Talking AI and funding for startups.The “Fueling the Next Wave of Funding for AI Startups” panel brought together Krystal Hu, Louis Lehot, Sruthi Ramaswami, Lu Zhang, and Camilo Acosta to discuss today’s evolving investment climate. They shared how investors and founders are reshaping the path to AI innovation in a tighter, more competitive market.
Friends,In last month’s newsletter, we explored how emerging venture capital (VC) managers are grappling with fundraising hurdles for second funds and how artificial intelligence-driven (AI) rollup strategies are challenging the boundaries of traditional venture economics, signaling a broader shift in how firms build, fund, and scale in a changing market.This month, we explore two forces
State of Capital Markets for Public Companies: A Comprehensive Look at the Technology, Clean Energy, and Life Sciences Sectors in 2025Executive Summary and Key TakeawaysBy Louis Lehot, partner at Foley & Lardner LLPAs a Silicon Valley corporate lawyer advising high-growth companies and their boards, I have seen firsthand how capital strategy, disclosure, governance, and litigation risk all
✨ Fueling the Next Wave: From First Raise to Secondaries and Exits💡 Conversation 2: For Investors & OperatorsGain perspective from leading funds backing the next wave of AI innovation — plus insights on secondary markets and exits.Featuring• Lu Zhang — Founder & Managing Partner, Fusion Fund• Sharon S. Huang — Vice President, Tau Ventures• Praveen Akkiraju — Managing Director, Insight Partners👉 Moderated by Louis Lehot, Partner,
Next week, on September 17th, Foley & Lardner LLP is proud to be co-hosting the next Signals of TEDAI salon in partnership with Obvious Ventures and Canopy! Our theme? — “Fueling the Next Wave: From First Raise, to Secondaries and Exits.”This intimate gathering will bring together founders building AI-native companies, investors fueling the next wave of innovation, and
Excited to be co-hosting the next Signals of TEDAI salon in partnership with Obvious Ventures and Canopy on September 17th!Our theme this time around is: “Fueling the Next Wave: From First Raise, to Secondaries and Exits.”This intimate gathering will bring together founders building AI-native companies, investors fueling the next wave of innovation, and operators scaling teams
Friends,In last month’s newsletter, we explored how recent policy shifts and strategic market activity were beginning to restore momentum across the venture landscape, offering early signs of recovery in the innovation economy.This month, we examine two forces testing the boundaries of venture capital (VC): the fundraising challenges facing emerging managers and the growing enthusiasm
The lazy days of summer seem to be behind us as merger and acquisition (M&A) activity is getting a jump start. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal cites late July/early August as having “the highest-volume week for mergers and acquisitions for U.S. companies since 2021, according to LSEG.” This is an unexpected,
As a practicing M&A attorney representing both strategic acquirers and venture-backed targets, I have had a front row seat to the fundamental transformation of Silicon Valley’s exit landscape. The rise of acquihiring represents more than a market trend, it’s an evolutionary response to capital scarcity, talent wars, and regulatory uncertainty that demands sophisticated legal frameworks
Friends,In last month’s newsletter, we discussed how investor expectations for initial public offerings (IPOs), mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and fundraising were shifting amid heightened volatility, geopolitical tension, and a surprise tax overhaul, signaling a new paradigm for venture capital (VC) in 2025.This month, we explore early signs of recovery in the innovation economy, as recent