Venture capital is filled with investors who claim they’ve got inside access to the next big thing. Meanwhile, Gabriel Jarrosson, a French engineer-turned-YouTuber-turned-investor, has built his VC firm around a single filter: If it isn’t a Y Combinator company, he won’t invest in it. That discipline pushed Jarrosson from filming scrappy venture explainers in Paris to managing more than $12 million in assets at Lobster Capital, with a larger second fund already in the works, according to recent SEC filin ...

Core Insights - The primary focus of the article is the resurgence of the Hong Kong IPO market, highlighting increased activity from both limited partners (LPs) and companies seeking to list [3][4][7]. Group 1: Market Activity - Since 2025, the primary market has shown significant activity, with LPs' funding willingness rebounding, leading to an 8% increase in total funding scale and a 26% rise in activity compared to July [3]. - Financial institution LPs saw a 36% increase in funding scale, while financial LPs' activity rose by 7% and funding scale surged by 119%, particularly with notable foreign investments [3]. Group 2: IPO Trends - The Hong Kong IPO market is experiencing a strong comeback, with expectations of over 80 new listings in 2025, raising between 2500 million HKD to 2800 million HKD [8]. - In the first three quarters of this year, 66 new stocks are projected to raise 1823 million HKD, a 47% increase in the number of new stocks and a 228% increase in funding compared to the same period last year [8]. Group 3: Institutional Shifts - There has been a notable shift in institutional attitudes towards Hong Kong, with many VC/PE firms now prioritizing Hong Kong in their strategic plans [11]. - The capital market's activity has significantly increased since September of last year, with trading volume, turnover rates, and the scale of listed companies all experiencing substantial growth [12]. Group 4: Ecosystem Development - The local innovation ecosystem in Hong Kong is maturing, supported by various resources such as universities and guiding funds, facilitating deeper integration between mainland and Hong Kong venture capital ecosystems [13]. - Strategic collaborations are being formed to connect mainland tech companies and investment firms with local partners in Hong Kong [13]. Group 5: Future Outlook - The article concludes that the IPO pipeline in Hong Kong is robust, with ongoing listings from sectors like consumer goods and robotics, indicating a sustained market prosperity [15].

Core Insights - a16z has evolved into a unique entity in the VC industry, moving away from traditional VC practices, with plans to raise $20 billion this year focusing on AI investments [1] - Since its inception in 2009, a16z has generated $25 billion in net returns for LPs, with $11.2 billion in 2021 alone, marking a peak during the SaaS boom [1] - The firm has shifted from seeking high-risk, high-reward early-stage investments to a consensus-driven investment strategy, emphasizing the importance of identifying founders with predictable backgrounds [5][9] Fundraising and Financial Performance - a16z raised $7 billion in management fees in 2021, with potential carry fees increasing this amount significantly [4] - The firm’s fee structure may exceed the industry standard of 2% management and 20% carry, with reports suggesting a cap of 3% and 30% [5] Investment Strategy - a16z's investment approach has transitioned to consensus investing, focusing on founders from elite educational backgrounds and established companies, contrasting with traditional VC's emphasis on non-consensus opportunities [5][9] - The firm has been involved in significant exits, including Coinbase, Robinhood, and Roblox, with substantial returns from these investments [7] Market Dynamics - The influx of capital into leading companies indicates a trend towards consensus capital, where competition among funds drives up valuations, potentially eroding alpha returns [9] - For founders outside the consensus capital circle, there remains an opportunity to attract early-stage investors focused on alpha, as the market continues to evolve [10]

Group 1 - The 2025 Qingdao Venture Capital Conference successfully upgraded from a "Venture Capital Summit" to a "Financial Industry Summit," gathering over a hundred executives and experts to discuss global venture capital market trends [1] - The conference resulted in significant outcomes, including over 45 billion yuan in investment agreements and the successful launch of insurance fund pilot projects, marking Qingdao as the fifth city in China to establish such funds [1] - The conference highlighted two core achievements: the signing of strategic cooperation agreements with four major financial institutions and the establishment of a private securities investment fund with a total scale of 20 billion yuan [1] Group 2 - The conference officially launched the "Action Plan for Promoting High-Quality Development through Fund Leadership (2025-2027)," aiming to create a fund matrix of no less than 300 billion yuan by integrating government-guided funds [2] - The plan sets a phased goal of attracting a total of 15 billion yuan in long-term and patient capital over three years, with the government-guided fund's investment scale reaching 150 billion yuan by 2027 [2] Group 3 - The conference released the "2025 China Venture Capital and Private Equity Industry White Paper," which forecasts that global venture capital investment will approach 440 billion dollars by 2025, with generative artificial intelligence being the most attractive investment area [3] - Key investment sectors identified include intelligent and high-end manufacturing, artificial intelligence and big data, and biotechnology, with the future development of China's venture capital industry focusing on verticalization, international restructuring, and ecosystem building [3] Group 4 - Industry leaders provided insights on financial development, discussing topics such as venture capital direction, the construction of a financial powerhouse, and the high-quality development of equity investment funds [4] - Suggestions for advancing financial modernization included promoting market-oriented financial and technological innovation, deepening financial institution reforms, expanding openness, and ensuring a balance between innovation and safety [4] Group 5 - The conference featured a compact layout with one main forum and five parallel forums, covering industry hotspots and providing a platform for efficient communication and cooperation [5] - Ten quality projects were showcased for roadshows, offering technology innovation companies direct opportunities to engage with investment institutions [5] Group 6 - The conference served as a significant platform for Qingdao to showcase its financial strength and connect global resources, with the launch of the 300 billion yuan fund matrix and the signing of 20 key cooperation projects expected to optimize the venture capital ecosystem [6] - The developments are anticipated to attract more long-term capital and quality projects, injecting strong financial momentum into economic restructuring and high-quality industrial development [6]

