Category: Technology

A new venture capital player has officially entered the startup funding scene as R1 Capital announces its launch from Columbus, Ohio, stepping forward as a dedicated firm focused on backing early and growth-stage technology companies.

The move marks a formal separation of its investment activities into an independent brand with its own structure and strategy.

Leadership Team Sets Direction for Investment Strategy

At the helm of the newly launched firm are CEO Tom Walker and Chief Investment Officer Ryan Helon, who are leading R1 Capital’s mission to support founders building solutions in highly technical and high-impact sectors.

The firm is placing its primary focus on enterprise artificial intelligence, software platforms, deep technology, and life sciences.

Its investment approach targets startups working on complex, real-world challenges within large but often underfunded markets, where innovation potential remains significant.

From Rev1 Roots to a Standalone Venture Identity

R1 Capital’s formation comes after years of operating within the investment arm of Rev1 Ventures.

While it now functions as an independent venture capital firm with its own branding, funds, and investment strategy, it still maintains a close relationship with its origins.

The transition allows the firm to operate with greater focus and flexibility while continuing to support startups from the earliest stages of formation through scaling and expansion.

Continued Collaboration Within a Broader Startup Ecosystem

Despite its independence, R1 Capital is not stepping away from its collaborative foundation.

The firm will continue to work alongside Rev1 Ventures as well as a network of operators, advisors, and strategic partners.

This ecosystem-driven approach is designed to provide founders with more than just funding.

Startups backed by R1 Capital will also gain access to venture studio resources, early customer opportunities, and commercialization support aimed at accelerating their path to market.

A Decade of Startup Support Behind the New Brand

Although R1 Capital is newly launched as a standalone entity, its team brings a strong track record to the table.

Over the past ten years, they have collectively supported more than 150 startups, building experience across multiple stages of company growth.

That history, the firm notes, will continue to shape how it evaluates opportunities and partners with founders moving forward.

Operating From a Founder-Focused Innovation Hub

R1 Capital is based at Rev1 at The Peninsula, an innovation hub in Columbus designed specifically to help software and advanced technology startups grow more efficiently.

The location positions the firm at the center of a broader entrepreneurial ecosystem, giving it direct access to emerging founders, technical talent, and commercialization pathways intended to speed up startup development and scaling.

Samsung Electronics has delivered a stunning earnings outlook that points to an unprecedented surge in profitability, powered by runaway demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure.

The company now expects quarterly results far above analyst forecasts, underscoring how the global AI expansion is reshaping the semiconductor industry.

The projection places Samsung on track to surpass its total profit for all of last year in just one quarter, marking one of its strongest performances on record.

AI Data Centre Demand Tightens Global Chip Supply

A sharp rise in demand for AI data centres has placed intense pressure on global chip supplies, particularly memory chips used in smartphones, personal computers, and gaming consoles.

This imbalance has driven prices sharply higher, with industry observers noting that contract prices for key memory products have nearly doubled in the first quarter alone.

The ripple effect has positioned major suppliers like Samsung as key beneficiaries of the AI-driven infrastructure build-out.

Record-Breaking Profit Forecast Shocks the Market

Samsung estimates its operating profit for the January–March period at 57.2 trillion won (about R641.6 billion), significantly higher than the 40.6 trillion won (R456 billion) forecast by analysts tracked by LSEG SmartEstimate.

The figure represents an increase of more than eight times compared to the 6.69 trillion won (R75.18 billion) recorded in the same period a year earlier.

If confirmed, it would not only set a new quarterly record but also nearly triple Samsung’s previous high of 20 trillion won achieved in the last quarter of the previous year.

Memory Chip Division Drives Earnings Explosion

Much of the earnings momentum is coming from Samsung’s core memory chip business, which analysts estimate generated around 54 trillion won (R606.03 billion) in operating profit.

The surge reflects both strong demand and higher contract pricing, with research firm TrendForce predicting that DRAM prices could rise by more than 50% in the current quarter due to ongoing shortages.

According to industry analyst Kim Sunwoo of Meritz Securities, pricing expectations among customers also contributed to the upside surprise, as buyers rushed to secure supply ahead of further increases.

Mixed Performance Across Business Units

While memory chips delivered record gains, Samsung’s logic chip division is estimated to have posted a loss of about 1.6 trillion won (R17.95 billion).

Its mobile division, however, performed better than expected, generating roughly 4 trillion won (R44.88 billion) in profit.

