“Some venture capitalists call this a make-or-break year for OpenAI.” On “The Intelligence” @HenryTricks takes stock of the firm as it burns through mountains of cash. Listen now https://t.co/mTn09jwC1X https://t.co/92bJfPZA4u ...

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly state an investment rating for the Netherlands market Core Insights - The Dutch economy is projected to grow by 1.8% in 2025, supported by consumption and government spending, while inflation has slowed to 2.8% in December 2025 [9] - Private equity (PE) deal activity in Q4 2025 was the weakest of the year, with limited US investor participation impacting dealmaking [10] - Venture capital (VC) deal value improved in 2025, with significant rounds raised by companies like Picnic and Perpetual Next, indicating a trend towards fewer but larger transactions [12][13] - The AEX index finished 2025 up by 8.3%, underperforming compared to other major indexes, largely due to its concentrated composition [15] Market Overview - The Netherlands recorded a deal value of €6.4 billion in Q4 2025, with a median deal size of €34.9 million and a year-to-date return of 8.3% [7] - The private equity fundraising continued to slow in 2025, with notable fund closures including Bencis raising €625 million and Nyver raising €335 million [11][12] - The venture capital fundraising remained low throughout 2025, although four of the five largest VC fund closes occurred in Q4, indicating a slight increase in market confidence [14] Private Equity Activity - PE exit activity was stronger in the second half of 2025, highlighted by Blackstone's sale of NIBC Bank for €960 million [11] - The report notes a higher proportion of add-on acquisitions relative to primary buyouts and growth deals in the Dutch PE market [10] Venture Capital Activity - The largest VC rounds in Q4 2025 included Picnic raising €430 million and Perpetual Next raising €207 million [12] - Two new unicorns were added in 2025: Destinus with a valuation of €1.5 billion and Framer at €1.7 billion [13] Public Equity Market - The AEX index's performance was hindered by weaker performances from technology and consumer-oriented stocks, despite a rebound in ASML shares [15] - Unilever's IPO of its ice cream business, The Magnum Ice Cream Company, marked the only public listing in Q4 2025, with a market cap of nearly €8 billion [15]

Group 1 - The core argument presented is that globalization has failed the West and the U.S., leading to a call for an "America First" approach that prioritizes American workers and industries [4][5][6]. - U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick emphasizes that over-reliance on foreign countries for essential products can create vulnerabilities, particularly in critical industries like medicine and semiconductors [2][3]. - Recent data suggests that the U.S. is experiencing a narrowing trade deficit, indicating a potential success in the trade war, with trading partners continuing to purchase more American goods and services [7][8]. Group 2 - Major companies are showing confidence in the U.S. economy, with significant investments announced, such as Toyota's $10 billion investment in U.S. operations, TSMC's $100 billion for chip manufacturing, and Hyundai's $26 billion for steel, automotive, and robotics production [9]. - The U.S. stock market has demonstrated strong performance, with the S&P 500 returning 16% in 2025 and approximately 79% over the past five years, reflecting the resilience of the American economy [14][16]. - Real estate remains a cornerstone of wealth-building in America, with platforms like Arrived allowing investments in rental homes starting at $100, making real estate accessible to a broader range of investors [21][23].

Core Insights - The S&P 500 index fund is recommended for most investors as it provides exposure to 500 of America's largest companies, offering diversification without the need for active trading [1][2] - Long-term investment in American businesses through the stock market has historically generated significant wealth, with optimism about future growth [2] - The S&P 500 saw a return of approximately 16% in 2025 and has increased roughly 80% over the past five years, indicating a strong market performance [3] Market Performance - The Dow Jones Industrial Average is nearing 49,400, with expectations to reach 50,000, suggesting continued bullish sentiment in the market [4] - Recent market fluctuations, including a 2.1% drop in the S&P 500, are part of normal market behavior, even during strong uptrends [3][4] Investment Accessibility - Investment platforms like Acorns allow individuals to invest in an S&P 500 ETF with as little as $5, making investing accessible to a broader audience [8] - Moby provides simplified stock research, with its recommendations outperforming the S&P 500 by nearly 12% on average over four years, catering to both novice and experienced investors [9] Venture Capital Opportunities - Fundrise has disrupted traditional venture capital by allowing retail investors to invest in private tech companies with a minimum investment of $10, focusing on transformative technologies like AI [11] - The venture capital product managed by Fundrise has grown significantly, managing billions in private market assets [11] Real Estate Investment - Real estate remains a key asset class for wealth-building, with properties providing reliable income even during economic downturns [13][14] - Lightstone Group, a major player in real estate investment, offers access to institutional-quality properties with a strong historical performance [15][16] Financial Advisory Services - Advisor.com connects individuals with vetted financial advisors to tailor investment strategies based on personal financial situations, enhancing the decision-making process for investors [18][19]

