups with a $270M Fund IV Bling Capital, a renowned seed-stage venture capital firm, has once again demonstrated its prowess in identifying and supporting young startups. Led by Benjamin Ling , the firm recently announced the successful close of its $270 million Fund IV. This is a significant milestone for the firm, which has consistently doubled down on promising early-stage companies, making waves across the startup ecosystem. A Two-Pronged Approach The new fund will be split into two distinct strategies: - Seed Investments: A focus on new startup opportunities to capture early-stage innovation. - Follow-On Investments: Dedicated capital for doubling down on portfolio companies that demonstrate exceptional growth potential. This two-pronged strategy highlights Bling Capital’s commitment to nurturing companies throughout their lifecycle, ensuring founders receive the financial backing and guidance necessary to scale. Why It Matters The $270 million raise underscores the continued confidence of LPs (limited partners) in Bling Capital’s ability to deliver results. With a track record of backing startups like Lyft, Square, and Grammarly, the firm has proven its knack for identifying the next wave of unicorns. Ben Ling’s Vision Ben Ling’s experience as an operator at Google, Facebook, and YouTube plays a crucial role in Bling Capital’s success. His hands-on, founder-centric approach differentiates the firm in a crowded VC landscape. Ling often refers to the importance of being a “high-conviction, low-headcount” fund, ensuring that every investment receives tailored attention. Broader Implications for the VC Landscape Bling Capital’s Fund IV represents more than just a substantial raise—it signals the resilience and evolution of venture capital in 2024. As VC firms increasingly prioritize smaller, focused funds over larger, diluted ones, this approach could set a precedent for others in the industry. Looking Ahead Startups supported by Bling Capital can expect not only capital but also strategic guidance from seasoned operators who understand the challenges of scaling a business. With its latest fund, Bling Capital is well-positioned to remain a key player in shaping the future of technology and innovation. TechCrunch #blingcapital #fundraising #lp #limitedpartners #blingcapital #technology #innovation #venturecapital #vcs

It’s been a year since we officially launched the fund, and I am beyond thrilled to share that GrowthCap Ventures has been featured in Outlook Money! In the fast-paced world of startups, choosing the right venture capital partner can make all the difference. At GrowthCap Ventures, we’re not just about providing capital to founders—we’re about empowering early-stage startups in 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵, 𝗦𝗮𝗮𝗦, and 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 with strategic guidance, mentorship, and invaluable industry connections. We’re proud to be an 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿-𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱, working hand-in-hand with our portfolio companies to ensure their success. Our goal is to support 10-12 early-stage companies through this maiden fund, helping them scale with not just money but a full spectrum of support. This coverage includes insights from our LPs and founders on what sets GCV apart and how we are building an operator fund from the ground up. This journey wouldn't be possible without our incredible backers who bring a wealth of experience and industry access to enrich our portfolio companies. To our amazing team— Jenny Mehta, Sakshi Vora, Jash Shah, our investee 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, and everyone who has been part of this journey—thank you for believing in our vision. Together, we’re navigating the startup seas with seasoned expertise, creating and scaling the next generation of innovators. If you're building something exciting, we would love to hear about it! Reach out to us and let’s explore how GrowthCap can help it grow. Here's to building the future, one startup at a time! Link to the full article - https://lnkd.in/d3zwer7T Ravi Shankar, Kapil Garg, Shankar Vailaya, Jayant Kumar, Dr Ritesh Jain, Beerud Sheth, Gaurav Bhojak, Naresh Naik, Ankur Jain, CFA Sanjit Nagarkatti, Pankaj Poddar, Deepak Sharma, Ram Naresh, Gaurav Duggal Mohit Jalan #GrowthCapVentures #StartupSuccess #VentureCapital #Fintech #SaaS #Deeptech #Innovation #Mentorship #StrategicGuidance

