STARTUP X
The F42 brief #006
👋 Hi, I’m Derek, and welcome to the Fusion42 newsletter! This is your go-to source for navigating the startup ecosystem and making things easier for everyone involved. Here, beyond Consensus views for Maverick Founders and Investors to overcome common challenges, so you can build and scale with confidence. No BS , no Fluff, just the TREWS to help you get **it done. Join 3,000+ founders and discover what truly matters for your venture—and how to set yourself up for lasting success.
Here’s your Monday dose of The F42 Brief, where we give you essential updates and innovations that are moving and shaping our startup space.
What’s inside »
📈 Trending Now
The one thing that’s making all the noise …. with a bit of fact checking.
💸 New Funds looking to give you cash
Who has launched a new fund to invest in startups last week.
💡Innovator Spotlight
Founders that are doing suff differently.
🛠️ Tool of the Week
Something useful to up your startups velocity.
📌 Note to Self
Stuff I constantly remind myself about, don’t want make the same mistakes again.
📈 Trending Now
Optimizing Startup Boards for Growth
I've been having quite a few conversations around this topic lately. One thing that resonates is the value of board members who, beyond their expertise, act as in-house psychologists. Having people who understand the pressures of scaling and can offer emotional support and strategic guidance is invaluable.
When aligned well, a mix of active board members and strategic observers can keep things progressing smoothly. Observers, in particular, can pick up slack and add focused value, without running day-to-day operations, allowing founders to stay focused on execution.
Here’s a quick look at the benefits and challenges:
The Good
Expertise: Observers bring fresh insights and deep industry knowledge.
Networking: They open doors to new business, partnerships, and investment.
Supportive Presence: The right board can provide mental support and stability.
The Bad
Confidentiality: More people means higher risks to sensitive info.
Over-Influence: Observers can sometimes sway decisions without voting power.
The Ugly
Role Confusion: Unclear roles may slow decision-making.
Crisis Complications: Extra voices can lead to inefficiencies during high-stakes moments.
When thoughtfully selected, a supportive, aligned board adds resilience and balance, helping startups make smarter, well-rounded decisions as they scale.
If you have not joined the Fusion42 Community on Telegram — A space for Founders, Framers, and Funders who show up to get **it done,
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For the ❤️ of Startups
💸 New Funds looking to give you cash
Last week, 31 new venture capital funds launched, focusing on early-stage investments in key growth sectors such as cybersecurity, climate technology, and space tech. These funds are committed to advancing innovations that address significant challenges and opportunities in diverse markets.
Key trends from these new funds include:
Tech and Sustainability: A focus on sectors such as blockchain, cybersecurity, and climate technologies, highlighting the growing importance of sustainable solutions.
Global and Inclusive Investments: The geographic spread of these investments includes North America to Asia, with a deliberate effort to enhance diversity and empower underrepresented entrepreneurs.
Pioneering New Markets: Enhanced interest in sectors like space and health tech points to a preference for frontier technologies.
Stage Versatility: These funds support a broad spectrum of development stages, from the foundational seed and pre-seed to expansive growth phases.
Critical Technologies: A focus on technologies deemed crucial for future economic stability and security.
360 Digitaly €30 million raised for a new fund focusing on digital transition investments in seed and early-stage startups.
Avaana Capital A $135 million climate and sustainability fund investing in early-stage companies for climate mitigation and resilience.
BFM Fund A seed-stage fund focusing on founders who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color, promoting diversity in venture capital.
Chemistry A new $350 million fund investing in early-stage software startups, focusing on seed and Series A investments.
Climaventures Fund A new $40 million venture capital fund focusing on early-stage climate-tech startups in Pakistan.
Cyberstarts A $60 million fourth seed fund focusing on early-stage cybersecurity startups, aiming to invest in unicorn-level companies.
DMG Ventures Investing in fast-growing startups through two new £25 million funds, focusing on consumer sectors and generative AI.
Gemba Capital A new $30 million fund focusing on seed/pre-seed startups in Fintech, Consumer Tech, and B2B Platforms.
General Catalyst An $8 billion fund allocated across venture capital, company creation, and accounts, focusing on strategic areas and transformation.
GnosisVC Ecosystem A $40 million fund investing in early-stage blockchain projects, with a focus on decentralized infrastructure and financial platforms.
GoalVest Advisory A new Venture Growth Fund focusing on mid-to-late stage VC-backed companies in sectors like AI and fintech.
HRZ Han River A $100M venture fund focusing on the Korea Graph, investing in early-stage companies tied to Korea with global impact.
IMM Investment Corp. A new $100 million fund with Shorooq Partners, focusing on offshore startups for better returns amid economic slowdown.
India's Space Sector VC Fund A Rs. 1,000 crore VC Fund aimed at India's space sector startups, focusing on technology companies with investment ranging from Rs. 10 crore to Rs. 60 crore.
