VNTR Newsletter Mar 2, 2025 - VNTR Roadshow Riyadh
Venture Capital, Web3, and Private Equity – News, Events, and VC Reads
Hello friends,
Happy Sunday!
VNTR Newsletter is delivered to 100k+ investors and subscribers weekly to share the latest news, events, and articles from the global VC and startup ecosystem.
Scroll down to discover VNTR Community News, Upcoming Events, and the latest VC News and Reads.
VNTR Community News
VNTR Roadshow Riyadh Saudi Arabia: Join us for a three-day immersive experience exploring Saudi Arabia’s thriving startup and venture ecosystem. Connect with key ecosystem players, engage with local VCs and family offices, and build relationships with fellow investors:
📌 April 22 – Ecosystem Day: Meet ecosystem key stakeholders.
📌 April 23 – VNTR Investor Forum Riyadh: learn, connect and engage with peers
📌 April 24 – Pre-arranged 1:1 meetings
🔗 Apply to join the Roadshow on VNTR
💼 Sponsorship packages available
March 11 – April 10 2025 Fellowship Program: We are seeking visionary Chapter Directors to lead VNTR Chapters in key global hubs, including Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Seoul, Jakarta, Melbourne, Sydney, Berlin, Monaco, Tel Aviv, New Delhi, Lisbon, London, Warsaw, Frankfurt, Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Marrakesh, Lagos, Athens, and more.
This intensive program is designed to onboard serial entrepreneurs transitioning into venture capital, active investors, and super connectors eager to shape and grow their local VC ecosystems. Fellows will gain the knowledge, tools, and strategies to successfully launch and expand a VNTR Chapter in their region.
Why Become a VNTR Chapter Director?
💼 Revenue share within your region
📈 Carry share in deals facilitated
🌍 Build & lead a thriving local investment ecosystem while leveraging VNTR’s global network
🚀 Apply now for the March 2025 cohort and take on a leadership role at VNTR!
🔗 Know someone who could be a great fit? Share this opportunity with your network.
Join The VNTR Club Exclusive Lifetime Membership: We are inviting top-quartile investors to join The VNTR Club. The last 3 spots are available on the current lifetime membership terms which include equity partner position in VNTR for those who join.
📩 Contact Elise to learn more and schedule your onboarding call.
VNTR Regatta Sardinia: From May 26 to 30, immerse yourself in a unique blend of adventure, networking, and deep discussions on the future of venture investing. Sail through Sardinia’s picturesque coastline, build deep relationships with fellow investors, engage in thought-provoking discussions on the latest venture capital trends, and unwind with curated experiences, gourmet dining, and breathtaking views.
Spouses and life partners are welcome and can share a cabin or hotel room.
🚀 Limited spots available – secure yours today
VNTR Events
Join us at our upcoming events to connect with key investment decision-makers:
4 Mar 2025
Investor Roundtable Miami
during Florida VC Conference 2025
5 Mar 2025
Investor Roundtable Barcelona
during Mobile World Congress
7 Mar 2025
Investor Breakfast Cascais
8 Mar 2025
Investor Roundtable Austin
during SXSW
11 Mar 2025
Investor Roundtable London
during Super Return
13 Mar 2025
Investor Breakfast Amsterdam
during Web3 Amsterdam
13 Mar 2025
Investor Roundtable Paris
19 Mar 2025
Investor Roundtable San Francisco
during GDC
26 Mar 2025
Investor Breakfast Madrid
27 Mar 2025
Club Mastermind Dubai
for active VNTR Club members only
3 Apr 2025
Investor Roundtable Bangkok
during South East Asia Blockchain week
9 Apr 2025
Investor Roundtable Paris
during Paris Blockchain Week
13 Apr 2025
Investor Roundtable Manama
during Formula 1 Grand Prix
15 Apr 2025
Investor Roundtable Marrakesh
during Gitex Africa
16 Apr 2025
Investor Roundtable Tokyo
during TEAMZ Web3/AI Summit
22-24 Apr 2025
Investor Roadshow Riyadh
23 Apr 2025
Investor Forum Riyadh
24 Apr 2025
Investor Roundtable Singapore
during Gitex Asia
Thank you to our Partners
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Companies who would like to sponsor VNTR events can apply as a sponsor. View the top events sponsorship packages.
Or be a core supporter of the VNTR community year-round, engaging with our global investor network. Check Details & Packages.
