Venture Capital Heritage - Draper 家族在风险投资领域具有深厚的历史渊源，祖父于 1957 年创立 Draper Gaither Andersen [1] - 父亲是风险投资的先驱，创建了 Sutter Hill Partners，并且是印度第一家风险投资公司 [1] Mission - Tim Draper 的使命是传播风险投资和企业家精神 [1]

Core Insights - The Startup Battlefield 200 global pitch competition at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 will take place from October 27–29 in San Francisco, with a $100,000 equity-free prize for the winner [1] - Twenty founders will present their companies, and a panel of expert judges will determine the winner [1] - The competition is described as the "World Series" of pitch competitions, highlighting its significance in the startup ecosystem [2] Judges and Expertise - Jon Chu, a partner at Khosla Ventures, has a strong background in machine learning and enterprise infrastructure, having previously worked at Palantir, Docker, and Facebook [5][6] - Eryk Dobrushkin, a partner at Index Ventures, focuses on investments in artificial intelligence, infrastructure, and robotics, with prior experience at Databricks and Boston Consulting Group [7][8]

Group 1: IIT Placements - The placement season at Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) has commenced with strong recruiter interest, particularly from trading firms like Jane Street and Millennium Management [1][3][16] - IIT Kharagpur and IIT BHU anticipate surpassing last year's placement offers, with IIT BHU expecting to exceed 1,405 offers [5][16] - IITs are enhancing their appeal to recruiters by showcasing cutting-edge research and providing training in soft skills and leadership [6][16] Group 2: SoftBank Vision Fund - SoftBank's Vision Fund is laying off 20% of its global staff as part of a strategic shift towards artificial intelligence investments, particularly the $500 billion Stargate project with OpenAI [8][16] - The Vision Fund has seen its third round of layoffs since 2022, despite reporting a net profit of $2.87 billion in Q1, its best performance since mid-2021 [8][16] - Over the past year, SoftBank has invested $9.7 billion in OpenAI and acquired stakes in Nvidia and Intel to bolster its AI ecosystem [8][16] Group 3: Pepperfry Acquisition - Realty services firm TCC Concept has signed a term sheet to acquire up to 100% of Pepperfry, although the deal value and closure timeline remain undisclosed [9][16] - The acquisition aims to enhance TCC's presence in e-commerce and digital marketplaces, while Pepperfry seeks a new direction after years of declining growth and a failed IPO attempt [9][10][16] - Pepperfry's FY24 operating revenue fell by 30.6% to ₹188.9 crore, but losses decreased by 37.4% to ₹117.4 crore [10][16] Group 4: Digital Payments for Russian Tourists - Sberbank has partnered with Indian digital payments app Cheq to enable QR-code-based UPI payments for Russian tourists in India, circumventing Visa and Mastercard networks [11][16] - This initiative allows foreign tourists without Indian bank accounts to utilize UPI, enhancing payment accessibility in India [11][16] Group 5: Digital Personal Data Privacy (DPDP) Act - India is set to finalize the rules for the Digital Personal Data Privacy (DPDP) Act by September 28, 2025, after a decade of development [14][16] - The DPDP Act aims to establish a legal framework for processing personal data, focusing on privacy and the handling of children's data [15][16]

Core Insights - AZ-VC has launched its second fund, AZ-VC II, to support innovation outside traditional U.S. tech hubs, building on the success of its first fund, which raised $115 million [1][2] - The firm aims to address the funding gap for non-coastal entrepreneurs, who often face challenges in securing initial funding from coastal venture capitalists [3][4] Company Overview - AZ-VC is a venture capital firm based in Phoenix, Arizona, focusing on non-coastal technology companies across the U.S. [6] - The firm was established in 2022, with backing from Pinnacle West Corporation and other Arizona-based limited partners [1] Investment Strategy - The fund targets Series A investments in companies that are post-revenue with proven product-market fit, maintaining a sector-agnostic approach [3] - AZ-VC's investment entry point offers an average valuation discount of 70% compared to similar coastal companies, aiming to create an arbitrage opportunity [4] Market Context - In 2024, nearly 75% of venture capital was allocated to companies in California, New York, and Massachusetts, despite these states representing only about 22% of the U.S. population [4] - The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant migration patterns, allowing entrepreneurs to stretch their budgets further in non-coastal areas [4] Portfolio and Impact - The first fund has invested in various regional startups, reinforcing the demand for local financial capital sources [2] - The acquisition of Paradox, a Scottsdale-based company, by Workday highlights the growing regional investment strategies and the potential for significant M&A activity in Arizona [4]