Javelin Venture Partners' Fifth Fund A $125 million fund investing in early-stage tech startups, supported by UBS and other partners.
Luxembourg Space Sector Development Fund A new fund co-led by SES S.A. and Luxembourg government, investing in the space sector to support companies like OQ Technology.
Macdoch Ventures Investing in early to growth-stage agtech companies to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability.
Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund A $3 million fund targeting outdoor lifestyle companies in Michigan, focusing on early-stage investments.
Mindful Venture Capital A $5 million fund investing in early-stage companies focusing on technology for human, machine, and environmental health.
Mirova's Objectif biodiversité A €100 million fund investing in SMEs for sustainable business models and biodiversity preservation.
NAACP Capital A $200 million fund of funds investing in ventures impacting people of color across multiple venture funds.
Opportuna Entering the secondaries market with a planned $30 million fund, Opportuna focuses on secondary transactions in venture capital.
Panache Ventures Investing from a $100-million CAD fund in pre-seed and seed-stage Canadian tech startups.
Resurge Growth Partners A €120M 'venture equity' fund supporting high-potential European and Israeli scale-ups, focusing on tech businesses.
Socium Ventures Fund A $300 million fund investing in tech startups at Series A and beyond, focusing on AI, health, fintech, and sustainability.
Swell VC Fund II New York-based VC fund, recently grew 3.5x with its Fund II, focusing on investing in company builders rather than sectors.
Titan Capital Winners Fund Final close at Rs 333 crore, investing in follow-on rounds for tech startups initially backed during seed stages.
Top Down Ventures A $25-million Founders Fund I focusing on early-stage SaaS startups in the managed service provider sector.
Trivest Growth Investment Fund III A new $730 million fund investing in growing businesses across various sectors at the growth stage.
Venrex BB Co I Invests in diverse beauty businesses at pre-seed to series A stages, emphasizing sustainability and innovation.
SBICCT Initiative A venture capital initiative investing in critical technology areas, aiming to invest over $2.8 billion in over 1,000 companies.
💡Innovator Spotlight
Are Driverless Taxis Safer? A Fresh Take on Road Safety
There’s a new angle in the discussion around autonomous vehicles: without human drivers, many safety concerns seem to fade. This viewpoint is picking up momentum, especially among women, who have often felt uneasy in traditional ride-hailing situations with male drivers.
A Shift Towards Driverless Taxis
More women are choosing driverless taxis, like those offered by Waymo—and soon, Tesla—over ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft. This shift largely comes down to a sense of security, with many women saying they feel more at ease in a vehicle run by software, rather than a human whose behaviour can be unpredictable. Tesla’s upcoming launch into the driverless taxi market only adds to the growing options for those seeking this type of safety and reliability.
Personal Safety Concerns
For passengers like Veronica Pastore and Abby Vigil, rides with male drivers have sometimes been uncomfortable. They appreciate the autonomy and peace of mind that driverless rides offer, particularly when travelling late at night. Without a human driver, the experience can feel more personal and secure, something many find especially appealing.
Safety in Numbers
Statistically, violent incidents with rideshare drivers are low—around one in every 500,000 rides—but these numbers don’t entirely ease concerns. Many women prefer to avoid any risk altogether, especially when safer options are now available.
The Verdict? Absolutely
Supporters of driverless taxis believe safety on the road improves when people aren’t involved behind the wheel. With companies like Waymo and Tesla leading the way, the rise of autonomous vehicles reflects a strong desire for safer, more dependable travel options. As the technology advances, the potential for a safer future on the road looks more promising than ever.
🛠️ Tool of the Week
90 Directories to Showcase Your Startup Tool
Looking for a surefire way to boost visibility for your SaaS or AI tool? This week’s tool spotlight goes to a powerful resource: a curated list of 93 top directories where you can submit your tool for maximum exposure. Each directory is vetted for authority ranking and value, so you can confidently submit your tool without wasting time or budget on low-traffic sites.
Why You’ll Love This Resource:
Quality and Reach: Only directories with high authority rankings (20+) made the cut, ensuring your tool lands in front of active users.
Budget-Friendly Options: Pricing info is included to help you find free or affordable listing options.
Enhanced Discoverability: Gain backlinks, boost your tool's credibility, and connect with your target audience in a trusted space.
Whether you’re launching or scaling, this list is a great go-to for optimizing your tool’s reach. Submitting to the right directories can elevate visibility and drive sustainable growth.
Find the full list here and start submitting to the right places for your tool’s success!
📌 Note to Self
Thank you for reading. If you liked it, share it with your friends, colleagues and everyone interested in the startup Investor ecosystem.
If you've got suggestions, an article, research, your tech stack, or a job listing you want featured, just let me know! I'm keen to include it in the upcoming edition.
Please let me know what you think of it, love a feedback loop 🙏🏼
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For the ❤️ of startups
✌🏼 & 💙
Derek