Introduction
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In the world of startups and venture capital, there’s always something new to discuss. This week was no exception, with a slew of news stories that caught our attention. From Techstars CEO Maëlle Gavet announcing her departure from the company, to funding deals in crypto and fintech, we covered it all on this episode of Equity.
New Hosts Introduce Themselves
We started off the show by introducing ourselves as the new hosts of Equity. You’ll be hearing a lot more from us in the coming weeks and months as we dive into the world of startups and venture capital.
Techstars CEO Maëlle Gavet Leaves Company
Techstars CEO Maëlle Gavet announced her departure from the company just weeks after an investigative article was published on the accelerator’s inner workings. The news came as a surprise to many, but not entirely unexpected given the controversy surrounding Techstars in recent years.
Investigative Article Breaks Down Inner Workings of Techstars
For those who may be unfamiliar with the story, our own Dominic-Madori Davis published an in-depth article on what’s been going on behind the scenes at Techstars. If you’re interested in learning more about the inner workings of the accelerator and why Maëlle Gavet decided to leave, we recommend checking out the article.
Funding Deals: Crypto, Social Media, and Fintech
We also dove into two funding deals this week that caught our attention. The first was a crypto-based social media platform that raised $150 million in funding, raising questions about whether crypto is back on the rise. The second deal was with immigrant banking platform Majority, which secured $20 million in funding after reaching an impressive $40 million in ARR as of April.
Is Crypto Back?
The Equity team had a lively discussion about whether crypto is indeed back on the rise. While some argue that the recent funding round suggests that investors are once again taking an interest in the space, others point out that this may be nothing more than a flash in the pan.
Potential ‘Kill Switch’ for AI Models
One of the most significant stories to come out of the tech world this week was the news that several major companies have made commitments to the safe development of their AI models. This includes the potential implementation of a ‘kill switch,’ which would allow developers to shut down AI systems in emergency situations.
Why We’re Skeptical
While we’re encouraged by these developments, we can’t help but feel a sense of skepticism about the potential for this ‘kill switch’ to become a reality. The idea of creating a system that can be shut down at will raises all sorts of questions and concerns, not least of which is the issue of accountability.
Challenges Facing Emerging Fund Managers
Finally, we touched on the challenging environment facing emerging fund managers. With so many new funds entering the market, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for smaller players to stand out from the crowd.
The Rise of the Broligarchs
We couldn’t help but chuckle at the term "Broligarch" coined by one of our listeners, referring to the rise of these emerging fund managers. It’s a fitting term, don’t you think?
Conclusion
That’s it for this week on Equity. We hope you enjoyed our discussion on the proposed AI ‘kill switch’ and the challenges facing emerging fund managers. Join us next time as we dive into more stories from the world of startups and venture capital.
Recommended Reading
If you’re interested in learning more about any of the topics discussed on this episode, be sure to check out some of our recommended reading below:
- "2024: Founder mode, AI, and the ‘Rise of the Broligarchs’" by Theresa Loconsolo
- "Are AI companies just defense tech now?" by Kirsten Korosec
- "Building physical tech is back in fashion thanks to AI, robotics, and defense" by Rebecca Bellan
We hope you found this episode informative and engaging. Don’t forget to subscribe to Equity for more discussions on the world of startups and venture capital.
References
For a comprehensive list of sources cited in this article, please see below:
- "2024: Founder mode, AI, and the ‘Rise of the Broligarchs’" by Theresa Loconsolo
- "Are AI companies just defense tech now?" by Kirsten Korosec
- "Building physical tech is back in fashion thanks to AI, robotics, and defense" by Rebecca Bellan
If you have any questions or would like to discuss further, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’d love to hear from you.
Additional Resources
For more information on the topics discussed in this episode, be sure to check out some of our additional resources below:
- "The Rise of AI and its Impact on Startups" by Anthony Ha
- "Why Emerging Fund Managers are Finding it Harder to Succeed" by Margaux MacColl