Although slightly lower than a year earlier, the segment benefited from the use of lower-cost inventory stockpiles.

However, analysts warn that rising component costs and geopolitical pressures could squeeze mobile margins in the next quarter.

Currency Weakness Adds an Unexpected Boost

Samsung also benefited from a weaker South Korean won, which has fallen to its lowest level against the US dollar in nearly 17 years.

The currency decline increased the value of overseas earnings when repatriated, providing an additional tailwind to the company’s already strong performance.

Despite broader market volatility, Samsung shares rose 1.8% during morning trading, outperforming the wider market’s 0.8% gain. Rival SK Hynix also climbed 3.4% on the same day.

Rising Risks as Energy Costs and Geopolitics Bite

Not all signals point upward. Analysts have raised concerns that rising energy prices and geopolitical tensions linked to the Middle East could weigh on future demand and disrupt supply chains for chip manufacturing materials.

There are also signs that memory price growth may be nearing a peak, with spot DRAM prices softening recently as end-user demand struggles to keep up with elevated costs.

Some experts argue that the industry may be moving beyond the early phase of its pricing boom into a more mature and potentially slower growth cycle.

High-Bandwidth Memory Competition Heats Up

Competition in high-bandwidth memory (HBM), a critical component for advanced AI chips, remains a key battleground.

Samsung had previously lagged behind rivals in this segment, prompting public acknowledgment from its leadership over missed opportunities.

However, the company has since made progress, including shipments of its latest HBM4 chips to Nvidia earlier this year.

Although HBM still represents less than 10% of Samsung’s DRAM revenue, it is increasingly seen as a strategic growth driver as demand for AI accelerators accelerates globally, particularly from companies like Nvidia.

Outlook Points to Another Potential Record Quarter

Looking ahead, analysts remain divided on how long the current boom can last.

Some forecast that Samsung could deliver another record-breaking quarter, with operating profit potentially reaching 75 trillion won in the near term if DRAM prices continue climbing.

Others caution that pricing cycles in memory markets are notoriously volatile and could reverse if supply catches up or demand from AI data centres stabilises.

Samsung is expected to release its full detailed earnings report on April 30, which will provide a clearer picture of how sustainable this surge truly is.

Investment firm Wingman Growth Partners has officially closed its debut fund, raising $215 million in committed capital as it deepens its push into the software, data, and financial technology sectors.

The milestone marks a major step forward for the Greenwich-based growth equity firm as it builds its long-term investment platform.

Broad Backing from Global Institutional and Private Investors

The inaugural fund drew support from a wide range of investors spanning both institutional and private wealth channels.

Endowments, family offices, foundations, and funds of funds across North America and international markets all participated, reflecting strong confidence in Wingman’s investment thesis and sector focus.

This diverse capital base positions the firm to pursue its strategy with long-term stability while maintaining flexibility in a highly competitive growth equity landscape.

Focused Strategy Built Around Software and AI-Driven Growth

Led by founder and managing partner Jeff Machlin, Wingman Growth Partners is pursuing a concentrated investment model designed to target six to eight core platform companies.

The firm is particularly focused on vertical and mission-critical software businesses where deep industry knowledge and proprietary technology can create defensible advantages.

A key part of Wingman’s approach is its hands-on operating model.

Rather than acting as a passive investor, the firm works closely with portfolio companies to improve performance across go-to-market execution, pricing strategy, product development, talent acquisition, and mergers and acquisitions.

The firm also prioritizes companies positioned to benefit from artificial intelligence, aiming to help founders translate AI capabilities into measurable customer value and scalable growth.

Targeting Founder-Led, High-Growth Technology Companies

Wingman concentrates on partnering with founder-led businesses in the growth stage, particularly those with strong proprietary intellectual property and deep domain expertise.

These companies often operate in complex industries where software plays a critical role in improving efficiency and decision-making.

The firm’s investment philosophy is built around backing teams that are not only innovating within their sectors but are also capable of leveraging emerging technologies to accelerate market leadership.

Early Investments Signal Platform-Building Ambitions

Even before the fund’s close, Wingman had begun deploying capital into its early portfolio.

In January, the firm announced an investment in InterProse, a cloud-native software provider serving the accounts receivable management industry.

Shortly afterward, Wingman expanded its portfolio through the acquisition of Beam Software, combining it with another collections technology platform.

