The hottest Funding Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics

Snyk: Shift left security

The Product Person • 78 implied HN points • 17 Apr 23
💼 Business Security Startups Funding Product-Market Fit Growth
  1. Snyk is a $7.4 billion startup focusing on helping developers find and fix vulnerabilities in open-source code.
  2. Snyk offers a range of products like Snyk Code, Snyk Container, and Snyk Infrastructure as Code to enhance security.
  3. Snyk's growth was fueled by a developer-first approach, leading to rapid adoption and a unique product-led growth strategy.
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Robot startups need to 'Start Telling People' plus highlights from BARS 2023

Robots & Startups • 59 implied HN points • 29 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Robotics Funding Research
  1. Robot startups should focus on 'Start Telling People' - effectively communicating their products and ideas is crucial for success
  2. BARS 2023 featured the latest robotics research showcasing the use of transformers and the rapid pace of innovation - a hub for cutting-edge robotics and AI insights
  3. Subscribe to Robots & Startups for access to in-depth posts and archives, with a 7-day free trial available - stay updated on the latest in robotics and startup trends

Garbatrage: for sustainable robotics

Robots & Startups • 59 implied HN points • 23 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Robotics Sustainability Funding Research
  1. A paper presented at the Association for Computing Machinery conference highlighted repurposing old hoverboards for robotics, showcasing sustainability in the field.
  2. Robots in New York City made from discarded hoverboards emphasize the potential for innovative recycling in creating sustainable robotics.
  3. Subscription to Robots & Startups offers a 7-day free trial, granting access to exclusive content and archives for deeper insights into the realm of robotics.

Kosmik Year in Review

Kosmik’s Newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 26 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Software Web Development Funding Team Management Product Design
  1. Kosmik 2.0 aims to be a desktop in the cloud, providing an environment where users can organize files and tools in a more visual and collaborative way.
  2. The concept of a digital desktop is changing, with a shift towards cloud-based storage and a need for a more flexible and fluid way to organize files and assets.
  3. Kosmik is evolving as a product, with a focus on web technologies to improve speed, product quality, and roadmap, along with securing funding to ensure long-term growth and development.

The Rainy Day Problem

The Radar • 59 implied HN points • 11 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military Funding Leadership Investigative Reporting Government
  1. The Air Force's lack of planning has left Airmen and families in uncertainty and chaos due to funding shortfalls.
  2. The 'Rainy Day Problem' highlights how organizations, like the Air Force, must plan to protect their stakeholders from foreseeable issues.
  3. Failure to address the funding shortfall swiftly and improve planning could lead to erosion of trust within the Air Force and impact readiness.

Announcing Biofound - Connecting Biotech Founders

ASeq Newsletter • 29 implied HN points • 02 Nov 24
💼 Business Startups Entrepreneurship Networking Biotech Funding
  1. A new mailing list called Biofound has been started to connect biotech founders and people who want to help. It's a place for them to meet each other and collaborate.
  2. People can post about their startups if they're looking for co-founders, advisors, or technical help. You can even do this anonymously if you prefer.
  3. Unlike a previous list focused on funding, Biofound aims to facilitate general connections, helping people network beyond just seeking investment.

The True Efficacy of Carbon Removal Technology

Warming Up to Climate Tech • 58 implied HN points • 28 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate tech Funding
  1. Carbon removal technologies like afforestation and carbon capture play a crucial role in mitigating climate change and achieving net zero emissions.
  2. Innovative startups are developing novel methods for carbon capture, such as direct air capture and biochar production.
  3. Investment in carbon removal technologies is increasing, with significant VC funding going towards startups in this sector.

The $20k decision that turned into $7m...

Grant & Co • 39 implied HN points • 09 Dec 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurs Investors Funding Market research AI
  1. Investors appreciate regular updates from entrepreneurs to stay informed about their investments.
  2. Market research costing $20k before launching a company can save millions by avoiding building the wrong product and lead to significant revenue growth.
  3. Distinguishing between VC and PE funding strategies, along with the importance of having a clear exit plan, is crucial for successful investments in the business world.

