EverythingStartups Weekly

Welcome to everyone new here who signed up last week!

Quick intro:

• EverythingStartups for more 🙂 

• New Instagram account with more great startup & VC content (still working on the consistency there though).

I don’t often listen to podcasts but this week I really enjoyed listening to Harry Stebbings’ chat with Managing Director Miles Dieffenbach on the hidden risks of seed funds and multi-stage strategies. and why most LPs shouldn’t be in venture (link is in the Interesting Reads section below).

Also, I have a special announcement soon about a new launch & partnership, for investors specifically, so stay tuned 😉 

Let’s get into this week’s edition on what’s happening in startup & VC world & the main highlights.

But first, check out these resources:

• 120+ Active Pre-Seed - Series A investors

• 48 pre-seed accelerators

• Latest VC funds announced

• 350+ SaaS investors

• LPs investing in VC funds

• Understanding founder vs VC investment memos

Partnership & collaboration opportunities. 

Cheers,
Ivelina

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Important News 🟣

What people are talking about…

• Bullish shares surge in NYSE debut after the crypto exchange prices its IPO at $37, raising $1.1 billion and opening at $90. CEO Tom Farley credited strong institutional demand for digital assets.

• Forbes’ 2025 list of the next billion-dollar startups. Unsurprisingly, artificial intelligence dominates this year. 20 of the 25 companies are AI-focused, with applications in military, accounting and health tech.

• OpenAI rolls back changes after user backlash to GPT-5, bringing back GPT-4o and other legacy models. The company also raised usage limits for subscribers and pledged more transparency on model options and performance.

• PitchBook reports 41% of all US VC dollars in 2025 have gone to just 10 startups, eight of them AI companies. OpenAI raised $40 billion in the largest VC deal ever and investors are warning of the risks of extreme capital concentration.

• Perplexity AI makes an unsolicited $34.5 billion bid for Google’s Chrome browser, following DOJ calls for a spinoff after its antitrust win, with investors reportedly backing the AI startup’s offer.

• Aalyria, a Google spin-off from the Loon project, beams a 100Gbps internet connection over 40 miles using its Tightbeam laser system. They aim to bring high-capacity broadband to remote land, sea, and air locations.

• Slow Ventures’ $60 million Creator Fund makes its first investment, putting $2 million into woodworking YouTuber Jonathan Katz-Moses to expand his tools business, product development, and educational content.

Interesting Links 🟣

These caught my eye this week…

• AI is creating billionaires at record speed. Mega-fundraises for Anthropic, OpenAI, Safe Superintelligence, and Anysphere have pushed the AI unicorn count to 498 worth $2.7T, fueling a Bay Area wealth boom reminiscent of the dot-com era.

• US VCs are pouring into Israel’s cyber scene. Since Alphabet’s $32B Wiz acquisition, North American firms have led mega-rounds for Cato Networks and Cyera, pushing valuations higher and pricing local investors out. Local VCs are shifting focus to fintech, AI, and supply chain tech.

• Figma’s IPO pop wasn’t a $3B mistake. The surge, the biggest since 1999, was driven by a small float, roadshow buzz, and trader demand, not simply mispricing. OnlyCFO notes most of the “money left on the table” would have gone to insiders, not the company.

• AI layoffs could spark a cascade. In his latest post, Daniel Miessler warns of a near-term chain reaction: mass knowledge worker unemployment, surging debt defaults, business closures, and public panic. This could push the US into crisis, even if each factor alone might be manageable.

• 20VC: Inside Carnegie Mellon’s $4B endowment. In a candid 90-minute podcast, Managing Director Miles Dieffenbach unpacks why most LPs shouldn’t be in venture, the hidden risks of seed funds and multi-stage strategies, and how brand often trumps performance in capital allocation.

• Most pitch decks miss the mark. Highline Beta’s Ben Yoskovitz reviewed 50 early-stage decks and found recurring flaws: weak design, no narrative, missing “Why Now?”, generic GTM slides. Wins? Clear storytelling, front-loaded traction, and customer-driven strategies.

• Startups don’t die in mysterious ways. Recursive Ventures’ Itamar Novick, maps 75 recurring failure patterns, from “if we build it, they will come” to founder arrogance and design-by-committee.

🎙️ 38 Funds for Female Founders

Securing funding as a female founder is challenging, but, there's a growing ecosystem of investors who are specifically committed to backing women-led innovation and closing the gender gap in venture capital.

In this post you can check out 𝟑𝟖 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 spanning everything from AI and fintech to healthcare and consumer products, each dedicated to supporting women entrepreneurs who are building the next generation of game-changing companies.

 
New VC Fund Highlight: Canvas Prime 🟣

And the best part - highlighting my favorite fund of the week!

Fintech and AI veteran Rebecca Lynn has launched Canvas Prime after departing Canvas Ventures to operate as a solo GP, focusing exclusively on fintech, digital health, and AI with a concentrated 12-15 investments annually at 15-25% ownership stakes.

Lynn brings serious credibility - her track record includes early bets on Lending Club (2014's largest tech IPO), Doximity, and Luminar, plus operational experience dating back to P&G in the late '90s before transitioning to venture at Morgenthaler Ventures.

Why it's notable: Lynn's strategic pivot reflects a broader industry shift toward specialized funds over generalist approaches. Her focused thesis comes at the perfect time as she puts it: "The days of the mid-market, generalist fund are absolutely gone."

Market context: Canvas Prime launches during a period where experienced GPs are increasingly spinning out into smaller, specialized funds that often outperform larger generalist models. Lynn's belief in "second-mover advantage" - letting others prove markets while entering with superior execution - positions her well for today's competitive landscape where decisive focus beats broad diversification.

PS: Track new VC funds raised here.

Top Pre-Seed to Series A Funding Rounds This Week 🟣

Watch out for these…

• Refold, a startup building software agents to automate the design, testing, and maintenance of complex enterprise system integrations, raised $6.5 million in pre-seed and seed funding. Eniac Ventures, Tidal Ventures, Better Capital, Ahead VC, Karman Ventures, and Z21 invested in the round.

• Dealops, a startup whose AI software automates pricing, proposal creation, and contract workflows for sales teams, raised a $7 million round. Pear VC and General Catalyst co-led, with participation from Depth VC, Elsa Ventures, Weekend Fund, Flex Capital, Allison Pickens Ventures, and 20Sales.

• Arintra, a startup whose AI software reviews patient medical records to identify and code all billable services, raised a $21 million Series A round. Peak XV led, joined by Endeavor Health Ventures, Y Combinator, Counterpart Ventures, Spider Capital, and Ten13.

• Edumentors, a startup connecting schoolchildren with top university student-tutors and developing a human-like AI tutor for personalized lessons, raised a $2 million seed round. Magna Investment led the deal.

• Liquid, a São Paulo startup developing AI-powered infrastructure to automate and standardize credit decisions for Brazil’s real estate sector, raised a $2.1 million round. SaaSholic led, joined by Flourish Ventures, Honey Island by 4UM, and Crivo Ventures.