A record $300 million was invested in Wisconsin ventures last year, as maturing businesses pulled in larger funding rounds. But a continued decrease in the number of firms raising their first outside capital could signal trouble for the state’s pipeline of budding startups. Those are some of the key takeaways from the latest Wisconsin Portfolio, an annual report produced by…
TDK announced that it has established TDK Ventures as a $50 million corporate venture capital fund to invest in early-stage startups in material science, energy and power, and related areas, such as semiconductors. These kinds of hardware companies are typically underrepresented in venture capital investments, which is why the company is seeking to bolster the field by applying its 85…
Is venture capital funding becoming obsolete? As The New York Times reports, some entrepreneurs are starting to reject offers of funding, suggesting that founders are trending away from the traditional VC model. More than that, we're seeing leaders in the startup space outwardly express the need to shift focus away from VC funding. Bryce Roberts, co-founder of O'Reilly AlphaTech Ventures,…
In any industry where individuals serve as professional fiduciaries, there are typically degree programs, mandated training, certification, continuing education, and oversight. This includes diverse fields like medicine, law, accounting, real estate, and so on. But not so in venture capital and private equity, which remain a “Wild West” where rule-breaking is a foundational principle. This philosophy can have enormous psychological…
Advances in technology have given way to a proliferation of new startups. So, when it comes time to begin looking for those elusive investor meetings, you’re competing against more startups to secure time with investors. This competitive buyer’s market also holds the potential to drive down valuations, and even what once was considered the typical funding round. So in a…