Mo Shaikh

Mistral AI is currently in negotiations with Abu Dhabi’s MGX and other investors to secure a ~$1 billion funding round that could value the company at ~$10 billion, aiming to accelerate deployment of its “Le Chat” chatbot and further LLM development. IPO CLUB has the company under coverage for its flagship fund America2030 https://lnkd.in/de69stzC

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Late in posting this, but great to see this Techcrunch coverage of the $5M Taxo (YC S24) funding round - a 2024 angel investment alongside Y Combinator and General Catalyst Taxo (YC S24) is building an artificial intelligence reasoning engine for healthcare administration, to reduce the burden on physicians so that they can spend more time on patient care. [And they have already hit $1M ARR, 6 months from launch 🚀 ] Article here: https://lnkd.in/ee-JR3nG

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We first backed Kavitta Ghai and the Nectir team at seed in 2024. They raised $1.4M from VCs on our show, and then deployed across the California Community College system (2.1M students, 116 colleges). Today they announced a $12.5M Series A led by Rethink Impact. We followed on. If you haven't been paying attention to what's happening in AI and education, this is worth your attention. Nectir is the FERPA compliant AI infrastructure layer purpose-built for schools. The results from peer-reviewed research: 20% increase in GPA. 13% rise in final scores. 36% boost in intrinsic motivation to learn. Students are also staying enrolled and finishing their degrees. This isn't ChatGPT for homework. It's a personalized learning partner that knows your textbooks, assignments, and lectures. Plus it gives schools safe AI infrastructure for everything from FAFSA advising to career coaching. The vision is all 50 states. Every institution in the US is going to need safe AI infrastructure. Nectir is building it. Proud to be backing Kavitta and the team twice.

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Frontier tech finds its ground zero in the Midcontinent The Midcontinent is now emerging as a pivotal region for frontier tech and investment. SVB’s recent insights spotlight this growth, particularly in industries like energy, infrastructure, and deep tech—momentum that the Midcontinent region is already capitalizing on. At Cortado Ventures, we’re doubling down on early-stage frontier tech that reimagines legacy industries. Our 2025 Midcon VC Summit in Tulsa underscored this momentum in an outstanding presentation by Josh Pherigo, who builds on that theme with this article. https://lnkd.in/gpFVeDVw

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The search fund model is built on alignment. But "usually" isn’t "always." While search funds are collaborative by design, collaboration doesn’t eliminate tension. Based on experiences from both sides of the table, our latest note explores the moments when incentives between ETA CEOs and investors naturally drift apart. Why this matters: It’s Structural: These aren't "bad actor" stories; they are inherent constraints of the model. It’s Predictable: Tensions surface when timelines, personal realities, or stakes shift. It’s Navigable: Understanding these frictions upfront builds empathy, clearer expectations, and better discussions. Grateful to collaborate with Alex Hodgkin, CFA, and A.J. Wasserstein on a topic that rewards honesty and dialogue over optimism alone. Read the full paper at: https://lnkd.in/e_eskQ9V #ETA, #SearchFunds, #Searchfund, #EntrepreneurshipThroughAcquisition, #Entrepreneurship, #CorporateGovernance, #InvestorRelations, #PrivateEquity, #YaleSoM, #Kellogg, #Booth

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