Biases Against Risky Research

New Things Under the Sun • 224 implied HN points • 31 Mar 23
🔬 Science Research Bias Funding Academic
  1. Scientific institutions may be risk-averse and favor safe and incremental projects over transformative ones.
  2. Individual reviewers and averaging peer review scores may bias against high-risk, high-reward research proposals.
  3. In grant review processes, negative feedback tends to be more influential than positive feedback, leading to potential bias against novel research.

Elon: Get the DEI out of Science Funding!

Critical Mass • 23 implied HN points • 11 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Science Policy Activism Funding
  1. Government science funding should focus on real science instead of social issues. This is important for advancing research and technology.
  2. Leadership in science organizations should prioritize science over activism. This might help improve efficiency and focus.
  3. Cutting unnecessary spending in science funding can help tackle global challenges. It's a step toward maintaining economic strength for the future.

Building Codiga: Joining an Accelerator

Tech Ramblings • 59 implied HN points • 17 Aug 23
💼 Business Startups Entrepreneurship Investment Accelerators Funding
  1. Joining an accelerator can help you learn quickly and meet important people, but be ready to give up some ownership of your company. It's like a startup driving school to avoid crashing and get valuable lessons.
  2. While many resources are now available online for free, accelerators can still provide connections and credibility, especially for new entrepreneurs. Just remember, the support usually ends when the program does.
  3. Getting rejected from an accelerator isn’t the end; it doesn’t mean your idea is bad. Keep trying and consider other ways to grow your business—like bootstrapping or finding partners.

QuantumSi Raises $50M

ASeq Newsletter • 14 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
💼 Business Funding Startups Technology Innovation Investment
  1. QuantumSi secured an extra $50 million in funding, which highlights investor interest in their innovative technology. This money is intended to help launch their new 'chip-less' sequencing approach.
  2. The $50 million is a relatively small amount for developing a new sequencing platform, suggesting they might have already made significant progress. It's still unclear if this will be enough to compete successfully in the rapidly evolving field.
  3. Key challenges remain, such as staying ahead of competitors working on optical methods. It's uncertain if their product will be compelling enough, making the upcoming developments closely watched.

☎️ E11: In Conversation with Lux Capital on the State of the Future

Let Us Face the Future • 138 implied HN points • 18 Aug 23
💼 Business Venture Capital Funding Research Innovation Startups
  1. In venture capital, focusing on stochastic opportunities and thinking qualitatively can bring competitive advantage.
  2. Research in venture capital is rare but can uncover novel investment theses and give a long-term competitive edge.
  3. Balancing science risk and political landscape awareness is crucial in deep tech investments.

Announcing $175m more to Bridge the Digital Divide

Equal Ventures • 19 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Technology Startups Investments Funding
  1. Equal Ventures raised $175 million to Bridge the Digital Divide - $100m for Equal Ventures Fund 2 and $75m for the Opportunity Fund to invest in analog markets like climate, insurance, retail, and supply chain.
  2. The firm aims to support founders in non-traditional technology markets and believes the time is right for innovation in these industries.
  3. Equal Ventures focuses on providing hands-on support, independent conviction, and a 'prepared mind' to startups, aiming for strong founder relationships and long-term success.

Dorian Abbot: What I would change at NSF

Critical Mass • 16 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
🔬 Science Research Policy Technology Education Funding
  1. The National Science Foundation (NSF) should focus more on funding high-quality scientific research. This means evaluating projects based on merit rather than identity politics.
  2. Some specific areas for change include revising the NSF's vision and core values to align them with their original purpose.
  3. There is a call to eliminate offices and initiatives that prioritize diversity and inclusion over scientific merit, like the Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Engineering.