Company Overview - Theta Capital Management, based in Amsterdam, is raising $200 million for its new blockchain fund-of-funds, Theta Blockchain Ventures V, which will invest in 10 to 15 specialized crypto venture firms targeting a 25% net internal rate of return [1] - The firm has shifted its focus to digital assets since 2018 and currently manages approximately $1.2 billion [1] Fundraising Context - The fundraising effort occurs amid challenging market conditions, with only $1.7 billion allocated to 21 crypto-focused venture funds in Q2 2025 [2] - Despite the difficulties, Theta recently closed a separate fundraising round of over $170 million [3] Performance Metrics - Theta's previous five funds in the Theta Blockchain Ventures series have achieved a 32.7% net internal rate of return from January 2018 through December 2024 [3] - The firm has invested over $600 million in crypto-native venture capital funds since 2017, positioning itself as one of the largest institutional allocators in the blockchain industry [5] Market Insights - The crypto venture capital sector is facing headwinds, with increased interest in artificial intelligence diverting attention from crypto investments [6] - Despite these challenges, Web3 startups raised $9.6 billion in Q2 2025, indicating selective recovery in certain segments [7] - Infrastructure-focused sectors, such as validator networks and mining operations, have seen the highest median round sizes in recent quarters [7] Strategic Insights - Ruud Smets, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer, noted that crypto-native venture firms have a sustainable edge due to their early experience in the market, making it difficult for generalist VCs to compete [4] - The fund-of-funds model allows institutional investors to gain diversified exposure to early-stage blockchain startups through established venture capital intermediaries [4]

Core Viewpoint - The company, Chuangchuang Venture Capital, officially clarifies that recent rumors regarding "mandatory employee co-investment" are false, emphasizing that no such policy exists [1] Group 1: Company Policies - Chuangchuang Venture Capital adheres to investment principles of "market-oriented, professional, and compliant" practices [1] - The co-investment mechanism is based on the principle of "voluntary participation, risk-bearing," aimed at encouraging the team to evaluate projects more prudently and actively support post-investment [1] Group 2: Industry Practices - Providing voluntary co-investment opportunities for key employees is a common practice in the primary market, facilitating a win-win situation among institutions, entrepreneurs, and investors [1]

Core Insights - The essence of leadership is making decisive choices in difficult situations, as hesitation can lead to worse outcomes [3][14][22] - Successful leadership involves making unpopular decisions that create value, rather than conforming to group consensus [7][22] - The journey of entrepreneurship is filled with struggles and pain, which are essential for growth and success [12][33] Leadership and Decision-Making - Leaders must develop the mental strength to make choices in the face of adversity, often opting for the "less bad" option [4][14] - The biggest mistake a CEO can make is to hesitate, especially when both options seem unfavorable [13][14] - Effective leadership is about influencing those who do not report directly to the leader, emphasizing the importance of indirect impact [7][22] Entrepreneurship and Founder Psychology - A non-rational desire to create something meaningful is essential for entrepreneurship; pursuing money alone is insufficient [23][24] - Founders must possess a vision that transcends financial gain, focusing on making a significant impact [24] - The ability to confront fears and make tough decisions is crucial for a CEO's success [13][16] Building Effective Teams - A CEO's role is to assemble a world-class team rather than trying to develop every individual into a top performer [28][29] - The transition from a technical role to a CEO requires a shift in mindset, focusing on high-level decision-making rather than micromanagement [28][29] - Leaders should prioritize finding individuals who can elevate the company rather than attempting to improve underperformers [28][29] Investment and Market Insights - The common wisdom of quickly building a senior management team to achieve product-market fit can lead to chaos if not managed carefully [39][40] - Experienced hires can accelerate business growth, contradicting the notion that startups should avoid seasoned professionals [40] - The perception of a bubble in the AI sector may not reflect reality; often, when everyone believes there is a bubble, it is not the case [50][51][52]

Core Viewpoint - Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has strongly denied a Financial Times report suggesting that his venture capital firm YZi Labs is planning to raise outside capital, labeling the article as "fake news" and asserting that YZi Labs has never pitched to external investors [1][3][6] Group 1: YZi Labs Overview - YZi Labs, rebranded from Binance Labs earlier this year, is a $10 billion venture capital firm managing CZ's estimated $80 billion fortune along with funds from Yi He and early Binance executives [4] - The firm has investments in over 250 projects, including notable names like Polygon, Aptos, and CertiK, and has expanded its focus beyond cryptocurrency to include AI and biotech [4] Group 2: Response to Financial Times Report - The Financial Times article suggested that YZi Labs was evolving from a family office into an externally facing investment vehicle, indicating potential expansion plans due to regulatory discussions and investor interest [2][6] - CZ refuted the claims made by the Financial Times, emphasizing that there has been no communication regarding fundraising efforts and criticized the media for conflating different issues related to his legal situation [3][5]

Funding News - Archetype, a crypto VC firm, secures over $100 million for its third fund [1] - The fund is backed by global institutions [1]

Core Insights - The investment landscape in Shanghai is undergoing a significant transformation, characterized by the deep integration of capital, industry, and talent, leading to a collaborative value creation methodology that is taking root and generating new possibilities [1] Group 1 - The shift in the venture capital environment in Shanghai indicates a move towards a more integrated approach, combining various elements to foster innovation and growth [1] - The emphasis on collaboration among capital, industry, and talent suggests a strategic pivot that could enhance the effectiveness of investment initiatives [1] - The concept of value co-creation is becoming a foundational principle in the Shanghai venture capital scene, indicating a shift from traditional investment models to more dynamic and interactive frameworks [1]