Upcoming VC Events and Conferences
March 2-3 Crypto Expo Europe, Bucharest, Romania (Complimentary investor passes for Club members, 30% discount using VNTR30 code)
March 3-6 4YFN, Barcelona, Spain
March 3-6 Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, Spain
March 13-14 Web3 Amsterdam, Netherlands (Complimentary investor passes for VNTR)
March 18-20 Digital Asset Summit 2025, New York, US ($200 off using VNTR200)
March 19-20 NextBlockExpo, Warsaw, Poland
March 19 South Summit Scale Oslo, Norway
March 20 South Summit Scale Berlin, Germany
March 25-26 CEE VC Summit, Warsaw, Poland
April 8-10 Paris Blockchain Week, France
April 9-11 South Summit Brazil, Porto Alegre, Brazil
April 11-13 Liberland's 10-year anniversary
April 14-16 GITEX Africa, Marrakech, Morocco (Complimentary investor passes)
April 23-25 Money 20/20 Asia, Bangkok, Thailand
April 23-25 GITEX Asia, Singapore (Complimentary investor passes)
April 27-30 Web Summit Rio, Brazil
April 29-30 Startup Grind Conference, Silicon Valley, USA (Complimentary Investor Passes for VNTR)
April 30 - May 1 Token2049, Dubai, UAE
May 9-10 Blockchain Week Rome, Italy (Complimentary investor passes for Club members, 10% discount using VNTR10)
May 12-13 Dubai FinTech Summit, Dubai, UAE
May 14-16 Consensus, Toronto, Canada
May 21-23 GITEX Europe, Berlin, Germany (Complimentary investor passes)
May 27-29 Bitcoin 2025, Las Vegas, US
May 27-30 Web Summit Vancouver, Canada
June 4-6 South Summit Madrid 2025, Spain
June 11-14 Viva Technology, Paris, France
June 19-21 BTC Prague, Czech Republic
June 26-27 LegalTech Talk, London, UK (Complimentary investor passes)
June 26-27 Istanbul Blockchain Week
If you would like to submit VC-related events, please get in touch with Yuri or Telegram @byuric
VC Reads and News
View curated VC news and articles on the VNTR Platform
The Week’s Biggest Funding Rounds: NinjaOne Cuts To The Top
After a couple of blistering weeks, large funding rounds slowed down to a crawl, with only two rounds hitting nine figures. Not surprisingly, those two rounds came from the cybersecurity and biotech industries.
Europe’s share of regional IPOs hits decade low
While more European companies are looking to go public this year, many are expected to list outside the region. According to a PitchBook analyst note, the proportion of European companies listing on domestic exchanges fell to the lowest level in a decade last year. Some 15.3% of 183 European company IPOs were held on foreign exchanges in 2024, up from 11.2% in 2023 and just 7% in 2022.
General Catalyst is reportedly weighing a potential IPO
General Catalyst, the powerhouse venture firm, is considering an IPO, Axios reported Friday morning, citing “multiple sources.” TechCrunch has reached out to the firm’s managing partner, Hemant Taneja, for comment. In the meantime, those following General Catalyst’s trajectory won’t be surprised by the prospect.
The Complete Guide to SaaS Pricing Strategy
Most startups play defense when discussing pricing with customers. They dance between asking for too little, leaving money on the table, and asking for too much, only to lose the customer’s interest. The very best companies lead their customers in that dance. They use pricing as an offensive tool to reinforce their product’s value and underscore the company’s core marketing message.
For many founding teams, pricing is one of the most difficult and complex decisions for the business. Startups operate in newer markets where pricing standards haven’t been set. In addition, these new markets evolve very quickly, and consequently, so must pricing. But throughout this turmoil, startups must adopt a process to craft a good pricing strategy, and re-evaluate prices periodically, at least once per year.
States likely to adopt Bitcoin reserves first
States are likely to adopt Bitcoin reserves before the US federal government does, Senator Cynthia Lummis reportedly said on Feb. 28 during the Bitcoin Investor Week conference in New York. “My bets are that you’ll see a state have a Bitcoin strategic reserve before the federal government,” Lummis said, according to a Bloomberg report. In July 2024, Lummis, a Wyoming Republican, proposed legislation that would require the US federal government to create a national Bitcoin stockpile.
AI boom and Trump’s energy policies fuel optimism for natural gas dealmaking
Dealmakers are hopeful that President Donald Trump’s energy policies and the power demands of the AI boom will boost gas drilling and production, accelerate M&A and provide private equity firms with much-needed exit opportunities. US natural gas deal volume hit a low last year, but changing market conditions are set to rev up the dealmaking engine.
Venture capital’s growing pains, AI take center stage at Upfront Summit in L.A.
Upfront Ventures’ annual industry confab in Los Angeles has long done its best to bring VCs and limited partners together, but this year the eagerness from general partners was palpable at the cavernous Intuit Dome in Inglewood. The state of the venture market permeated virtually every discussion, both on and off the stage, as both groups of investors expressed a mix of optimism and sober reality checks.
Tokenized Assets Can Redefine Portfolio Management
For decades, your investment portfolio has revolved around a key academic idea that hasn’t held up very well: efficient markets. There’s a direct line from the efficient markets theory of Eugene Fama in the 1960s to modern portfolio theory. It paved the way for index funds, a strategy that has not only weathered market cycles but also become the default for managing pensions and retirement accounts.
