David Bogoslaw

To address Europe's 'Series B Death Valley' for climate tech companies, World Fund has set aside €200m of its new €300m fund for follow-on investments in its best-performing companies.

The average fund size dropped to $115m in Q1 2024, its lowest point in about five years, according to new research from Venture Capital Journal.

'We did have indications that the fundraise could close at over $400 million right up until the crash of Silicon Valley Bank in March of 2023,' says founder Sean O’Sullivan.

They make up just a small portion of the venture industry, but women who have managed to break into the business are thriving, judging by Venture Capital Journal's most popular stories this week.

The newly named partner sees lots of opportunity to invest between the foundational model and app layer of the AI stack.

Four VC firms are betting that leveraging each other’s scientific knowledge, deal flow and professional networks can better support founders and help identify customers to help their portfolio companies survive amid capital constraints.

With a single dry close enabled by proactive existing LPs, the new fund means to address some of the world’s most intractable problems, from access to financial products to retraining of workers displaced by technology.

A surge of investment in climate- and sustainability-focused companies in Europe has swelled the ranks of tech and non-tech workers eager to join such companies, while rising quality of life considerations are influencing where people choose to work.

With more than 25% of total capital invested in European tech companies going to the carbon and energy sector, sustainability-focused start-ups have attracted tech workers from other parts of the world.

With backgrounds in economic development, the VC firm’s co-founders are trying to raise the profiles of African tech start-ups that are addressing some of the continent’s toughest problems and highlight new venture destinations for investors.