Nasdaq vs PitchBook

Nasdaq invests $100M in Kraken parent, targeting tokenized stocks by 2027

Nasdaq's venture capital arm has invested $100 million in Payward, the parent company of crypto exchange Kraken, to advance the development and launch of tokenized equities. The partnership aims to launch Nasdaq Equity Tokens (NETs) in the second quarter of 2027, with Nasdaq providing market surveillance technology across Payward's trading venues. The investment values Payward at $21 billion. This move reflects a broader trend on Wall Street toward tokenized securities, though debates persist about the nature of tokenized assets and shareholder rights, as highlighted by a recent dispute between Robinhood and AMC.

• Nasdaq's venture arm invested $100 million in Kraken parent Payward.
• Partnership aims to launch tokenized equities (Nasdaq Equity Tokens) in Q2 2027.
• Payward valuation set at $21 billion following the investment.

Nasdaq's Athen Bozoglu: Community as Competitive Advantage

Athen Bozoglu, Nasdaq's head of product marketing and a juror on The Drum Awards Festival Go To Market jury, argues that community will be a key competitive advantage for marketers as AI makes many tools and outputs more similar. He recommends companies invest in customer communities (advisory boards, peer networks, practitioner forums, member programs, events) and convert existing customer intelligence—sales recordings, product feedback, support interactions—into actionable insights. Bozoglu stresses combining AI with deep, proprietary customer understanding, aligning product/commercial/sales/marketing teams, and balancing brand building with short-term commercial programs. He highlights curiosity, cross-functional leadership and prioritization as critical for future marketing success.

• Athen Bozoglu is Nasdaq's head of product marketing.
• Bozoglu serves as a juror on the Go To Market jury for The Drum Awards Festival.
• He recommends investing in community (customer advisory boards, peer networks, practitioner forums, member programs, industry events) as a hard-to-replicate competitive advantage.

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.