A Strategic Bridge Between Africa And Europe: Tunisia’s Role In The Innovation Ecosystem
Tunisia, often overlooked in discussions of Africa’s burgeoning tech scene, quietly boasts a vibrant ecosystem ripe with potential. While giants such as South Africa and Nigeria command headlines, the small North African nation is strategically positioning itself as a vital bridge between Africa and Europe. With a surge in startups, increasing government support, and a unique geographical advantage, Tunisia is poised to become a key player in the continent’s innovation landscape. The question is: Can it make the leap from promising up-and-comer to a true scaleup hub — and what can other emerging tech ecosystems learn from its progress?
Sequoia’s Roelof Botha warns ‘chumps’ not to buy into SPVs
One of Sequoia’s most prominent investors, managing partner Roelof Botha, sees signs of another greed cycle brewing in venture capital, one where the least sophisticated investors will likely get the most hurt. He posted a warning on X on Thursday, writing, “We remain destined to repeat the mistakes of the past! SPVs are making a come-back, where the lead investor speaks for less than 10% of the capital, yet eagerly lines up the latest set of tourist chumps who think the story will end differently this time. It’s only been 3 years.”
Why US startups had a decade-high level of flat and down rounds in 2024
The sky-high startup valuations of 2021 are still haunting companies amid the ongoing market hangover. In 2024, nearly 25% of US venture rounds were flat or down, which was a decade high, according to a new PitchBook research report. It was a marginal increase from 2023 but more than double 2022’s 12% total.
Gaming exits simmer toward a rebound after hitting an 8-year low
A new stable of acquirers could stimulate a comeback for gaming company exits. VC-backed gaming company exits totaled $4.3 billion across 48 deals in 2024, down 33% from $6.9 billion in 2023, according to PitchBook data. Last year marked an eight-year low for the category.
Founder’s Mindset On Sustainable Growth: Tips And Metrics For Companies To Scale
Sustainable growth is the holy grail for every founder, but it is not easy to achieve. Even companies that are good at developing successful products have an over 80% chance of failing. In any industry, and particularly in finance and fintech, it is crucial that you do your homework and lay down proper foundations for scaling if you want your business to find success. I have often seen companies start with a handful of passionate individuals and then grow into organizations with hundreds or thousands of employees.
Forget Startups. Maybe The Most Adaptable Companies Are Those That Last Centuries
Modern humans are an impatient species. We groan about a five-minute checkout wait, roll our eyes when websites fail to load instantly, and regularly risk our safety speeding to beat red lights. People who follow startups are a particularly restless bunch. For us, it feels like an eternity since the tech IPO market was a happening place. (In reality, it’s been about three years.) When a startup hasn’t raised a new round for a few years, we’re quick to speculate about its impending demise.
Why 2025 Will Be The Year Of The Intelligent Engineering Center
For the past 30 years, the IT services industry has relied heavily on a value proposition of labor arbitrage — offering lower cost software engineering services from offshore and nearshore locations. The advent of AI will radically disrupt this value proposition. The offshore development center has historically been the embodiment of this core proposition. It’s been based on three key sources of value: The ability to scale up capacity of software engineering talent, reduce total cost of delivery of IT projects and products, and bring competence in designing and maintaining software platforms.
The Next Evolution Of Predictive Analytics: Can AI Drive Venture Investment Decisions?
Predictive analytics is reshaping industries, and venture capital is no exception. AI-powered insights offer unprecedented foresight into company growth, M&A trends and IPO trajectories. With Crunchbase’s launch of its predictive analytics engine, investors have access to more sophisticated market intelligence than ever before.
Legal Tech Startup Investment Is Riding High, Thanks To AI Boost
Legal services represents an enormous industry, and one that’s well-known for repetitive and tedious work. Thus, it regularly ranks among the professions most likely to incorporate more automation. In an oft-cited Goldman Sachs report, analysts estimated that an astounding 44% of legal work could eventually be automated. AI-enabled software will be taking on much of this workload.
From Sony to Bybit: How Lazarus Group became crypto’s supervillain
Lazarus Group isn’t an occasional player in the hacking world; it is frequently the prime suspect in major crypto heists. The North Korean state-backed group has siphoned billions from exchanges, tricked developers, and bypassed even the industry’s most sophisticated security measures.
Crafting Win-Win Partnerships: Structuring Corporate-Startup Relationships That Last
Industries are transforming faster than ever, and companies that don’t evolve risk being left behind. That’s why nearly 60% of corporations are working directly with startups to stay competitive. Startups bring exactly what corporates need: agility, fresh ideas and cutting-edge tech. But making these partnerships work takes more than good intentions. It’s all about structuring them in a way to create alignment of interests and incentives, ensuring both sides grow and thrive together. Let’s take a look at the two most common approaches and why they’re effective.