to secure investments Nvidia’s Influence on AI Chip Startups: Hailo’s Persistence in Securing Investments

Hello, and welcome back to Equity, a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. This is our Wednesday show, when we take a moment to delve into a plethora of startup and venture capital news. No big tech here!

Y Combinator’s demo day is officially underway, so get ready for a deluge of startup news for the rest of the week. But for now, let’s enjoy the calm before the storm.

On today’s episode, we’ll be covering BlaBlaCar’s new credit facility and how they secured it. We’ll also discuss the innovative model for startup construction that PipeDreams is introducing to the market. Plus, we’ll take a look at GoStudent’s impressive rebound and profitability. And in the chip business world, we’ll dive into Hailo’s recent massive funding round and how they’re challenging the clouding climate created by Nvidia. Lastly, we’ll explore the expansion of GGV’s operations across the Pacific with their two new brands.

“I think every startup should be apologizing for what you hear right now because it should never happen.” – Natasha Mascarenhas on startup demo day pitches

BlaBlaCar secures credit facility for growth

BlaBlaCar, the popular carpooling platform, has recently scored a major victory with a new credit facility of an undisclosed amount. This news comes hot on the heels of their most recent funding round, in which they raised $150 million. This credit facility will allow BlaBlaCar to continue their expansion and conquer new territories in the competitive ridesharing market.

But how did they manage to secure this funding? According to reports, BlaBlaCar was able to leverage their strong financials and proven track record of success to attract lenders. The company also demonstrated their commitment to profitability, a rarity in today’s startup landscape. As BlaBlaCar CEO Nicolas Brusson stated, “We don’t need to be burning a lot of money just to get to the next level.”

“The idea of having the whole world see [your demo day pitch] is mind-numbing and awful.” – Danny Crichton on startup demo day videos

PipeDreams introduces new model for startup construction

PipeDreams, a startup focused on streamlining the construction process, is making waves in the industry with their innovative approach. Instead of traditional contracts and bids, PipeDreams uses blockchain technology to facilitate direct agreements between contractors and suppliers. This eliminates unnecessary parties and simplifies the process, ultimately resulting in less time and resources wasted.

This new model has attracted major attention in the construction world, with PipeDreams already raising $9 million in seed funding. As the company’s founder and CEO Susan Thomson explained, “Construction costs are skyrocketing and projects are taking longer to complete. We believe that our streamlined model can make a significant impact in improving efficiency and reducing costs.”

GoStudent bounces back with profitability

GoStudent, a virtual learning platform, faced some tough challenges in the past year due to the pandemic. However, the company has been able to bounce back and achieve profitability in 2021. Their impressive financials have not gone unnoticed, as GoStudent has recently received a $34 million investment from VC firm Left Lane Capital.

GoStudent’s success can be attributed to their pivot from in-person tutoring to virtual learning, as well as their expansion into new markets. With their latest funding round, the company plans to further expand their operations and become a major player in the online education market.

Hailo raises massive funding round, defying Nvidia’s impact on AI chip startups

Despite the challenges faced by other AI chip startups due to Nvidia’s dominance in the industry, Hailo has managed to secure a $110 million funding round. This brings their total funding to over $200 million and solidifies their position as a major player in the AI chip market. Hailo is known for their specialized chips that can process data more efficiently and at a lower cost compared to other options.

So how has Hailo been able to succeed where others have struggled? It’s likely due to their unique approach and focus on specialized chips rather than competing directly with Nvidia in the general chip market. With this latest funding round, Hailo plans to continue their expansion and become a major player in the AI industry.

GGV expands operations with two new brands

GGV, a venture capital firm known for their investments in companies like Alibaba and Airbnb, is expanding their operations with two new brands. GGV Capital will continue to focus on early-stage startups, while a new entity called GGV Discover will invest in emerging seed-stage companies. This strategy allows GGV to provide more tailored support and resources to companies at different stages of their growth.

Additionally, GGV is launching a China-focused fund called GGV Capital China. This separate fund will focus on investing in Chinese startups, further strengthening GGV’s presence in the region. As GGV co-founder and Managing Partner, Jixun Foo stated, “We are bullish on the entrepreneurial energy in early-stage businesses and excited about the new opportunities that our expanded operations will bring.”

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Equity. If you have any feedback or suggestions, feel free to reach out to us. And don’t forget to tune in for our Friday episode, where we’ll be covering the latest news from Y Combinator’s demo day.