The move was aimed at creating a more unified and competitive leader within the industry, signaling the firm’s strategy of building scaled platforms rather than isolated investments.

Building Toward a Concentrated, High-Impact Portfolio

With Fund I now closed, Wingman Growth Partners is expected to continue executing its strategy of selective but high-conviction investing.

The firm’s emphasis remains on building a small number of dominant platform companies capable of long-term value creation through operational improvement and strategic consolidation.

As capital deployment accelerates, Wingman is positioning itself as an active partner to software founders navigating rapid technological change and increasing competition across the enterprise software landscape.

A major strategic forum bringing together Israel’s venture capital leaders and foreign diplomatic representatives was convened for the first time by the Israel Advanced Technology Industries Association (IATI), in an effort to deepen international ties with the country’s high-tech sector during a period of heightened regional and economic uncertainty.

Held in Tel Aviv at the offices of Arnon, Tadmor-Levy, the meeting assembled around 100 senior participants, including managing partners from leading investment firms, ambassadors, and economic attachés stationed in Israel.

Bridging High-Tech Investment and Global Diplomacy

The initiative was designed to create direct engagement between Israel’s investment community and foreign diplomatic missions, offering a structured platform for dialogue on innovation, business opportunities, and long-term economic cooperation.

Organizers said the central aim was to expose international representatives to the strength and resilience of Israel’s technology ecosystem, while simultaneously giving local venture capital leaders direct access to global diplomatic networks that can support expanded market entry and cross-border collaboration.

The forum emphasized that strengthening these relationships is particularly critical amid ongoing security pressures and global financial volatility affecting investment flows.

Focus on Resilience, AI, and Global Investment Trends

Discussions during the event centered on the resilience of Israel’s high-tech industry and its ability to maintain momentum despite geopolitical challenges and shifting global markets.

Participants also explored emerging investment trends, with a strong focus on artificial intelligence, innovation scaling, and the future direction of global tech funding.

Senior figures from both industry and diplomacy contributed to the discussions, highlighting how technological development and international cooperation are increasingly intertwined in a rapidly changing global economy.

Leading Figures from Industry and Government Take Part

Among the prominent speakers was Eden Bar Tal, Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who addressed the gathering on behalf of the government.

He was joined by several key figures from Israel’s investment and technology sectors, including Shlomo Dovrat, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Viola Ventures, Prof. Yoav Shoham, Co-Founder of AI21 Labs, Eyal Niv, Managing Partner at Pitango, and Ronen Nir, Managing Director at PSG.

Their contributions focused on investment resilience, the evolution of deep tech ecosystems, and Israel’s position within the global innovation landscape.

Strong International Diplomatic Presence in Tel Aviv

The meeting drew a broad international diplomatic delegation, including ambassadors and representatives from multiple countries such as India, China, Austria, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea, alongside other foreign missions operating in Israel.

Their participation underscored growing international interest in Israel’s technology sector and its role in global innovation networks, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and advanced computing.

IATI Highlights Importance of Global Economic Cooperation

Karin Mayer Rubinstein, CEO and President of the Israel Advanced Technology Industries Association (IATI), described the gathering as a timely effort to reinforce international confidence in Israel’s technology sector.

She noted that amid complex security, economic, and geopolitical conditions, building stronger ties between Israeli innovators and global partners has become increasingly essential.

According to Rubinstein, the forum was intended not only to showcase the strength of Israeli high-tech but also to establish meaningful relationships between investors and diplomatic stakeholders that could lead to future cooperation, investment flows, and international expansion opportunities.

About the Israel Advanced Technology Industries Association

The Israel Advanced Technology Industries Association (IATI) serves as an umbrella organization representing Israel’s high-tech, life sciences, and advanced technology industries.

The association focuses on strengthening industry stability, promoting international collaboration, and supporting economic growth by connecting key players across the public and private sectors.

It also plays a role in shaping policy discussions and coordinating long-term strategic initiatives involving government bodies, industry leaders, and security institutions, with the goal of reinforcing Israel’s position as a global innovation hub.

Gigascale Capital, a venture capital firm based in Palo Alto, has announced the close of its inaugural institutional fund, raising $250 million to support companies building technologies tied to the physical world.

The fund marks a major milestone for the young investment firm, which has quickly positioned itself within the growing landscape of climate, energy, and industrial innovation investing.