Levitation at Room Temperature: The Race to Replicate

Exponential Industry • 39 implied HN points • 30 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Manufacturing Funding Partnership Acquisition Robotics
  1. Room temperature superconducting material LK-99, could revolutionize various industries from transportation to computing.
  2. Companies are racing to replicate the results and bring new products to market quickly.
  3. Investments, partnerships, and acquisitions in the industry are accelerating innovations and expansions.

Forced to Thrive or Perish with Technology Bets

Exponential Industry • 39 implied HN points • 02 Jul 23
💼 Business Manufacturing Funding Partnership Acquisition
  1. Focused technology development bets lead to world-leading products and enduring companies.
  2. Advancements in automation technologies are reshaping industries and changing the balance between automation and human labor.
  3. Investments in high-tech solutions like robotics, AI, and additive manufacturing are driving innovation and efficiency across various sectors.

Summer robotics fun and funding!

Robots & Startups • 39 implied HN points • 21 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Robotics Funding Events
  1. Summer robotics event features job fair component with companies hiring and interested individuals reaching out.
  2. The event is hosted by The Hardware Collective at Circuit Launch and includes discussions on Women in Robotics and Founder & Funders topics.
  3. Readers can access full post archives with a 7-day free trial subscription to Robots & Startups.

Series A Activity: June 2023

Magid and Co • 39 implied HN points • 05 Jul 23
💰 Finance Investment Funding Venture Capital Founders
  1. There was a significant decrease in Series A deal activity from June 2022 to June 2023, with 290 deals in 2022 compared to 146 in 2023.
  2. It's crucial for founders to closely monitor individual firm actions rather than just market-level statistics, especially when major players from previous years are less active.
  3. Founders seeking funding should focus on understanding which investors are actively writing checks and building relationships with these firms, even if they are less known or harder to reach.

Series A activity: Week of July 17, 2023

Magid and Co • 39 implied HN points • 24 Jul 23
💼 Business Startups Funding Deals Statistics
  1. The post shares data on Series A deals done in the last week of July 2023.
  2. The summary stats provide information on Series A deals worldwide, excluding China, where the amount raised is over $5M, and the company is not focused on therapeutics.
  3. The post encourages readers to subscribe for free to receive new posts and support the author's work.

Series B Activity: August 2023

Magid and Co • 39 implied HN points • 05 Sep 23
💰 Finance Investment Deals Funding Startups
  1. Series B deals over $100M declined over the years - from 15 deals in 2021 to none in 2023.
  2. Series B deal volumes decreased significantly in two years, indicating a shift in deal trends.
  3. Data on Series B deals worldwide (ex-China) shows deals with a raised amount above $5M and non-therapeutics companies.

List of 4,000+ Funders in Africa

Grant & Co • 19 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurs Africa Database Funding Subscription
  1. Grant & Co offers a database of 4,000+ funders in Africa for $1,000 starting March 1, 2024, but currently has a free sneak peek available.
  2. For $100, users can access additional data like funding amounts, previous investees, and notes on funders' preferences in the Premium version for a limited time.
  3. Grant & Co is a reader-supported publication, and readers can choose to become free or paid subscribers to support the work.

Move over SVB, time for some good news in robotics

Robots & Startups • 59 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Startups Funding Robotics
  1. Startups in robotics face challenges raising funds, often dealing with slow progress and avoiding predatory lending terms.
  2. Despite the funding challenges, there is good news in the robotics industry, with new startups emerging and innovative projects like designing giant robots.
  3. The robotics landscape is slowly evolving, but there are positive developments that showcase growth and potential for the future.

Affirm's Earnings: Funding Costs Soar 223% Year Over Year

Fintech Business Weekly • 126 implied HN points • 28 May 23
💰 Finance Earnings Funding Loans Expenses
  1. Affirm's funding costs increased by 223% year over year due to rising rates and increased funding debt.
  2. Affirm's revenue saw a modest increase, with interest income and virtual card revenue offsetting declines in other areas.
  3. Households are facing declining financial well-being, with expenses outpacing income and savings dwindling.