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venture's $200b quarter

CB Insights has published its latest newsletter on venture funding, covering a $200 billion quarter.

State of Venture Q2’26

Funding tops $200B for the second consecutive quarter. Deal count hits a decade low. Mega-rounds take 81% of all capital. SpaceX goes public at a record valuation. Every data point comes from the CB Insights proprietary database, updated in real time.

Lean Startup Lessons for Generative AI

The article argues that most enterprise generative AI failures are process failures, not model failures, and that Eric Ries’s Lean Startup principles remain the right remedy. Citing a 2025 MIT NANDA study that found roughly 95% of enterprise generative AI pilots delivered no measurable impact, the author recommends returning to first principles: observe real work (genchi genbutsu), run very small, fast experiments (build-measure-learn / design sprints), prefer narrow scope or vendor partnerships over large internal bets, enforce pre-release guardrails and human review, and stop treating documentation as an end in itself. The piece frames generative AI as a tool that dramatically lowers experiment cost and cadence — making iterative learning more achievable — and urges teams to measure outcomes (activation, retention, hours saved, revenue) rather than outputs or demos.

• A 2025 study from MIT’s NANDA initiative found roughly 95% of enterprise generative AI pilots delivered no measurable impact.
• Eric Ries published The Lean Startup in 2011, introducing the build-measure-learn loop that the article advocates applying to AI programs.
• The Google Ventures 'Sprint' method outlines a five-day design sprint to test a realistic prototype with users before long builds.

PitchBook Publishes New Research Reports Including VC Quantitative Perspectives and India Private Capital Breakdown

PitchBook has published several new research reports, including the Q3 2026 VC Quantitative Perspectives, India Private Capital Breakdown, and various weekly credit market wraps, covering topics from venture liquidity to AI agent payments.

PitchBook Releases August 2026 US Private Credit Monitor

PitchBook published the August 2026 US Private Credit Monitor, providing a high-level view of private credit market activity including estimated volume and counts, spread distribution, syndicated and direct lending takeouts, and middle market CLO issuance.

Capital Clarity: Key Questions for Founders Before Raising VC

This article advises founders, especially in health technology, to critically evaluate whether venture capital aligns with their long-term goals. It highlights the importance of market size and fund size, noting that mega-funds inflate expectations for Seed startups. Alternatives like customer revenue, bank loans, revenue-based financing, grants, and strategic partnerships are presented. The piece emphasizes the discipline of saying no to unsuitable capital, as exits are slower and valuations are correcting. Ultimately, it argues that founders should build the right company on the right terms rather than raising the maximum capital.

• The article was published on September 8, 2026, on EU-Startups.
• In 2024, 30 US venture firms captured 75% of capital raised, with nine taking half.
• A €2 billion fund targeting 3x returns needs €6 billion in proceeds, implying over €40 billion in combined exit value.