Start-up
I took a 2-day ‘vibe coding’ class and successfully built a product. Here are my biggest takeaways
I challenged myself to a two-day “vibe coding” bootcamp. Courtesy of Ernestine Siu As someone who chats with startup founders for a living, I’ve always admired the “builders.” I have a lot of respect for their technical ability to dream up an idea and code it into existence, but it’s not something I could ever […]
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From unicorns to brick-and-mortar: VCs in Southeast Asia get cold feet as they switch bets
Funding by VC investors in tech-based companies has declined by about 79% between 2022 and 2024, from around $10.1 billion to approximately $2.2 billion, according to data intelligence platform Tracxn. Koumaru | Istock | Getty Images Venture capitalists typically have a strong appetite for risk, but some investors in Southeast Asia are becoming increasingly cautious. […]
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Adobe takes stake in Synthesia, startup behind AI clones for corporate videos
An Adobe sign hangs along Main Street during the 2025 Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 27, 2025 in Park City, Utah. David Becker | Getty Images LONDON — Adobe has invested in Synthesia, a British artificial intelligence startup, in a bet that the technology will transform video production. Synthesia told CNBC that Adobe’s venture capital […]
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With IPOs on hold even longer, tariffs spell trouble for private tech investors
A VIX volatility index chart on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, US, on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. Federal Reserve officials held their benchmark interest rate steady for a second straight meeting, though they telegraphed expectations for slower economic growth and higher inflation. Photographer: Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | […]
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Many senior venture capitalists are leaving big firms. Insiders boil it down to a few reasons
“Big firms have gotten much, much bigger,” said Alexandre Lazarow, managing partner of Fluent Ventures. “At the same time, there’s been an explosion of [small] venture capital firms … so I think we’ve seen the rise of specialization and the rise of regionalization in tech.” Johnnygreig | E+ | Getty Images The venture capital industry […]
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French fintech Pennylane doubles valuation to $2.2 billion as Alphabet’s venture capital arm takes stake
Seksan Mongkhonkhamsao | Moment | Getty Images French accounting software firm Pennylane has doubled its valuation to 2 billion euros ($2.16 billion) in a new 75 million euro funding round. Pennylane told CNBC that it raised the fresh funds from a host of venture funds, with Sequoia Capital leading the round and Alphabet’s CapitalG, Meritech […]
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Trump’s tariffs could mean big business for supply chain software startup LightSource
LightSource cofounders: CTO Idan Mintz and CEO Spencer Penn Courtesy: LightSource With President Donald Trump set to impose sweeping tariffs on a wide swath of U.S. trading partners this week, corporate America is awash in uncertainty. LightSource, a San Francisco startup whose software helps companies manage their procurement process, costs and vendor relationships, didn’t know […]
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Silicon Valley bubble risks heighten as investors pile into funds that bet on a single buzzy startup
One of the most popular acronyms in Silicon Valley these days is SPV. It stands for special purpose vehicle. In tech startup land, it’s a type of investment fund that typically involves concentrating all of its assets in one company. SPVs have blown up in recent years as investors clamor to get a piece of […]
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Meet the investor behind billionaire Melinda French Gates’ bets on women-led funds and startups
A version of this article first appeared in CNBC’s Inside Wealth newsletter with Robert Frank, a weekly guide to the high-net-worth investor and consumer. Sign up to receive future editions, straight to your inbox. Melinda French Gates has committed $2 billion to promote women’s rights and economic mobility. In 2015, she set up her family […]
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Obvious Ventures, co-founded by Twitter’s Evan Williams, plans to raise $400 million fund
Medium Founder & CEO Ev Williams speaks during the Web Summit 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal on November 8, 2018. Pedro Fiúza | Nurphoto | Getty Images Obvious Ventures, the venture capital firm co-founded by Twitter’s Evan Williams, has filed to raise $400 million for its latest fund, according to a regulatory filing. The filing for […]
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