Are we in a downturn or a popped bubble?

Plus, huge rounds for AI, travel startups June 1, 2023 Hi, {NAME}. It’s not just semantics when we debate whether we are currently in a downturn or a popped bubble. We explain the difference. Plus, how was the first half of your year? Did those predictions pan out? What do you expect for the rest of 2023? Tell us in our Q2 reader survey. 🎈 [Downturns recover in years. Popped bubbles take decades]( If only we could choose our poison, would we take a downturn or a popped bubble? And what’s the difference? We look at both and offer our thoughts on each. ❓ [Reader survey: What’s your outlook for the second half of 2023?]( We’re approaching the halfway point of 2023, and few predictions from the beginning of the year have fully panned out. That said, we want to hear from you, our readers, about what you expect from the rest of a year that has thus far defied expectations. Let us know in this quick survey. 🌊 [CoreWeave rides AI wave to another $200M round]( [CoreWeave]( an AI cloud infrastructure company, has raised $200 million in a Series B extension round that values it at $2 billion — mere weeks after it raised $221 million. The back-to-back investments highlight venture investors’ immense appetite for artificial intelligence startups and the companies that provide the infrastructure to power them. • Related Crunchbase data: [Rounds Raised By Startups Using AI In 2023]( 🚗 [Hostaway’s $175M raise is a rarity in the travel sector]( There’s a bright spot in the dismal travel and tourism industry. [Hostaway]( a vacation rental management software startup, has raised $175 million in funding. The company, which is based in Canada and Finland, is made for property managers to manage bookings, guests and vacancies across platforms including [Airbnb]( [Vrbo]( and [Booking.com](. 👓 [This AI startup just got $154M]( It’s not easy wrapping your head around what Boston-based [Lightmatter]( does exactly. But investors get it — at least enough to give the company $154 million in its latest fundraise. The new funds have reportedly tripled the company’s valuation, in the latest string of eye-popping [AI-related rounds](. 🤖 [AI investing boom is not new to tech giants]( Tech titans’ huge investments in artificial intelligence may look like hot new bets, but they really aren’t. The industry’s biggest players have been investing in AI for years, with their eager venture arms planting cash across dozens of startups through that time. Using Crunchbase data, we look at many of tech’s biggest software developers, chipmakers and hyperscalers and how much they’re pouring into AI startups. • Related Crunchbase data: [Nvidia’s AI Investments]( • Related Crunchbase data: [Microsoft’s AI Investments]( 🌱 [These 3 charts show it’s not easy being a seed startup]( While seed-stage venture funding has remained stubbornly strong, there are signs that the overall funding downturn is beginning to drag on these young startups. Seed-stage companies are competing for investor attention in a more crowded field than ever before and will likely have to wait longer to raise their Series A rounds — if they’re able to at all. • Related Crunchbase data: [2023 US Seed Funding Greater Than $1M]( • Related Crunchbase data: [US Series A Funding In 2023]( 💸 [The ultimate sales prospecting guide]( Generate more revenue this quarter with this comprehensive guide to sales prospecting, created by experts at Crunchbase. From finding leads to closing deals, here’s how to boost your sales skills. [Crunchbase ROI Calculator]( [See the number of new accounts Crunchbase can add to your funnel with our advanced prospecting ROI calculator powered by Crunchbase data.]( [Calculate]( Recent Investments [Bouygues]( [1.0B EUR]( / [Post-IPO Debt]( Bouygues is a diversified services group engaged in many sectors, including construction, energy, services, media, and telecommunications. Categories: Building Maintenance • Communications Infrastructure • Construction • Facilities Support Services • Industrial • Real Estate Founders: [Francis Bouygues]( [Strive Health]( [$166M]( / [Series C]( Strive Health is a value-based kidney care provider with an integrated system supporting the journey of individuals with kidney disease. Categories: Health Care • Information Technology • Medical • mHealth Founders: [Chris Riopelle]( Investors: [New Enterprise Associates]( (Lead), [Ascension Ventures]( [CapitalG]( [+ 4 more]( [Lightmatter]( [$154M]( / [Series C]( Lightmatter changes chip architecture, powering faster, energy-efficient computing with photonic processors for sustainable AI advancement. Categories: Artificial Intelligence • Hardware • Machine Learning • Software Founders: [Darius Bunandar]( [Nicholas Harris]( [Thomas Graham]( Investors: [Alphabet]( [Fidelity Management and Research Company]( [Google Ventures]( [+ 3 more]( More Fundings Company Amount / Round Lead Investor [Measurabl]( $93M / [Series D]( [Energy Impact Partners]( [Magic]( $52M / [Series B]( [PayPal Ventures]( [Forge Nano]( $50M / [Series C]( [Hanwha Aerospace]( [Horizon Technology Finance]( $41M / [Post-IPO Equity]( - [Carnegie Mellon University]( $20M / [Grant]( [U.S. Department of Transportation]( [Ringkas]( $3.5M / [Seed Round]( [Crestone Venture Capital]( [VICIO]( 1.9M EUR / [Equity Crowdfunding]( - [All Recent Funding Activity]( Recent Acquisitions [Greetly visitor management system]( Pending acquisition by [OfficeSpace Software]( for Unknown More Acquisitions Company Acquired By Amount [Crime Intervention Alarm]( [Altus Fire and Life Safety]( Unknown [All Recent Acquisition Activity]( #{Rails.configuration.daily.cb_url} Discover innovative companies and the people behind them. 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