The Vision Fund of SoftBank Group Corp is laying off 20 per cent of its workers amid founder Masayoshi Son’s attempt to shift focus to artificial intelligence, multiple reports said on Friday.According to the report by Bloomberg quoting sources, the Vision Fund unit of SoftBank is likely to let go of over 50 employees as part of the job cut. As of end of March this year, Vision Fund employed about 282 people.The Vision Fund layoffs is part of years of cutbacks as the unit lost its importance as compared to ...

Venture capitalist Deedy Das found himself in Japan in August with two commitments pulling him in different directions: a marriage proposal and a fast-moving startup deal. While celebrating with his girlfriend at temples and hot springs, a founder he had been in contact with for eight months texted to say he was raising capital, Business Insider reported. Das coordinated with colleagues from the trip and secured a handshake agreement the day after returning to California, a move that reflected the moment ...

SoftBank Group will lay off nearly 20% of its Vision Fund team globally as it shifts resources to founder Masayoshi Son's large-scale artificial intelligence bets in the United States, according to a ... ...

Core Insights - A new $50 million fund named Onigiri Capital is established to connect Latin American startups with institutional investors from Asia [1] - The Managing Partner Qin En Looi emphasizes the importance of this connection in the current market landscape [1] - The fund aims to leverage the growing role of real-world assets in the blockchain sector [1] - Onigiri Capital is focused on developing the next generation of financial products and services [1]

Dawn Capital’s latest partner, Shamillah Bankiya, stopped by Equity this week to talk about the European landscape and the biggest misconceptions Americans have about the European startup world. Dawn Capital is a marquee firm in the UK with more than $2 billion in AUM, 34 exits, and 11 unicorns. Names in the portfolio consist of names including AI companies Collibra and Dataiku. It focuses on early-stage companies, backing them from seed to Series C. It’s currently investing from its $620 million Fund V. ...

Core Insights - Creekstone Ventures is a newly established VC fund focused on early-stage AI investments, emphasizing the transformative potential of AI and the capabilities of young entrepreneurs [2][11]. Group 1: Vision and Mission - The company believes in the disruptive potential of AI, cognitive-driven innovation, and the ability of young people to change the world [2][11]. - Creekstone Ventures aims to support entrepreneurs by providing not just funding but also insights, resources, and a network of advisors [13][15]. Group 2: Investment Strategy - The company focuses on early-stage investments, recognizing the increasing competition in the AI funding landscape, and is committed to supporting "small but beautiful" innovations [14]. - Creekstone Ventures has established a global advisory network to assist startups in finding suitable partners and achieving milestones [15]. Group 3: Long-term Commitment - The company emphasizes the importance of patience in AI technology maturation, citing examples like Writer and OpenAI to illustrate the value of sustained effort and iterative development [17]. - Creekstone Ventures is dedicated to building long-term relationships with entrepreneurs, positioning itself as a reliable partner in their journey [17]. Group 4: Opportunities in AI - The company identifies significant opportunities in the AI sector, particularly in leveraging China's infrastructure advantages and large user base for disruptive innovation [19]. - It highlights the importance of open-source technology and the need for dynamic infrastructure to support AI applications [20]. Group 5: Principles for Collaboration - Creekstone Ventures advocates for a belief in the positive potential of technology, the value of cognitive breakthroughs, and the importance of learning from failures [22]. - The company emphasizes the need to give young innovators the time and space to develop their ideas, asserting that the future of AI belongs to those who can adapt quickly [22].