AI

Trained as a quantum scientific researcher, Kris Kaczmarek shifted his career focus to venture capital, excited by what a quantum-focused funds were building.

Fundraising stabilized in the first half of this year, with VC firms worldwide collecting $45.2bn, the same amount they raised in H1 2025. But fundraisers are by no means out of the woods.

Among the LPs in the firm’s debut fund were Alaska Retirement Management Board and Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America.

Increasing the UK pension fund’s VC allocation to £200m, the dedicated VC sleeve signals Nest’s intent to strengthen its support for the asset class, part of a broader vision to expand its private markets exposure up to 30% by 2030.

The fund, whose size has not been disclosed, aims to advance global connectivity and innovation, focusing on AI, automation, edge computing and intelligent data infrastructure.

Japanese strategic LPs are driven by a desire to bring emerging technologies into their operations, an interest in strategic relationships and a thirst for M&A or distribution opportunities.

The acquisition of Cursor for $60bn will generate a massive return for at least one small VC, but the biggest winners will be large firms that have dominated fundraising.

Menlo has doubled the size of its co-investment vehicle designed to give LPs exposure to Anthropic and other AI companies, a source tells VCJ.

With a new fund that is 46% larger than its last fund, the firm invests primarily in logistics, healthcare and fintech.

Hype over AI-related productivity gains may be masking how AI agents hurt skill building and mastery by software engineers.