Group 1 - Sequoia Capital is participating in a significant funding round for Anthropic, an AI startup, despite previously investing in competitors OpenAI and xAI [1][4] - The funding round is led by Singapore's GIC and U.S. investor Coatue, each contributing $1.5 billion, with Anthropic aiming to raise $25 billion at a valuation of $350 billion, more than double its previous valuation of $170 billion [3] - Microsoft and Nvidia have committed up to $15 billion combined, with additional contributions from VCs and other investors expected to exceed $10 billion [3] Group 2 - OpenAI CEO Sam Altman indicated that investors with access to OpenAI's confidential information would lose that access if they made non-passive investments in competitors, which is considered an industry standard protection [2] - Sequoia's historical ties with Altman include backing him during his startup Loopt and supporting his connections with successful companies like Stripe [4] - Sequoia's investment in xAI is viewed as a strategy to strengthen ties with Elon Musk rather than a direct competition with OpenAI [4]

In a world of venture capital, we all sell the same thing. Guom, you know, VCs, they all sell you the same thing. Knowledge. I'm really smart at SAS. I'm really smart at fintech. That's why I'm great. Or network. I was at Meta for 10 years, and so I know everyone spinning out of Meta. I say, "No, no, no, no. I am average IQ. I'm not that special, but I create products that my customers, which are founders, want to buy.And my biggest product is media and distribution. We have millions of fans and we have hun ...

If you're looking for the extreme outlier, the venture capital business is 100% a game of outliers. [music] It's extreme exceptions on the order of 4,000 venture fundable companies a year that want to raise venture capital. About 200 of those will get funded by what's considered a top tier VC. [music] Um about 15 of those will someday get to $100 million in revenue.And those 15 from that year uh will generate something on the order of 97% of all the returns for the entire category of venture capital in that ...

What virtually everybody finds, including Elon Musk, is the real world is just really, really big and really, really messy. >> The AI thing is so interesting, right? Because from a technology perspective, it feels like you can build products pretty immediately that are going to win. >> Our entire way of doing everything as humans, we think it's going to change. We reinvented the computer and the new computer is far better than the one that we have been building on for the last 50 or so years. The purpose of ...

Group 1: Startup Investing Insights - The high-risk nature of startup investing can be appealing to high-net-worth investors with diversified portfolios, but average investors may benefit more from guaranteed returns and low-risk options [1] - The commonly cited statistic that 90% of startups fail is likely exaggerated; Harvard Business School estimates the actual figure is closer to 75% [2] - Mark Cuban, known for his role on Shark Tank, has invested in at least 85 startup ideas, but his overall investment deals on the show resulted in a net loss [5] Group 2: Investment Strategies and Lessons - Cuban's investment success rate is not unusual compared to the general performance of the startup asset class [2] - Key lessons for everyday investors include starting small to test risk tolerance, diversifying investments across various sectors, and focusing on established businesses with strong track records [11][15] - Cuban's portfolio includes a wide range of investments beyond startups, which contributes to his continued wealth despite failures [15] Group 3: Real Estate and Alternative Investments - Real estate remains a robust market for investors, with platforms offering fractional ownership in properties, allowing for monthly rental income and appreciation without significant upfront costs [17][19] - Commercial real estate is also gaining interest, with a Deloitte survey indicating that nearly 75% of leaders in the sector plan to increase investments due to its inflation-hedging benefits [21] - Gold is highlighted as a safe haven investment, providing stability during market downturns, and can be included in retirement portfolios through gold IRAs [24][25] Group 4: Art as an Investment - Fine art is presented as a low-correlation asset class that can diversify portfolios, with historical performance showing strong rebound potential [27][28] - Masterworks allows investors to own fractional shares of high-value artworks, yielding significant annualized returns [29]

Company Expansion - P10, Inc. has opened a new office in Dubai within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), licensed by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) [1] - This expansion reflects P10's long-term commitment to the UAE and aims to support client partnerships across the Middle East [1][2] Leadership Statements - Luke Sarsfield, P10 Chairman and CEO, emphasized the importance of having a local presence in the DIFC, highlighting the UAE's stability and leadership in creating a diversified economy [2] - Sarita Jairath, P10 Global Head of Client Solutions, expressed excitement about building P10's presence in Dubai, noting the city's commitment to innovation and infrastructure as attractive for global investors [2] Company Overview - P10 manages over $40 billion in assets as of September 30, 2025, focusing on Private Equity, Private Credit, and Venture Capital in access-constrained strategies [3] - The company targets the middle and lower-middle market and aims to deliver compelling risk-adjusted returns to a global investor base [3]