2023 startup trends

Venture capital had a lot of ups and downs in 2023, so we charted out the numbers to make it clear just how much things actually improved.

Per PitchBook, through Q3 2023, seed-stage startups clocked a median pre-money valuation of $12 million, beating 2022’s record of $11.1 million.

Funding to Canadian startups declined by 57% to $808 million in Q3 2023 from the previous quarter, per Tracxn’s Geo Quarterly report.

At some point we have to acknowledge that the worst is behind us, and any remaining malaise is potentially psychosomatic.

Fundraising is hard, so it’s no wonder that SAFE (simple agreement for future equity) rounds are popular. Conceived by Y Combinator as an alternative to convertible notes, SAFEs have long…

If you only tracked American insurtech companies that went public recently, you might think insurtech is in its flop era. Thankfully, that’s not true.

Here’s what these 15 investors would have done differently in 2023 if they had a crystal ball to divine the future.

It appears that even though VCs are proceeding more cautiously than before and taking their time with due diligence, they are still investing.

As realizing big exits becomes difficult, deep tech startups transforming entire industries offer some of the only paths to “10x exits.”

The hunt is already on for another mythical animal that best represents startup attainment in a down market, like “ARRmadillo.”

The majority of unicorns are valued at less than $2 billion, which makes it likely that most won’t keep that status after their next raise.

Do you have IP counsel? Does your app have a UX protection strategy? Have you ever conducted an audit?

Developments in the defense, cybersecurity and climate sectors will prove to be strong tailwinds for revenues in spacetech in 2023.

This year will shift the conversation from “life span” to “health span” — how we live healthier for longer.

The crypto VC industry has become more selective due to the market downturn and wavering trust, but major firms are still investing in the space.

Every founder I’ve ever worked with was absolutely, completely convinced that they could build and scale a company.

A definitive founder’s guide would have to include chapters like “So you’ve hired the wrong person” or “Five ways to tell if an investor is lying to you.”

In some ways, the prevalent negative market forces might actually serve as an accelerant for creativity.

With more investors looking to dip their toes in climate tech, here’s where they’re likely to put their money to work next year.