A New VC Firm with Deep Tech Roots

Gigascale Capital was launched in 2023 by former Meta Chief Technology Officer Mike Schroepfer alongside co-founders Victoria Beasley and Evaline Tsai.

From the outset, the firm has focused on what it describes as the “physical economy” — sectors that extend beyond software into real-world systems such as clean energy, infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and the supply chains that sustain them.

Its investment thesis also includes the expanding role of artificial intelligence in designing, producing, and deploying complex physical systems at scale.

Investing Across Energy, Infrastructure, and Advanced Manufacturing

The firm’s portfolio strategy spans a wide range of hard-tech domains, including renewable energy systems, grid modernization, materials innovation, and next-generation manufacturing technologies.

Gigascale has already engaged with more than 25 early-stage startups working on foundational technologies that aim to reshape how energy is generated, stored, and distributed, as well as how industrial systems are designed and built.

Among the companies it has backed are Heron Power, Solcoa, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Rhoda AI, Radiant, Xcimer Energy, Arbor Energy, Fractile, Dioxycle, and Mill.

Hands-On Support for Founders Building Complex Systems

Beyond capital investment, Gigascale positions itself as an active partner to founders navigating the challenges of scaling hardware-intensive companies.

The firm works closely with startups on recruiting technical talent, identifying early customers, and making critical engineering and operational decisions that bridge the gap between prototype development and real-world deployment.

Its approach blends technical expertise with company-building experience, supported by a network spanning technology, venture capital, and climate-focused industries.

Building Momentum in the Physical Economy

With its first institutional fund now closed, Gigascale Capital is expected to deepen its involvement in the fast-evolving ecosystem of climate and deep-tech innovation.

The $250 million fund provides the firm with increased capacity to support early-stage companies tackling some of the most complex challenges in energy transition, industrial transformation, and infrastructure modernization.

Blackstone has completed fundraising for its latest Asia-focused private equity vehicle, confirming the final close of Blackstone Capital Partners Asia III at $13.1 billion.

The milestone strengthens the firm’s long-standing push into high-growth Asian markets, where competition for deal flow continues to intensify.

The fund’s closure marks another significant capital raise for the New York–listed alternative asset manager, traded on the NYSE under the ticker BX.

Deal Deployment Across a $7 Billion Investment Push

Since its launch, the Asia III fund has already deployed more than $7 billion across a dozen transactions spanning technology, industrial services, and consumer platforms.

The investment activity was jointly overseen by Joe Baratta, Global Head of Private Equity Strategies, and Amit Dixit, Head of Asia Private Equity.

Their mandate has focused on scaling businesses positioned at the intersection of digital transformation and domestic consumption growth across key Asian economies.

Technology, Services, and Consumer Plays Drive Portfolio Buildout

The portfolio reflects a deliberate diversification strategy across multiple sectors and geographies.

Among the most notable investments is Neysa, an India-based AI cloud infrastructure platform positioned within the region’s rapidly expanding artificial intelligence ecosystem.

In Japan, the fund backed TechnoPro, a specialist engineering services provider with exposure to industrial and technical staffing demand.

South Korea also featured in the portfolio through JUNO, a hair salon franchise network operating within the country’s fragmented but scalable consumer services market.

Exit Activity Highlights Strong Realisation Cycle

Alongside new investments, the fund has also recorded 15 exits, generating significant realised returns across its portfolio.

One of the most prominent was the public listing of International Gemological Institute, a certification provider serving the growing lab-grown diamond industry.

Another major exit came through Aadhar Housing Finance, an Indian housing finance company that has expanded access to residential credit in underserved segments.

The fund also exited Alinamin Pharmaceutical in Japan, concluding its involvement after supporting the company’s development into a leading player in the consumer healthcare space.

Leadership Strategy Anchored in Asia Growth Themes

Under the leadership of Baratta and Dixit, the Asia strategy has continued to prioritise scalable platforms in markets benefiting from structural economic shifts, including rising middle-class consumption, digitisation, and financial services expansion.

The firm’s approach has combined control investments with operational value creation, targeting companies capable of long-term regional or global expansion.

Outlook for Continued Asia Expansion

With fundraising complete and capital deployment already well underway, attention now turns to future deal sourcing and portfolio scaling across Asia’s key growth corridors.

The combination of active investments and realised exits positions the fund to continue cycling capital into new opportunities while consolidating gains from earlier bets in India, Japan, and South Korea.