🚀 Exciting News Alert! 🚀 Altos Ventures, the renowned Silicon Valley venture capital firm, has just closed a staggering $500 million for its latest fund, marking a significant milestone in the firm's almost three-decade-long journey. With successful investments in companies like Roblox and Coupang, this new fund is poised to take Altos Ventures to new heights and solidify its position as a key player in the tech investment space. Here are some predictions and thoughts on this game-changing development: 1. This massive fund raise is a clear signal that Altos Ventures is gearing up to make even bigger and bolder investments in the tech sector. Expect to see exciting new startups emerging from their portfolio in the coming years. 2. The injection of $500 million will enable Altos Ventures to strengthen its support for innovative companies that are driving the future of technology. This fund will serve as a catalyst for growth and innovation within the startup ecosystem. 3. As Altos Ventures continues to expand its reach and influence in the startup world, we can anticipate seeing a growing number of disruptive technologies and groundbreaking solutions coming out of their investments. With a track record of backing successful companies and a fresh injection of capital, Altos Ventures is well-positioned to make a lasting impact in the tech investment landscape. Stay tuned for what's next as they embark on this exciting new chapter! #AltosVentures #TechInvestment #Innovation #VentureCapital #FutureofTech

Silicon Valley based VC CRV returns $275 million out of its $500 million fund to investors, citing overvaluation of mature startups #CRV, originally known as Charles River Ventures, is a venerable venture capital firm founded in 1970 by William P. Warren and Rick Burnes. With over five decades in the #VC industry, CRV has recently made a significant decision to return $275 million to its investors from its $500 million Select fund. This fund, established in 2022 alongside a $1 billion fund for early-stage #startups, was designed to support later-stage rounds of existing portfolio companies. However, the firm's partners have recognized that investing in follow-on rounds of many mature startups could potentially lower overall returns due to current market overvaluations. By returning more than half of the Select fund's capital, CRV becomes one of the first Silicon Valley venture firms to take such a step in the present economic climate. Additionally, CRV announced that its next early-stage fund will be smaller and that it does not plan to raise another Select fund, signaling a shift towards more cautious investment strategies. This isn't the first time CRV has taken such action. In 2002, following the burst of the dot-com bubble, the firm reduced a fund from $1.2 billion to $450 million. Other prominent venture firms like Kleiner Perkins, Accel, and Redpoint Ventures made similar decisions during that period. CRV's decision comes amid a broader trend of venture capital firms reevaluating their investment approaches due to market uncertainties. For instance, India's largest venture investor, Peak XV, recently announced plans to reduce the size of several funds. These moves indicate a growing awareness within the industry of the need to adapt to changing market conditions to safeguard returns. The article on TechCrunch in the first comment.

Another system (VC) designed for failure, yet look at the real catch; ”most investments aren’t based on data, they’re driven by emotion”. Think about any other system, process, tool, that is exactly the same. Systems need healing just as we do collectively and personally. Intersectional Healing Collective Equity in Change Management. #systemic #leadership #VC #founders

I highly recommend reading this insightful article by Lane Litz, whose perspective I deeply admire. It aligns closely with something I’ve always believed: as a VC, your role isn’t just to show up—it’s to deliver “differentiated” value. Not the generic insights typical of management consultants or former tech professionals, in return for a seat at the table, but real, unique contributions. As a VC, assume right off the bat that the company you’re investing in is among the 97% that won’t succeed. Your job is to help the company shift the odds, helping it break into the 3% that do—all else is equal. And if it still doesn’t succeed despite your best efforts, that’s simply the reality of venture investing. Lane articulates these ideas brilliantly. It’s well worth your time to read!

Austin, Texas is known for more than just its vibrant culture—it’s also a key player in the startup world. So, we've profiled some of the most active and influential VCs in the city, exploring their investment strategies, focus areas, and notable portfolio companies. We also explored how these firms are contributing to Austin's unique startup ecosystem, which blends Texas's business-friendly environment with a strong sense of community and collaboration. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/gXPpVktB Austin Ventures ATX Venture Partners Next Coast Ventures Silverton Partners Keller Capital, LLC Multicoin Capital Unknown Ventures Sapphire Ventures Moonshots Capital LiveOak Ventures Scout Ventures S3 Ventures Quake Capital Partners TEXO Ventures BuildGroup Ecliptic Capital #entrepreneurship #vcfunding #investors #startup #funding #venturecapital #innovation